Roger Ruskin Spear

While Vivian Stanshall and Neil Innes often receive recognition for steering the creative direction of the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, founding member Roger Ruskin Spear delivered important input of his own. Spear handled multiple instruments, most notably the saxophone, and built inventive robots plus other stage devices for the group’s concerts. Two of the band’s sharpest early compositions, “Trouser Press” and “Shirt,” came from his pen. In the early 1970s he issued several solo releases and even supported the Who on their 1971 European tour.