I did some more research. He missed a scheduled 1980 gig here because of a heart attack in Australia which put him in hospital for six months. He did play here in the gig advertised in the clipping in 1986, and his death wasn't until a year later, on 1 July 87. In Austria, not Germany.
Actually Snakefinger did make it, and played a set as well providing some guitar support during the main act. I met him the next day, wandering round Victoria Park Market, and having loved the show, plucked up the courage to say hi. He was friendly, and shook my hand. It was about two or three months later that he died, in Germany if my memory serves me right.
Sadly, Snakefinger did not make it to New Zealand, so it was just The Residents. Snakefinger suffered a heart attack in Australia - not sure if it was during a gig - so didn't travel to New Zealand. He died of another heart attack some time later, I recall.
Oops!
Oops, you forgot something.