Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band – I’m the Urban Spaceman

 I stopped posting every day, so now I post on the weekends and sometimes on Thursdays and Fridays. On Thursday, I like out-of-the-box posts. And this one fits the bill. I’ve been re-reading a book on Keith Moon written by his former PA named Dougal Butler. I would recommend it to anyone; it’s called Full Moon or Moon The Loon, depending on which country you are in. Members of this band were discussed, so I had to revisit them.

I first saw them in Magical Mystery Tour with a song called Death Cab for Cutie. I always had a soft spot for this band, kinda like I have one for some Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart. This 1968 single is the Bonzos at their most accessible and probably their most pop, or the closest thing to that. It was written by Neil Innes, the band’s Lennon to Vivian Stanshall’s mad McCartney.  I’m the Urban Spaceman is a blast of optimism with a huge wink. To say this band thought “out of the box” is severely underestimating them. 

The song is a satirical anthem for the then-Swinging London, mocking the hipster lifestyle while also kind of celebrating it. It walks the fine line between parody and pure joy. Though the Bonzos were always more a cult act than a chart band, Urban Spaceman briefly broke them into the mainstream. It peaked #5 on the UK Singles Chart in 1968, making it the closest thing they had to a conventional success. But conventional was never really the point of this band. The song was produced by Paul McCartney as “Apollo C. Vermouth.”

There’s a long British tradition of absurdist pop, the kind that runs a straight line from The Goons to Monty Python, with a few detours through The Kinks and Small Faces. And right there, hovering in that orbit is the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band. Equal parts satire, whimsy, and dime-store psychedelia, they managed to twist vaudeville, trad jazz, and British music hall into something altogether different. In other words, “interesting” only scratches the surface. I think of the Marx Brothers because everything seemed irrelevant to them. 

Viv Stanshall shared two things with Keith Moon. A friendship and the ability not to get embarrassed. A rare and dangerous thing in the hands of the wrong people.. Another similar friend of Keith’s in the Bonzos was Larry “Legs” Smith. One of the many stories was:

Smith went into a tailor’s shop where he admired a pair of trousers. Keith Moon came in, posing as another customer, and admired the same trousers, demanding to buy them. When Smith protested, the two men fought, splitting the trousers in two, so they ended up with one leg each. The tailor was beside himself. A one-legged actor hired by Smith and Moon came in, saw the split trousers and proclaimed, “Ah! Just what I was looking for.”

The song was on their third album, called Tadpoles, released in 1968. It peaked at #36 in the UK. They made 6 studio albums with their last one in 2007 called Pour l’Amour Des Chiens… French for For The Love Of Dogs. They were together from 1962 through 1970 but did reunite several times…in 1972, 1988, 2006-2008, and 2008 – 2019.

The members were Vivian Stanshall, Neil Innes, Roger Ruskin Spear, Larry “Legs” Smith, Rodney Slater, Dennis Cowan, Vernon Dudley Bowhay-Nowell, Bob Kerr, Martin Ash, Ian Cunningham, Tom Parkinson, and Joel Druckman. 

Neil Innes would go on to write songs for Monty Python and front The Rutles, cementing his status as a master of affectionate parody.

I’m the Urban Spaceman

I’m the Urban Spaceman, babyI’ve got speedI’ve got everything I needI’m the Urban Spaceman, babyI can flyI’m a supersonic guy

I don’t need pleasureI don’t feel painIf you were to knock me downI’d just get up againI’m the Urban Spaceman, babyI’m making outI’m all about

I wake up every morning with a smile upon my faceMy natural exuberance spills out all over the place

I’m the Urban SpacemanI’m intelligent and cleanKnow what I mean?I’m the Urban SpacemanAs a lover, second to noneIt’s a lot of fun

I never let my friends downI’ve never made a boobI’m a glossy magazine, an advert in the tubeI’m the Urban Spaceman, baby, here comes the twistI don’t exist

…

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

53 thoughts on “Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band – I’m the Urban Spaceman”

  1. That pants story is funny! I didn’t fully realize they were a real band, I kinda thought they were a skit sort of thing the Beatles had put together for the movie

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    1. No…they were a real band. Neil Innes went on to more things of course. That pants story is one of the tame ones…I wouldn’t dare post some of the others lol.

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      1. (My daughter worked at a school when she first moved to Scotland. She got a few weird looks talking about trousers and pants as being the same. Ah well, silly Colonials, not getting the lingo. At least she knew not to mention fanny packs in the UK…)

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  6. I do remember some of these references from the movie but would not be able to name names as it were. While I have to be in the mood for it, a little oddball music is a lot of fun. You mentioned Monty Python (big fan) and that’s exactly what this is like, and very British.

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    1. Yea…very British. A lot of those 60s rock stars were fans of The Goons…which I like after listening to them. I can’t listen to this every day but yea…every once in a while it’s great.

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  7. My friend David, who subscribed to all of the British music journals in the 60s, introduced me to the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band. I still haven’t forgiven him.;) I love the trouser story. Since I briefly took a break from playing trumpet to take up the tuba, I have great respect for any band that includes tuba. I got tired of carrying an instrument larger than me to and from school every day.

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    1. You know… for some reason I did think you would know them. Totally eclectic and a lot of fun to listen to once in a while.
      That would be a pain to carry around.

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      2. This will trip you out…Zak has been their drummer longer than Keith and Kenny combined. LOL…I know man…Ringo is not very happy either about it. I’m sure it’s Roger and not Pete.

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      3. HAHA…that’s crazy. I thought I read that Roger is bringing his solo drummer into the Who….so yeah totally that old nut bar getting his way…

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    1. Thanks Clive…I sure will. I should have linked to that song anyway. I love this band…not every day but I get into moods.

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  13. I’m sure I’ve blathered on about these guys before Max, so if I regurgitate some of my other comments from the past- tough! These guys are ‘you get ’em or you REALLY don’t get ’em.’ I’ll admit a little Bonzo can go a long way, much like Vegemite; It’s an acquired taste. Neil is more ‘conventionally’ funny- try his ‘How Sweet To Be An Idiot,’ and YouTube ‘Protest Song,’ from ‘The Secret Policeman’s Ball.’ ‘Protest Song’ is, how can I say… Dylanesque? At least Bob can take a joke, eh? Let’s hope so.

    Viv Stanshall is British Eccentric in the extreme, but what a crazy twisted mind he had. His absurd wordplay and mental (in both meanings of the word) imagery is a joy if you’re in the same head space. A listen to ‘Rawlinson End’ from the Bonzo’s ‘Let’s Make Up And Be Friendly’ album should do your brain in quite nicely.

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    1. You are free to blather on anytime. I only posted one song by them before…Death Cab for Cutie. Reading the Moon book just inspired more. Knowing that two or three of these guys not only hung out with Moon…but as the book says…did some “jolly japes” with him…made me want to revisit. I’m picking up a lot of those sayings.
      Neil Innes I know more about…Viv Stanshall was an equal of Moon period…him and Oliver Reed. I love the Bonzo’s humor…you are right. Like Zappa or Beefheart…you either get them or not. Different humor but same principle.
      I will be checking those songs out tonight!

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  15. Strangely my father, aged 89 likes a few of the band’s songs. He especially likes the jazz band parody, when a list of imaginary, I assume, musicians are called out. I’m not a big fan but the songs I’ve heard are definitely worth a second listen.

    I’d add that my father also liked the first Stranglers album when I popped round to see him just after my visit to my local indie record shop, some ten miles away from my home. The heady days of 1977 were great, after the many new bands came along I fear they missed the point.

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    1. That is really cool about your dad…especially with the Stranglers. A lot of great UK bands did come out in the late seventies…with Stiff Records especially.
      I like the Bonzos in spurts…I could not binge on them for days but yea…they have their place.

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      1. There were some great labels, Stiff were obviously the most prolific and in the early days if it wasn’t Stiff, it wasn’t very good apparently (referring to the badge and tee shirt that were naughty but really funny). Those early Stiff releases were bought by myself, it didn’t matter who the band was, I knew, with a high degree of certainty I was going to like them.

        There were other labels that I collected like Step Forward and Small Wonder and a lot from Tough Trade, it was a way of discovering new music because the only other way was to listen to John Peel or go to the gigs. Which also became a regular thing, I don’t remember be as costly as it is now, I think it’s a lot harder for new bands to breakthrough, especially as most of the current music I’ve heard all sounds similar and produced by computers. There’s no talent in my opinion, which is backed by the rows of synths in front of me.

        They’re not being used to construct formula pop songs, I’ve been heavily influenced by Cabaret Voltaire and Portion Control, imagine a harder edge to them, with hopefully not overtly political lyrics and that’s nearly what I’m hoping to achieve. I’ll never gig though,

        So in my eyes, there’s a vague cut off point when music changed, for the better or for the worse, that’s subjective. I miss the early days of punk, mainly because of the optimism it generated. Every town I visited had a band or two, my town had five that were my mates and had a band that had a few hits and were sitting on their laurels and a band that were plugging away and had a number single. Without wanting to sound too critical because the band were excellent musicians, I think it was the fickle music business that done for them.

        Talking of my father, I owe him a visit

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      2. Oh cool…I have played music for years but I play guitar and bass mostly…I only use a keyboard for color. I will post some of my songs in a few months.
        I was a teen in the 80s…I missed the guitars…but in the 90s after Nirvana was gone…I think it really started to change then. I wasn’t a fan of Nirvana but rock changed after them…it became more sterile to me.
        Yes…I lost my father a few years ago so visit him as much as possible.

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    2. The list of folks called out in the Bonzo’s The Intro and The Outro are not imaginary. One includes Eric Clapton, who might be known in these parts. The one liners that make up this song are absurd wonders, some hilarious, some horrible. Problem is, which is which depends on the listener.

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  17. Catchy tune. I had heard about them in relation to Keith Moon too. Also Larry “Legs” Smith does the tap dance solo on Elton John’s “I Think I’m Gonna Kill Myself” on his Honky Chateau album.

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      1. I had that Full Moon book when it first came out in the 80’s, and got rid of it for some reason. Dumb! Wish I had it back.

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      2. I love it! One of the funniest books ever…easy to get on ebay now…thank goodness

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  19. I am a long time Bonzo fan. I post a link to something I found TODAY (9/20/25) on the internet that was a big surprise and absolute delight to me!! An interview with Roger Ruskin Spear, who was one of the Bonzos

    Bonzo interview with Roger Ruskin Spear

    https://www.mixcloud.com/henrysgigs/bonzo-dog-doo-dah-bands-roger-ruskin-spear/

    The interviewer is Henry Scott Irvine. I never heard of him before, but inasmuch as he is in England and I have spent all of my life in Los Angeles, that isn’t a surprise.

    This is an interview with Roger Ruskin Spear so while there are a few references to Viv Stanshall and Neil Innes, the focus is a lot different. A lot of great music although not rock and roll.

    The interview runs just shy of an hour. It assumes you know about the Bonzos, including Do Not Adjust Your Set and the strong connections to Monty Python.

    Max, if you want to post a song here by the Bonzos, may I suggest “Can Blue Men Sing The Whites,” although I have no idea if you can find it on You Tube or Spotify.

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  20. This is Max’s blog and I respect that. I also respect that there is so little written about the Bonzos that when I find something, I want to share it. I hope Max is okay with it, I’m pretty sure he is.

    https://www.psaudio.com/blogs/copper/the-bonzo-dog-band-and-the-house-on-daleville-road

    The article dealing with the Bonzos is just okay, but there is mention of the 1969 Isle of White show that will have Max drooling. (Said with a joking respect.) I am looking forward to getting home and checking out the videos (they are blocked where I work).

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    1. The Bonzo’s were so different than anyone else. They were totally original. It’s fine! Whenever you want to share something…no problem.
      Oh I would drool over the Isle of Wight…The Who played that year and the next…plus Dylan made an apperance there as well.
      Luckily for me…I control our network so I don’t have to worry about being blocked lol.

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