Bearelzebub was inspired by one of the songs in The Magnificent AKs' repertoire, "The Teddy Bears' Picnic". Ideally, we perform it on an unlit stage and as the song begins, we illuminate our faces with torches from below. It makes this children's song even darker and from these thoughts, the idea for the bear was born.
He was found, unwanted, in a charity shop in Cirencester, just crying out for attention and modifications. It took a surprising amount of courage to cut of his leg with a sharp pair of scissors but the replacement peg leg, made from oak, gives him a instant piratanical look. His opposite arm was next to go, replaced by an old gate pin set into an oak base.
The eyes were a challenge. I had to slit open the back of his head and remove the stuffing to expose the eyes. The centre of each eye was drilled out from the back and replaced by a high intensity LED. A suitable resistor was added to the circuit and a battery pack pushed into the stuffing of his abdomen. A switch is set into his back.
Bearelzebub was finished off with a pierced ear, a safety pin through his cheek and black leather bondage collar. He makes his entrance near the end of the song and always gets a reaction.
February 2016