Larry Smith (musician)
Encyclopedia
"Legs" Larry Smith is the former drummer
of the comedy satirical rock group the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band
.
He was originally invited to join by Vivian Stanshall
as a tuba
player and tap dancer. As the drummer
he was a core member of the band and played on their top 5 hit "I'm The Urban Spaceman" and performed on all subsequent recordings. The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band
appeared in the film "The Magical Mystery Tour" made by The Beatles
and also in the ground-breaking pre-Monty Python
television series Do Not Adjust Your Set
that featured several of the Monty Python team. As a solo artist Smith also toured with Eric Clapton
, Elton John
and George Harrison
. Smith was a close friend of Harrison for many years and designed the cover for his Gone Troppo
album. He also sang the theme song of and appeared in the Harrison-backed film Bullshot
a Handmade Films
production. Harrison wrote and recorded a song about him called "His Name is Legs (Ladies and Gentlemen)" on his album Extra Texture (Read All About It)
. The recording features the vocal antics of "Legs" himself; who also tap dances in Elton John's song, "I Think I'm Going To Kill Myself" from the album Honky Chateau
. He is also featured in the song "Legs Larry at Television Centre" on John Cale
's 1972 album, The Academy in Peril
, for which he provides the voice of a television director.
On 28 January 2006 with other surviving members of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band he played a reunion concert at the London Astoria
. A countrywide tour, which began in Ipswich and ended with two shows at the Shepherd's Bush Empire with Ade Edmondson and Phill Jupitus
, followed during November 2006. The Shepherd's Bush Empire shows were filmed for TV broadcast by the BBC and also released on DVD. A further sold out concert at the London Astoria
in June 2008 saw Smith perform with the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band where his 'Mr Wonderful' stage persona was a highlight of the concert.
Smug Records released in March 2009 Legs" Larry Smith's - 'Call Me, Adolf!, a five track digital EP produced by Gus Dudgeon
.
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
of the comedy satirical rock group the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band
Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band
The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band are a band created by a group of British art-school denizens of the 1960s...
.
He was originally invited to join by Vivian Stanshall
Vivian Stanshall
Vivian Stanshall was an English singer-songwriter, painter, musician, author, poet and wit, best known for his work with the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, for his surreal exploration of the British upper classes in Sir Henry at Rawlinson End, and for narrating Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells.-The great...
as a tuba
Tuba
The tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. Sound is produced by vibrating or "buzzing" the lips into a large cupped mouthpiece. It is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the...
player and tap dancer. As the drummer
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
he was a core member of the band and played on their top 5 hit "I'm The Urban Spaceman" and performed on all subsequent recordings. The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band
Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band
The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band are a band created by a group of British art-school denizens of the 1960s...
appeared in the film "The Magical Mystery Tour" made by The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
and also in the ground-breaking pre-Monty Python
Monty Python
Monty Python was a British surreal comedy group who created their influential Monty Python's Flying Circus, a British television comedy sketch show that first aired on the BBC on 5 October 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four series...
television series Do Not Adjust Your Set
Do Not Adjust Your Set
Do Not Adjust Your Set was a children's television series produced originally by Rediffusion, London, then by the fledgling Thames Television for British commercial television channel ITV from 26 December 1967 to 14 May 1969....
that featured several of the Monty Python team. As a solo artist Smith also toured with Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
, Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
and George Harrison
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
. Smith was a close friend of Harrison for many years and designed the cover for his Gone Troppo
Gone Troppo
Gone Troppo is an album by George Harrison recorded and released in 1982. It would prove to be Harrison's last studio album for five years, wherein he would largely take an extended leave of absence from his recording career, with only the occasional soundtrack recording surfacing.By 1980,...
album. He also sang the theme song of and appeared in the Harrison-backed film Bullshot
Bullshot (film)
Bullshot is a 1983 film, based on the stage play "Bullshot Crummond". The name comes from a parody of the 1929 film, on which it is loosely based, Bulldog Drummond....
a Handmade Films
Handmade Films
HandMade Films is a British film production and distribution company. Through a series of sales, and acquisitions, the company now known as Handmade Plc owns all the rights and assets of the original HandMade Films Ltd...
production. Harrison wrote and recorded a song about him called "His Name is Legs (Ladies and Gentlemen)" on his album Extra Texture (Read All About It)
Extra Texture (Read All About It)
Extra Texture is an album by George Harrison which was released in 1975. Following the Dark Horse debacle, Extra Texture was Harrison's last album under his contract with Apple Records and EMI, all set to embark on his own Dark Horse Records imprint, initially distributed by A&M Records.Once...
. The recording features the vocal antics of "Legs" himself; who also tap dances in Elton John's song, "I Think I'm Going To Kill Myself" from the album Honky Chateau
Honky Château
Honky Château is the fifth studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1972. In 2003, the album was ranked number 357 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. It was certified Gold on 7/24/1972 and Platinum on 10/11/1995 by the R.I.A.A...
. He is also featured in the song "Legs Larry at Television Centre" on John Cale
John Cale
John Davies Cale, OBE is a Welsh musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer who was a founding member of the experimental rock band The Velvet Underground....
's 1972 album, The Academy in Peril
The Academy in Peril
The Academy in Peril is a 1972 album by John Cale. Like his previous release, the Terry Riley collaboration Church of Anthrax, it is mostly instrumental...
, for which he provides the voice of a television director.
On 28 January 2006 with other surviving members of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band he played a reunion concert at the London Astoria
London Astoria
The London Astoria was a music venue, located at 157 Charing Cross Road, in London, England. It had been leased and run by Festival Republic since 2000. It was closed on 15 January 2009 and has since been demolished...
. A countrywide tour, which began in Ipswich and ended with two shows at the Shepherd's Bush Empire with Ade Edmondson and Phill Jupitus
Phill Jupitus
Phillip Christopher Jupitus is an English stand-up and improvised comedian, actor, performance poet, musician and podcaster....
, followed during November 2006. The Shepherd's Bush Empire shows were filmed for TV broadcast by the BBC and also released on DVD. A further sold out concert at the London Astoria
London Astoria
The London Astoria was a music venue, located at 157 Charing Cross Road, in London, England. It had been leased and run by Festival Republic since 2000. It was closed on 15 January 2009 and has since been demolished...
in June 2008 saw Smith perform with the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band where his 'Mr Wonderful' stage persona was a highlight of the concert.
Smug Records released in March 2009 Legs" Larry Smith's - 'Call Me, Adolf!, a five track digital EP produced by Gus Dudgeon
Gus Dudgeon
Angus Boyd Dudgeon , most commonly known as Gus Dudgeon was an English record producer, most notable for production of many of Elton John's recordings.-Early career:...
.