Vivian Stanshall

The Profile

English singer, songwriter, poet and comic performer; founding member of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band; creator of the Rawlinson End saga. Born 21 March 1943, died 5 March 1995.

Founding member and principal voice of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band; creator of the Rawlinson End radio and record saga; credited collaborator on Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells. Men Opening Umbrellas Ahead was first issued in 1974, withdrawn and largely destroyed, later reissued in a 2010 Harkit release (poor quality) and a remastered 2012 Poppydisc edition. Collaborators cited in reviews include Neil Innes, Keith Moon, Gasper Lawal, Rebop Kwaku Baah, Ric Grech, Mongezi Feza, Steve Winwood and others. Stanshall died in a house fire on 5 March 1995.

The review focuses on Vivian Stanshall's 1974 solo album Men Opening Umbrellas Ahead, its rare initial release and later reissues, and Stanshall's career with the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band. It highlights collaborators on the record, the album's blend of dark comedy and world-music elements, and the Rawlinson End saga as his signature work. The piece also recounts anecdotes about Stanshall's friendships and describes his death in a house fire on 5 March 1995.