Neil Innes (Rutles, Monty Python, Bonzo Dog Band) Passes Away

[overedge]

An incredibly talented musician and a very nice man who had a lot of musical adventures. This is very sad news, particularly as the Bonzos had just won a case in Britain's courts to win back control of their band name

Neil Innes obituary

Musician and songwriter who enjoyed success with the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah band, the Rutles and Monty Python

www.theguardian.com

 

[aliceanne]

Aw, my favorite Rutles number was “Ouch!”. For some reason I thought it was so funny when the apples were dropped on their heads. I liked “Get Up and Go” also.

 

[overedge]

Aw, my favorite Rutles number was “Ouch!”. For some reason I thought it was so funny when the apples were dropped on their heads. I liked “Get Up and Go” also.

He was sued by the Beatles' music publishing company for the Rutles' songs being a little too close to some Beatles' originals (in the company's opinion, anyway). During the court hearing, the company's lawyers played "Twist and Shout" as an example of a Beatles song that had allegedly been ripped off, and Innes' lawyers took great pleasure in informing the court that the Beatles had not written that song

The case ended with some of the Rutles' royalties having to be paid to the Beatles. George Harrison gave his share of the repaid royalties to Neil Innes, because, he said, the Rutles' songs were tributes and not plagiarism. That was a really nice thing for George to do.

 

[Aussie Willy]

I remember him as Sir Robin's minstrel in the Holy Grail.