- Born
- Died
- Birth nameVictor Anthony Stanshall
- Nickname
- Viv
- Lead singer of underground art school comedy/jazz band (with Neil Innes), The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, Viv soon became known as one of Britain's foremost eccentrics. Born in Oxfordshire and brought up as a cockney in east London and Essex, Viv was characterised by his almost aristocratic English accent which he would punctuate with very out-of-place belches and obscenities. By the late 60s, Viv had changed from the dapper, witty eccentric of his youth to a cynical, almost hollow-eyed wreck - often seen in a state of advanced alcoholism, with a shaved head, knotted beard and trademark octagonal glasses. Perhaps his most famous creation is Sir Henry of Rawlinson's End - who first appeared on a Bonzos LP, a later became a radio series and finally a movie. Eerily, the real Sir Henry Rawlinson, of whom Viv was unaware, died exactly 100 years to the day before Viv.- IMDb mini biography by: Adam Leslie adaml@callnetuk.com
- SpousesKi Longfellow-Stanshall(September 9, 1980 - March 5, 1995) (1 child)Monica Peiser(1968 - 1975) (divorced, 1 child)
- The name of his musical/comedy group was originally "The Bonzo Dog Dada Band". It was later changed to "The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band" (after having to explain what dadaism was once too often), and later shortened to "The Bonzo Dog Band", and finally "The Bonzos". "Bonzo" is the name of a British comic strip dog which first appeared in print in the 1800s.
- Wrote lyrics for several songs on Steve Winwood's "Arc of a Diver" album.
- Was the voice of the "Master Of Ceremonies" ("Grand piano, reed and pipe organ, glockenspiel", etc) on Mike Oldfield's debut album "Tubular Bells", released in 1973.
- Friend and partner in practical jokes with the late Keith Moon.
- A popular college/alternative rock group, Death Cab for Cutie, is based off a Bonzo Dog song of the same name.
- It's wonderful to be.
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