As I said, when we needed to move over to rock'n'roll, Sam and Vernon couldn't quite make the shift. So that's when Larry took over on drums, and we needed a bass player.

I suppose Roger [Ruskin Spear] had the license to do anything that fitted the venue.

But I mean, again, Zappa's far more musical than the Bonzos ever were.

Eric Clapton always wanted to come out onstage with a stuffed parrot on his shoulder.

Because Larry, by then, was a drummer, who would sort of get bored and tired, and rather stand up and blow kisses to people. So we needed the bass to sort of drive along.

I see my role in the Bonzos as being the straight man, in many ways.

I think most musicians do like to have a laugh.