Neil Innes and The Rutles

Neil Innes ~ British singer and comedian with The Bonzo Dog Band, the Rutles and Monty Python

THE RUTLES ~ "I MUST BE IN LOVE";


Innes got his start in the late sixties with the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, who mixed contemporary Brit Beat pop with Dada and absurdist satire which got them a cult following (especially among critics) but only one real hit with "I'm The Urban Spaceman". They also got the attention of the Beatles who invited them to join in "The Magical Mystery Tour" with the song "Death Cab For Cutie" which would also inspire the later indie band of the same name. Another song "Trouser Press" would inspire the name of a 1980's New Wave music magazine. After the Bonzos broke up Innes founded two other bands The World and GRIMMS who released a few albums with little success. By the early 70's he was collaborating with Monty Python on various musical numbers without officially joining the troupe.

THE BONZO DOG BAND ~ "I'M THE URBAN SPACEMAN";


Starting in 1975 Innes collaborated with Python member Eric Idle to form The Rutles a Beatles parody band who started out as part of a TV series and then a full length special "The Rutles; All You Need Is Cash" which would include cameos by various members of Monty Python (Micheal Palin) and Saturday Night Live (John Belushi, Dan Ackroyd, Bill Murray, Al Franken, Tom Davis), plus George Harrison, Ron Wood, Mick Jagger, Bianca Jagger and Paul Simon. Following this there would be a full album which included Beatles songs so realistic that the Beatles publishers actually sued Innes & Palin. To get out of the suit Innes had to give the not-terribly-convincing testimony that he had never actually heard the original songs. Even more comically many years later Innes would sue Oasis for plagiarizing the Rutles.

THE RUTLES ~ "GET UP & GO";


In later years Innes would do other British comedy and kids TV shows and occasional Rutles reunions.

THE RUTLES ~ "PIGGY IN THE MIDDLE";