Comics help cult band reform

The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band are to reform – with Phill Jupitus and Adrian Edmondson taking lead vocals.

The comics will stand in for the late Vivian Stanshall when the seven original members perform a 12-date 40th anniversary tour in November.

Paul Merton has also agreed to appear with the cult band for their London dates, at Shepherds Bush Empire on November 17 and 18.

All three comics – as well as Stephen Fry – got on stage with the Bonzos for a one-off gig at the Royal Albert Hall in January.

Jupitus told the Thisislancashire website: ‘We were just stood at the side of the stage watching these guys perform, pinching ourselves. To be involved in a tour is a bit like an elaborate version of Jim'll Fix It.

‘If I wasn't in the show I'd be trying to get tickets for every night. I'm a huge fan and I'm so happy to see the band gigging again

‘For the first half of the show it is just the boys on stage. Then Ade and I come on for the second. It's not my gig so I just play it absolutely straight.’

The schedule is

• November 4: Ipswich Regents Theatre
• November 5: Bournemouth - Opera House
• November 6: Cardiff - St Davids Hall
• November 7: Bristol - Colston Hall
• November 9: Wolverhampton - Civic Hall Buy tickets
• November 10: Liverpool - Philharmonic Hall
• November 11: Leicester - De Montfort
• November 12: Newcastle - City Hall
• November 13: Edinburgh - Usher Hall
• November 15: Manchester - Apollo. Buy tickets
• November 17: London - Shepherds Bush Empire. Buy tickets
• November 18: London - Shepherds Bush Empire. Buy tickets

Published: 25 Sep 2006