Neil Innes was renowned as one of the greats of musical comedy, a pianist and
songwriter who could match satirical lyrics with great pop melodies. Born in
Essex and spending part of his childhood in post-war Germany where his father
was a soldier, Innes attended Goldsmith's art college in London. It was there
that he encountered Vivian Stanshall, Larry Smith, Roger Slater and Roger Ruskin
Spears, with whom he formed the nucleus of the Bonzo Dog Dada Band. Tired of
explaining what the Dada art movement was, the band then changed their name to
the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band. They were ...