Larry Smith (musician)

Smith was born in Oxford. He attended Art college, where he met the other future members of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band.

He was originally invited to join the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band by Vivian Stanshall as a tuba player and tap dancer, whilst both he and Stanshall were attending art college:[1]

I was born in Oxford and raised in Marston. I had rheumatic fever as a child and was in the Radcliffe Infirmary in Oxford and a countryside convalescent home for many months so missed a lot of schooling. I used to paint a bit, just doodling to keep myself amused. Then, when I went back to school, I was miles behind academically but a wonderful art master, Grahame Miller, saw I had potential. He was determined to get me to art school and, thanks to him and with the support of my mum and dad, I was accepted at Oxford School of Art – which is now part of Oxford Brookes University. After three very happy years there I went on to study at the Central School of Arts and Crafts in London where I met Vivian Stanshall. He was training as an illustrator and I was doing graphic design. It was Viv who invited me to join the Bonzos. I still have the letter he wrote asking me to join. It was during the summer holidays and I was working as a labourer helping build Farmoor Reservoir at the time.

Whilst at art college, he would experience the beginning of his first of many persona portrayals:[1]

I remember once dressing up as a rocker in leather gear, greasy hair and boots and storming into the Principal's office pretending to be my brother. 'Where's that Legs Larry, where is he? Where's my brother?' I yelled coarsely. The Principal kind of stiffened and said nervously, 'Oh, my goodness, you might find him either in Ladbroke's or the White Lion, I think'. It was wonderful....they had no idea it was me. Which was the beginning of me adopting various personae in the Bonzos.....like my Mr Wonderful who still features in current Bonzo shows.

As the drummer he was a core member of the band, and performed on their top five hit "I'm the Urban Spaceman" and on all subsequent recordings. The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band appeared in the Beatles' 1967 TV film Magical Mystery Tour and also in the ground-breaking ITV television series Do Not Adjust Your Set, which featured future Monty Python members Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin. Smith was a key songwriter, along with Vivian Stanshall and Neil Innes.

On 28 January 2006, with other surviving members of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, Smith played a reunion concert at the London Astoria. A countrywide tour, which began in Ipswich and ended with two shows at the Shepherd's Bush Empire with Adrian Edmonson and Phill Jupitus, followed during November 2006. The Shepherd's Bush Empire shows were filmed for TV broadcast by the BBC and also released on DVD. A further sold-out concert at the London Astoria in June 2008 saw Smith perform with the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band where his 'Mr Wonderful' stage persona was a highlight of the concert.

As a solo artist Smith also toured with Eric Clapton and Elton John. The recording features the vocal antics of "Legs" himself, who also tap-danced in Elton John's song "I Think I'm Going To Kill Myself" from the album Honky Château (1972). He is also featured in the song "Legs Larry at Television Centre" on John Cale's 1972 album The Academy in Peril, for which he provides the voice of a television director.

In March 2009, Smug Records released "Legs" Larry Smith's – 'Call Me, Adolf!', a five-track digital EP produced by Gus Dudgeon.

Smith was a close friend of ex-Beatle George Harrison for many years, and designed the cover for his Gone Troppo album (1982). He also sang the theme song of and appeared in the Harrison-backed film Bullshot (1983), a HandMade Films production.

Harrison wrote and recorded a song about Smith called "His Name Is Legs (Ladies and Gentlemen)", released on his album Extra Texture (Read All About It) (1975).

In the following years, Smith has; designed album covers, exhibited paintings, appeared in award-winning commercials, and has created stage-sets.[1]