Neil Innes Music Neil Innes Pictures

GINGER GEEZER BOOK LAUNCH
LONDON
17th OCTOBER 2001

The Princess Louise pub in Holborn, London was the venue for the launch
of the Vivian Stanshall biography, GINGER GEEZER. It was also the venue for
a jam session which included ex-Bonzos Neil Innes, Rodney Slater and Vernon
Dudley Bohay Nowell.

"Mr Stanshall's Parrot", a poem written for the evening by
John Dowie is posted below the photographs.


Neil Innes on Keyboards	Neil Innes on Keyboards	Neil Innes on Keyboards

Neil Innes on Keyboards	Neil Innes on Keyboards	Neil Innes on Keyboards

Neil Innes on Keyboards	Neil Innes on Keyboards	Neil Innes on Keyboards

Rodney Slater on Sax	Rodney Slater on Sax	Rodney Slater on Sax

Rodney Slater on Sax	Rodney Slater on Sax	Rodney Slater on Sax

Vernon Dudley Bohay Nowell on Musical Saw	Vernon Dudley Bohay Nowell on Musical Saw	Vernon Dudley Bohay Nowell on Musical Saw

	Author Chris Welch on Drums
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Copyright Danny Barbour		Copyright Danny Barbour

Mr Stanshall's Parrot

I like the notion that he took it
Everywhere he went
Muswell Hill to Morecambe Bay
Cardigan to Kent
Pub to club to coffee bar
Garden flat to garret
Everywhere Viv Stanshall went
So did his parrot

I picture him in Portland Place
Drunk on beer and claret
Cigarette stuck in his face
Ruining his palate
I picture a surreal race
Of which he ran the gamut
And everywhere Viv Stanshall went
So did his parrot

A friend of mine woke up at nine
Viv Stanshall on the phone
Lonely drunk and desperate
Unable to get home
"Don't worry, Viv. Get over here.
Viv. Listen to me will you?
Get a cab. I'll pay. What?
Well ... Bring the parrot with you."

And now I see a staircase made
Of light and air and gold
I watch the gates of paradise
Happily unfold
I hear the sound of seraphim
(not unlike Syd Barrett)
As friendly faces welcome in
Bespectacled with bearded chin
Bearing a euphonium
A ukulele and a drum
A paint brush and a palette
Mr. Vivian Stanshall and
Mr. Stanshall's parrot!

John Dowie
October 2001