IT’S a bit overwhelming performing with your musical heroes – even when you’re Phill Jupitus. He’s already had a bit of a taste of that singing on stage with Ian Dury’s legendary backing group, the Blockheads.

The Essex comedian and presenter was at it again when he appeared with the Bonzo Dog Do-Dah Band for their anniversary concert in 2006.

He tells me: “I think what I find most overwhelming is they treat you in an ordinary way, like you’re just another member of the band.

“To be honest, I’m more worried about the performing, especially my guitar playing, which is busker at best.” Phill is being far too modest, because his association with the Bonzos has led to the creation of a supergroup of his own.

Let me introduce you to...the Idiot Bastard Band.

With a repertoire that covers eccentric and eclectic songs by Ian Dury, They Might Be Giants as well as their own compositions, this British comedy-rock outfit consists of Ade Edmondson on guitar, mandolin, trumpet and coconuts, Neil Innes on keyboards, guitar, ukulele and kazoo, Roland Rivron on drums, congas, bongos and rude shouting, and Phill on guitar, bass, triangle and stylophone.

The band got together through Adrian and Phill’s friendship with Neil Innes.

Born in Danbury, Neil is well-known for his work with Monty Python, as well as forming the Bonzo Dog Do-Dah Band.

Phill explains: “We were huge Bonzo fans and had been hanging around with Neil for a while.

“Ade and I went on tour with the Bonzo Dog Do-Dah Band following their 40th anniversary concert at the Astoria.

“They decided they wanted to go out on the road and didn’t have a singer, so they asked me and Ade if we fancied it.

“I remember Ade and I being at lunch with the Bonzos and they were chatting about the tour and Neil turned around to the others and said, ‘well, of course, Ade and Phill are in the band now’ and Ade and I looked at each other as much as to say, ‘did you hear what he said, we’re in the band’.”

But that was it for a while because, as you would expect from people like Adrian Edmondson and Phill Jupitus, they have quite a lot of other stuff going on.

Phill, who is originally from Stanford-le-Hope and still lives in Leigh, started out as a comedian in 1984 after quitting the Civil Service. Despite making his name on the national gig circuit, today Phill is perhaps better known for his work on television and radio.

He continues his long stint on BBC2 as a team leader on the music quiz show Never Mind the Buzzcocks.

The show has been going for more than ten years and Phil has been there from the start.

Phill says he’s always surprised by the weird musical trivia uncovered by the researchers and likes the fact the show isn’t too serious.

As one of the country’s most popular stand-ups and a huge music fan, Phill was the perfect choice when BBC 6 Music went looking for its first breakfast show presenter in 2002.

He presented the show from its 2002 launch until 2007, a role which formed the basis of his latest book, Good Morning Nantwich.

In the book, he outlines the good times and the bad, revealing one of his major beefs, and perhaps the main reason he left the station, was the lack of opportunities to play his own choice of records.

Since leaving, Phill has had plenty of opportunities to express his interest and talents in a number of different things. But there was always the dream of starting his own band.

He adds: “We had always talked about putting a band together, so once we had a bit of free time we thought shall we give it a go?

“We were certainly not looking to be big pop stars or make any money out of it. We were just doing it for a laugh really.

“We did a residency at the beginning of 2011 at the Wilmington Arms, in London, and four gigs at the Water Rats, in King’s Cross. Next week’s gig in Great Bardfield is our first outside of London.

“Funnily enough, someone came up to me the other day in Leigh and said, ‘hey I hear you’re doing a gig at the High Barn’. I’ll be honest, I hadn’t heard of the place.

“But that’s what has been brilliant about these shows. It’s the chance to go to these amazing little venues, which are the cultural hubs of these rural communities. I can’t wait.”

The band are also appearing as part of Abbey Fest, in Bury St Edmunds, on July 20.

For more information, go to www.abbeyfest.net

The Idiot Bastard Band High Barn, Bardfield Centre, Great Bardfield April 30 7.30pm, £12 01371 811291