Arthur Siphid began his career in the corner in 1943. Armed only with a two
string sub-banjo, he performed sterling work entertaining the troops on leave
in Berlin. Realising his mistake he hurried back to Britain in time for his
real career which began in 1951.
Working as a monkey for the popular Welsh organ grinder Thetis Pab, Arthur
soon gained a reputation for his terrifying sense of balance. He was given
his first big break in 1956 at the Suez Crisis Variety Spectacular.
Leading impresario Billy Vitesse (brother of band leader Ronny) invited him
to support flaccid French chanteuse Mellellerella Pouffee at his London club.
Arthur’s new career took off, showering the audience in soot and particles
(the entertainment world lost a tall strong stick when Billy Vitesse died
in a fondue accident in 1967).
Throughout the 1960’s Arthur was there. He starred in his own ground
shattering television show “This is the Siphid That is” , during
which he wagged an irreverent finger at leading physicists of the day. In
1965 his third album of crass arrangements of popular tunes went gold, making
it too expensive for anyone to buy. The following month his next album “Surround
Yourself With Siphid” bludgeoned its way to world success, topping the
charts in six different languages.
Since then Arthur has gone on to become a popular international institution
victim, very rarely not in the media glare spot-limelight. He has been married
twice to five women, all of them Mrs. Edna Yatik of Prestatyn. He now lives
with children.
