Pete Moss [left], John 'Admiral' Halsey [centre], Ollie on banjo! [right]

l-r: Vivian, Pete Moss, Halsey,
Roger Ruskin Spear [?], Ollie

In April, 1991 the eccentric UK artiste, Vivian Stanshall [1943-1995], formerly of The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, returned to the stage for a series of concerts at The Bloomsbury Theatre, London.

Accompanying him on these soirees were an extraordinary if unlikely all-star orchestra including none less than Jack Bruce on bass, drummer John 'Admiral' Halsey, former Bonzo, Roger Ruskin Spear, folk-rock fiddle superstar, Dave Swarbrick and Ollie Halsall.

Dean Cole was not only involved in organising the proceedings but also managed to capture the fantastic photos on this page [which include the only known evidence of Mr Halsall playing a banjo!] and even had the presence of mind to record a 20 minute interview with Ollie following the concerts.

Ollie returned a few weeks later to lOndon to perform with Kevin Ayers at the nearby Shaw Theatre. This was to be his final UK appearance.

Here's Dean's account:

On April 9,1991 I left my New Jersey home to travel to London England at the request of Vivian Stanshall. I had become friends with Vivian several years before through the publication of a Bonzo Dog Band fan club magazine, Doo Dah that my friends and I had started in back in 1985. I had visited Mr Stanshall as well as the other ex Bonzos before, but this time was different. I was actually being summoned . . .

Vivian had called me one night and said he was doing his first live show in many years and asked if I could come over and give him a hand. I wondered just what sort of assistance I could render but said OK anyway.

It was quite a few years ago now but as I recall I didn't have much time to get there and as it turned out I arrived on the day the show started. It was at the Bloomsbury Theater in London and Viv was playing several shows. I forget how many exactly. He had quite a cast of characters to back him up, one of which was Ollie Halsall.

Ollie had come over from his home in Spain and was staying at Viv's place as was I. In between shows he was also to go into the studio and add his talents to a new album Viv was working on.

When the shows were over and just before Ollie was about to leave for home we sat down for an interview. It would have appeared in the 6th issue of Doo Dah, had there been one. At the time I knew next to nothing about Ollie except that he played guitar on one of my favorite albums, Neil Innes' How Sweet to be an Idiot. I had also seen his name on several other Bonzo related recordings but other than that as I said, I knew nothing.

As you listen to the interview keep in mind that it was for a Bonzo Dog Band fanzine so the questions mostly revolve around his involvement with Vivian Stanshall, Neil Innes, and The Rutles. The other thing you might notice is that the interview starts rather abruptly - in mid sentence, as a matter of fact. Well it seems that for the first few minutes of the interview I had the pause button on. I deftly recovered from my horror and hit the start button without Ollie noticing.

But most of what he had to say about the Rutles and everything he had to say about working on How Sweet To Be An Idiot was unfortunately lost. But what is left is quite special. Since we had already spent time together and got along quite well, he was very relaxed. I also got the impression he didn't get interviewed very often. I pretty much just asked a few short questions and let him go. So it's more of a conversation than an interview.

Aside from the Bonzo stuff we discussed his leaving England for Spain, his meeting George Harrison, and his work with Kevin Ayers. It's short and sweet and I hope you all enjoy it.

Dean Cole March 2010

From musician Thomas Coffey:

I did a gig with Ollie [and Kevin Ayers] at the Shaw Theatre - one of his last ones. My band were the support act for the first night [28 April 1991]. 

I saw him in the dressing room. i recognised his face from somewhere. It's only now that I realise that I had seen him playing with Viv Stanshall at the Bloomsbury. What a gig that was - Jack Bruce, Dave Swarbick, Ollie, Viv.

Stanshall was very nervous and kept speeding up and getting cross with the band. Ollie was raising his eyebrows a lot and muttering as Mr Stanshall battled stagefright, forgot lyrics and took it out on the band.

If I knew then what I know now I would have spoken to Ollie, stole a Bert Weedon pick or something and watched his fingers more intently.

Thomas Coffey, October 2007

Percussionist top right is Cream lyricist Pete Brown, later of Piblokto and Pete Brown's Battered Ornaments.

Jack Bruce played bass on the first night but then walked out saying he didn't want to be associated with something that was so un-together and under rehearsed! [John Halsey].