Vivian Stanshall - Death and Legacy

Death and Legacy

Stanshall was found dead on 6 March 1995, after a fire at his North London Muswell Hill flat.

In 2001 Chris Welch and Lucian Randall wrote a biography of Vivian called Ginger Geezer: The Life of Vivian Stanshall. In 2003 Ben Schot's Sea Urchin Editions published the script of Vivian Stanshall and Ki Stanshall-Longfellow's Stinkfoot: An English Comic Opera with an introduction by Ki. His widow, Ki, plans to publish The Last Showboat: an Illustrated Memoir of Vivian Stanshall, the Old Profanity Showboat, and Stinkfoot, a Comic Opera.

Also in 2001 Jeremy Pascall and Stephen Fry produced a documentary for BBC Radio 4 that charted the story of Stanshall from childhood until his death in 1995. Stephen Fry knew Stanshall quite well and, along with his personal thoughts, introduces a series of reminiscences. The show featured many clips from Stanshall's work including 'Colonel Knutt and Lemmy' in an episode called 'Breath From The Pit'. The recording also relates one of Stanshall's last poems (posted by Stanshall to a friend and received the day after his death), entitled 'With My Mouth Turned Down for the Night'.

On April 30, 2012, Poppydisc Records is reissuing a vinyl version of Men Opening Umbrellas Ahead. This is an official Stanshall family sanctioned release, remastered with new liner notes from his widow and daughter.