Angus O'Reilly

Angus O'Reilly (or Angus O'Riley) (full name: Angus O'Reilly O'Patrick McGinty or McGinney or McGinsey) was a British person who attended Frank Zappa's concert on 17-19 February 1979 at the Hammersmith Odeon in London and recited some poems.

The poetry recital

During a performance of Don't Eat The Yellow Snow, the audibly drunk Angus O'Reilly asked Zappa if he could come up and recite a poem. When asked about his name, Angus slurred so much that it is difficult to make out whether his last name is McGinsey, McGinty or McGinney. His poem went as follows:

"Burnt ween Hot stinks Child man Buds Squall scream"

When Zappa asked him "Is there more?", Angus shouted: "Pain!", to which Zappa replied: "Very essential!"

As Zappa continued with his song, he decided to let everybody in the audience jump and recite a poem. When he asked for more poetry, Angus shouted: "...) was fitted with large rubber sails / who cares? / now it is light". Zappa then quoted from Dylan Thomas' poem Under Milk Wood.

Right before the transition to St. Alphonzo's Pancake Breakfast, Angus again caught Zappa's attention and recited another poem that he titled Broadmoor, accompanied by Zappa's band covering Felix Mendelssohn's Song Without Words No. 6, A.K.A. the Spring Song:

"I want a garden I want a garden where the flowers have no flowers I want a garden where the trees have no leaves I want a garden where the tree weeds don't even grow I want a garden I want my garden I want a garden where there are no colors I wanna water that garden I'll garden that with my tears Whilst that garden Busted trees, busted leaves Walks to me with my own."

Whereupon Denny Walley quipped: "Oh, you want kindergarten!"

The entire exchange with Angus O'Reilly can be heard on Don't Eat The Yellow Snow/Nanook Rubs It on You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 1.