After taking a hiatus from music to recuperate from a nervous breakdown, Dowie resumed his career as a standup musical comedian. In addition to releasing the aforementioned extremely funny single "It's Hard to Be an Egg," he recorded a live album, Good Grief, at the Zap Club in Brighton, and an album, Hard to Swallow, of his comedy routines. Dowie continued to develop as a thespian as well. He starred in the title role of the London-based theater group production James Bond -- The Pants at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London and on tour. Making his directorial debut in poet/painter/playwright Heathcote Williams' 1990 show Whale Nation & Falling for a Dolphin, he wrote and performed in Take Them to the Garden and Why I Stopped Being a Stand-Up Comedian.
Beginning with his directing of Neil Innes' More Jam Tomorrow in 1992, Dowie collaborated with the former Bonzo Dog Band multi-instrumentalist/vocalist/songwriter. He wrote lyrics for Innes' melodies, starred in the Victor Spinetti-directed musical comedy Dogman, and directed Innes/Rutles' globally televised comic spoof All You Need Is Cash in 1978. Other musical comedies that Dowie has been involved with include The Joseph Story, performed as Jesus My Boy at the Apollo Theater, and Arthur Smith Sings Leonard Cohen, which he co-wrote and directed. A poet since childhood, Dowie is the author of a children's book, Poems to Read to Your Parents. A semi-regular performer on British television and radio shows, including Now and Something Else, Dowie has also hosted the radio series A World of Dowie. ~ Craig Harris, Rovi