Roger Ruskin Spear
Encyclopedia
Roger Ruskin Spear is a multi-instrumentalist (saxophones, clarinet, piano, guitars, percussion) who was a founding member of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band
, staying with it until its end.
After the Bonzos parted company Roger was part of the short-lived band biGGrunt, with Vivian Stanshall
. He released a 4-track EP 'Rebel Trouser' ('Trouser Freak/'Trouser Press'/'Release Me'/'Drop Out' United Artists UP 35221) and two solo albums, 'Electric Shocks' in 1972 (United Artists UAG 29381, re-released 1997 on DJC Records DJC005) , and 'Unusual' in 1974 (United Artists UAS 29508), from which were taken the singles 'On Her Doorstep, Last Night/Frank the Ripper' (United Artists UA 35683) and 'I Love To Bumpity-Bump/When Yuba Plays The Rhumba On The Tuba Down in Cuba' (United Artists UP 35720) Roger also toured extensively (and tirelessly) with his solo show Roger Ruskin Spear and his Giant Kinetic Wardrobe (aka Giant Orchestral Wardrobe). A feature of this was a female tailor's dummy fitted with proximity switches, which produced increasingly high-pitched screams when a hand neared her chest (or 'sensitive zone'). In 1979, Roger formed Tatty Ollity with Dave Glasson, former Member of Bob Kerr's Whoopee Band
, Sam Spoons and Dave Knight (now deceased). They released a single, 'Punktuation' on Rough Trade
. In 1982 (from November 3), Roger took part in the new Channel 4's 'Cut Price Comedy Show', a weekly confection of corny sketches and ironic, end-of-the-pier fun - as the IMDB database puts it, 'the Cut Price Comedy Show was an (intentionally) corny sketch series with a heavy dependence on the kind of 'jokes' you'd find on an ice cream stick and a budget that seemed to have been scraped together from copper coins found in the gutter outside the studio. But that was the point - the title made it clear that it was going to be penny-pinching, barrel-scraping stuff, right? Trouble is, that didn't make it as critic-proof as you might think, and the tabloid scribes fell over themselves to scold the then-new channel for squandering airtime on something so bereft of invention. Some people just don't get irony.' The show ran for ten programmes and was then dropped.
In 1985, Roger and Dave Glasson formed The Slightly Dangerous Brothers, producing a single, 'Let's Talk Basic', with a video featuring some of Roger's robot creations. Roger also helped in the production and the provision of robots in a video for 'Face Dances Part 2' by Pete Townshend
of The Who
, who attended Ealing Art College
at the same time as Roger in the 1960s. In 1991, Roger played saxophone in Vivian Stanshall
's show 'Rawlinson Dog Ends' at the Bloomsbury Theatre, London. Roger had also played on Stanshall's album 'Teddy Boys Don't Knit' (1981 Charisma CAS 1153) and has appeared on albums such as the Scaffold
's John Gorman
's 1977 album 'Go Man Gorman' (DJM REcords DJF 20491). Roger was also a member and co-founder of Bill Posters Will Be Band
. This band still plays on the first Thursday of each month at the Bull's Head pub in Barnes, London, but very rarely features Roger.
As of 2010 Roger has been performing regularly with Three Bonzos and a Piano, which is made up of former Bonzos Rod Slater and Sam Spoons, together with Dave Glasson (the piano), and occasionally includes 'Legs' Larry Smith and Vernon Dudley Bohay Nowell; they are also often supported on guitar by Andy Roberts
(the Liverpool Scene and the Scaffold
etc.). A new CD entitled "Hair of the Dog" is due to be released on 6 February 2010 to coincide with a show at The Bloomsbury Theatre, London, which will include 'Legs' Larry Smith and Vernon Dudley Bohay Nowell.
His solo career is described in Doo Dah Diaries as are his current activities.
In addition to his musical activities, Spear taught 3D design part-time at the Chelsea College of Art before retiring.
. His elder son "Professor" Justin Spear has a regular slot in the Stuart Maconie 'Freak Zone' show on BBC6 Music, called "University of Strange", where he delves into the weird and wonderful world of European jazz (among other things). His younger son, Tim, is a successful web creative entrepreneur and also plays drums with epic instrumental post-rock band The Winchester Club
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...
, staying with it until its end.
Career
Spear is best known as a former member of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah band. He wrote some of their wittiest songs such as 'Shirt', 'Tubas in the Moonlight' and 'Trouser Press'. He is also well known for his robot creations, that graced the stage with the Bonzos, creating much hilarity and havoc. He is also famed for his virtuosity on the theremin leg - in 'Noises for the Leg', amongst other tunes. Many of his songs have clothing/wardrobe related themes, such as 'Trouser Freak', 'Trouble with my Trousers' and 'Waiting for the 'Wardrobe', as well as the aforementioned 'Shirt' and 'Trouser Press'. It is not known why. Roger was once quoted as saying, "Trousers. Trousers. It's such a stumbling word. In America they have pants and jeans, but in England we still have trousers".After the Bonzos parted company Roger was part of the short-lived band biGGrunt, with 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...
. He released a 4-track EP 'Rebel Trouser' ('Trouser Freak/'Trouser Press'/'Release Me'/'Drop Out' United Artists UP 35221) and two solo albums, 'Electric Shocks' in 1972 (United Artists UAG 29381, re-released 1997 on DJC Records DJC005) , and 'Unusual' in 1974 (United Artists UAS 29508), from which were taken the singles 'On Her Doorstep, Last Night/Frank the Ripper' (United Artists UA 35683) and 'I Love To Bumpity-Bump/When Yuba Plays The Rhumba On The Tuba Down in Cuba' (United Artists UP 35720) Roger also toured extensively (and tirelessly) with his solo show Roger Ruskin Spear and his Giant Kinetic Wardrobe (aka Giant Orchestral Wardrobe). A feature of this was a female tailor's dummy fitted with proximity switches, which produced increasingly high-pitched screams when a hand neared her chest (or 'sensitive zone'). In 1979, Roger formed Tatty Ollity with Dave Glasson, former Member of Bob Kerr's Whoopee Band
Bob Kerr's Whoopee Band
Bob Kerr's Whoopee Band, also billed as Bob Kerr and His Whoopee Band, is a jazz band which started in 1967 and continues to perform today. It was an offshoot of the eclectic Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, and shared many similarities with other outfits of the time such as The New Vaudeville Band and The...
, Sam Spoons and Dave Knight (now deceased). They released a single, 'Punktuation' on Rough Trade
Rough Trade
Rough Trade may refer to:*Rough Trade Records, a record label*Rough Trade , linked but independent London record stores*Rough Trade , a Canadian new wave rock band*Rough Trade , an episode of American Dad!...
. In 1982 (from November 3), Roger took part in the new Channel 4's 'Cut Price Comedy Show', a weekly confection of corny sketches and ironic, end-of-the-pier fun - as the IMDB database puts it, 'the Cut Price Comedy Show was an (intentionally) corny sketch series with a heavy dependence on the kind of 'jokes' you'd find on an ice cream stick and a budget that seemed to have been scraped together from copper coins found in the gutter outside the studio. But that was the point - the title made it clear that it was going to be penny-pinching, barrel-scraping stuff, right? Trouble is, that didn't make it as critic-proof as you might think, and the tabloid scribes fell over themselves to scold the then-new channel for squandering airtime on something so bereft of invention. Some people just don't get irony.' The show ran for ten programmes and was then dropped.
In 1985, Roger and Dave Glasson formed The Slightly Dangerous Brothers, producing a single, 'Let's Talk Basic', with a video featuring some of Roger's robot creations. Roger also helped in the production and the provision of robots in a video for 'Face Dances Part 2' by Pete Townshend
Pete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for the rock group The Who, as well as for his own solo career...
of The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
, who attended Ealing Art College
Ealing Art College
Ealing Art College was 'Ealing Technical College & School of Art', a further education institution on St Mary's Road, Ealing, London, England. The site today is the Ealing campus of University of West London...
at the same time as Roger in the 1960s. In 1991, Roger played saxophone in 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...
's show 'Rawlinson Dog Ends' at the Bloomsbury Theatre, London. Roger had also played on Stanshall's album 'Teddy Boys Don't Knit' (1981 Charisma CAS 1153) and has appeared on albums such as the Scaffold
The Scaffold
The Scaffold were a comedy, poetry and music trio from Liverpool, England, consisting of Mike McGear , Roger McGough and John Gorman.-Career:...
's John Gorman
John Gorman
John Gorman , is an English comic entertainer, vocalist and musician.After grammar school, Gorman worked as a telecommunications engineer. He was a member of The Scaffold, best known for their 1967 hit single Lily the Pink, and its successor the band Grimms — the 'G' in Gorman providing the...
's 1977 album 'Go Man Gorman' (DJM REcords DJF 20491). Roger was also a member and co-founder of Bill Posters Will Be Band
Bill Posters Will Be Band
Bill Posters Will Be Band is a comic musical group formed by musicians who were members of The Bonzo Dog Band and Bob Kerr's Whoopee Band.The band was formed in 1983 by Biff Harrison, Jim "Golden Boots" Chambers, Evil John Gieves Watson , Sam Spoons, Hugh Crozier and Roger Ruskin Spear.They still...
. This band still plays on the first Thursday of each month at the Bull's Head pub in Barnes, London, but very rarely features Roger.
As of 2010 Roger has been performing regularly with Three Bonzos and a Piano, which is made up of former Bonzos Rod Slater and Sam Spoons, together with Dave Glasson (the piano), and occasionally includes 'Legs' Larry Smith and Vernon Dudley Bohay Nowell; they are also often supported on guitar by Andy Roberts
Andy Roberts
Anderson Montgomery Everton "Andy" Roberts is a former West Indian cricketer. He was an excellent fast bowler, twice taking seven wickets in an innings of a Test match...
(the Liverpool Scene and the Scaffold
The Scaffold
The Scaffold were a comedy, poetry and music trio from Liverpool, England, consisting of Mike McGear , Roger McGough and John Gorman.-Career:...
etc.). A new CD entitled "Hair of the Dog" is due to be released on 6 February 2010 to coincide with a show at The Bloomsbury Theatre, London, which will include 'Legs' Larry Smith and Vernon Dudley Bohay Nowell.
His solo career is described in Doo Dah Diaries as are his current activities.
In addition to his musical activities, Spear taught 3D design part-time at the Chelsea College of Art before retiring.
Family
Spear is the son of satirical artist and lecturer Ruskin SpearRuskin Spear
Ruskin Spear, CBE, RA was an English painter.Born in Hammersmith, Spear attended the local art school before going on to the Royal College of Art in 1930...
. His elder son "Professor" Justin Spear has a regular slot in the Stuart Maconie 'Freak Zone' show on BBC6 Music, called "University of Strange", where he delves into the weird and wonderful world of European jazz (among other things). His younger son, Tim, is a successful web creative entrepreneur and also plays drums with epic instrumental post-rock band The Winchester Club
Solo discography
- Electric Shocks LP. United Artists (UK) UAG 29381, 1972.
- Unusual LP. United Artists (UK) UAS 29508, 1973.
- Rebel Trouser EP (UK) UP 35221.
- Electric Shocks Plus CD. DJC (i.e. Dave Clague) DJC005, 2002. Contains Electric Shocks and Rebel Trouser.