Vivian Stanshall

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Biography

Vivian Stanshall (born Victor Anthony Stanshall; 21 March 1943 – 5 March 1995) was an English singer-songwriter, painter, musician, author, poet, wit, and raconteur, best known for his work with The Bonzo Dog Band, and for his surreal exploration of the British upper classes in Sir Henry At Rawlinson End and for narrating Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells.

Stanshall was often called a “great British eccentric”, but this was a label he hated: it suggested that he was putting on an act. Instead, as he himself always insisted, “…he was merely being himself.”

As well as his work with the legendary The Bonzo Dog Band, his solo works include:
Men Opening Umbrellas Ahead (1974)
Sir Henry at Rawlinson End (1978)
Teddy Boys Don’t Knit (1981)
Sir Henry at N’didi’s Kraal (1984)

See also the website maintained by the family.
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  • imthemedicorest

    Men Opening Umbrella Ahead

    4 Mar 2012 Reply

  • punkhippieswe

    foogou: thank you so much for the link! downloading songs now. I dont know how it is in other countreys, but the only records with viv you can find here is sir henry + 1 or 2 bonzo-collections. btw, hello everybody, Im new in here, feel free to send me friend-requests if you feel like it. :)

    25 Oct 2010 Reply

  • BondJamesBond

    For those who haven't spotted it ... "Men Opening Umbrellas Ahead" (which came out in 1974 and is a rarity) jas recently been re-released on CD. Mine arrivd today - as you can guess from the recent scrobbles.

    9 Aug 2010 Reply

  • kaioshimanski

    Mix the irreverence of Mothers of Invention and the dada humor of The Bonzo Dog Band with the psychedelia of 60's! We are "Os Freakadélicos" a brazillian band formed by teenagers with 15 and 17 years old! Listen our music: http://www.lastfm.com.br/music/Os+Freakadélicos

    26 Jul 2010 Reply

  • infraredhotdog

    @Foogou: Thanks for the link, what a great find! Viv was a truly unique individual.

    6 Jun 2010 Reply

  • kaioshimanski

    Mix the irreverence of Mothers of Invention and the dada humor of The Bonzo Dog Band with the psychedelia of 60's! We are "Os Freakadélicos" a brazillian band formed by teenagers with 15 and 17 years old! Listen our music on myspace! www.myspace.com/freakadelicos

    15 Apr 2010 Reply

  • Foogou

    Fans of Viv should really check out a marvellous resource at http://therawlinsonendudioarchive.blogspot.com/ that contains good quality free downloads of his albums plus Rawlinson End Peel sessions. ...48 and still unusual

    9 Feb 2010 Reply

  • Sgarre1

    "I'll trim your Wellingtons for you, my dear!" What a wonderous man! Regarding question below re: Peel Sessions, try Soulseek.

    5 Dec 2009 Reply

  • sleepybomb

    the crackpot at the end of the rainbow... what a mad genius!

    9 Jul 2009 Reply

  • chaibird

    lol<3

    16 May 2009 Reply

  • Progrockftw

    R.I.P. you mad genius!

    5 Mar 2009 Reply

  • mashyou

    Oh Terry, Oh Terry, why why why Why don't you behave like normal people do-do-do-do-do why why why?

    4 Feb 2009 Reply

  • Bullinamingvase

    English eccentricity at its finest

    21 Jan 2009 Reply

  • DaJayStrimmer

    Genius ginger geezer gives golly good gruntage

    17 Nov 2008 Reply

  • wishy71

    wonders aloud if any knows if his john peel sessions are available...particularly the sir henry bits...??

    28 Sep 2008 Reply

  • ashastarmix

    cool cat

    27 Mar 2008 Reply

  • aulgastrae

    Why is there an album called the Forgotten Genius of... Who ever knew, and then managed to forget this?

    8 Feb 2008 Reply

  • manwithpipe

    like cheese before bedtime

    29 Jun 2007 Reply

  • krring

    Is there a reason The Fall are in the related bands list? Don't tell me MES and Viv were friends - that would be too perfect.

    12 Mar 2007 Reply

  • zepmeister7

    I have started up a group for VIVIAN STANSHALL - feel free to check it out

    7 Mar 2007 Reply
    • All 25 shouts

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