Neil Innes, Monty Python Collaborator And Rutles Member, Dead At 75
Source: NPR
Neil Innes, whose gift for wry and funny songwriting led to work with Monty Python, The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and The Rutles, died Sunday, December 29. His death was confirmed by his agent, Nigel Morton, who said in a statement that Innes died "quickly, without warning," of natural causes. He was 75.
In a statement, Innes' family wrote: It is with deep sorrow and great sadness that we have to announce the death of Neil James Innes on 29th December 2019. We have lost a beautiful kind, gentle soul whose music and songs touched the heart of everyone and whose intellect and search for truth inspired us all.
Innes wrote several original songs for Monty Python's sketch-comedy TV show, Monty Python's Flying Circus, as well as 1975's classic movie, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, in which he also appeared as an actor. Innes' years as a supporting player with Monty Python led to a long-running stint as co-leader of The Rutles, a fictional late-'70s Beatles pastiche that featured Monty Python's Eric Idle as the Paul McCartney stand-in, Dirk McQuickly, and Innes as the John Lennon stand-in, Ron Nasty.
The Rutles ultimately became a "real" band, appearing on Saturday Night Live and recording a mockumentary film called All You Need Is Cash in 1978. Assorted reunions, tours, retrospectives and compilations have followed in the decades since...
Read more: https://www.npr.org/2019/12/30/792379969/neil-innes-monty-python-collaborator-and-rutles-member-dead-at-75
- From left to right: John Cleese, Neil Innes, Michael Palin and Eric Idle dressed as Arthurian knights on the set of Monty Python and the Holy Grail in 1974.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Innes
billpolonsky
(270 posts)A true musical genius.
[link:
JustABozoOnThisBus
(23,369 posts)Mebbe 'e's just pinin' for the fjords.
RIP
Archae
(46,354 posts)Among a few other roles.
RIP, Neil.
Mendocino
(7,510 posts)Terry Jones has a form of aphasia that has taken away his ability to speak.
TygrBright
(20,771 posts)That was some funny, funny, clever music writing.
"My Pink Half of the Drainpipe" is a classic. "The Intro and the Outro" had me crying funny-tears halfway through... ("Over there, Eric Clapton, ukelele... Hi, Eric!"
A much under-rated comedy writer all around.
Pass gently, friend.
sadly,
Bright
JohnnyRingo
(18,649 posts)The Intro and the Outro is what got me to shell out the $3 for "Beast Of The Bonzos". It was quite the rip by the end.
Upon further research, I see that "Legs" Larry Smith and Vernon Dudley, Bohay-Nowell, and Roger Ruskin Spear were actual band members. They were mentioned in "Intro".
Now I recall "Urban Spaceman" as my favorite cut.
Innes will be sadly missed here.
amb123
(1,581 posts)Piggy In The Middle (from the Rutles)
I know you know what you know
but you should know by now that you're not me
Talk about a month of Sundays
Toffee nosed wet weekend as far as I can see
Hey diddle diddle
The cat and the fiddle
Piggy in the middle
Doo-a-poo-poo
Bible punching heavyweight
evangelistic boxing kangaroo
Orangutang and anaconda
Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse
even Pluto too
Hey diddle diddle
The cat and the fiddle
Piggy in the middle
Doo-a-poo-poo
One man's civilization
is another man's jungle, yeah
They say revolution's in the air
I'm dancing in my underwear
'cause I don't care
Hey diddle diddle
The Cat's in the fiddle
Piggy in the middle
Doo-a-poo-poo
Poo-a-doo-doo
One of the greatest satirists ever IMHO. RIP Seventh Python.
Seeking Serenity
(2,840 posts)"Do I have to spell it out?
C-H-E-E-S-E-A-N-D-O-N-I-O-N-S
Oh, no.
Man and machine (man and machine)
Keep yourselves clean (keep yourselves clean)
Or be a has-been (ahh-ah)
Like a dinosaur.
Man and device (man and device)
And everything nice (everything nice)
You'd better think twice (ahh-ah)
Or at least once more."