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The 2010s have at least one last kick in the nuts before they go. Today we lost lovely Neil Innes, the seventh Python (though I like to place him equal seventh with Carol Cleveland) and by all accounts a thoroughly decent man. I met him only once, I think, when he got into the cab I was getting out of in Melbourne in 2003.
http://www.richardherring.com/warmingup/28/03/2003/index.html I did at least shake him by the hand and thank him, even though all I really remember is his bewildered face.
His connection with Python was what drew me in. The first thing I ever heard from them was the Live at Drury Lane album that my brother had on tape and Innes sang “How Sweet To Be An Idiot†which of course I loved. The choice of language in that song is remarkable from the idea of dipping your brain in joy, to “the warm but insecure, untidy crowdâ€. What an amazing selection of words.
I don’t think I even knew what a pedant was but I still adored
“Hey you, you’re such a pedant
You’ve got as much brain as a dead ant,
As much imagination as a caravan site.
But I still love you.â€
Astonishing stuff.
I loved him as Sir Robin’s minstrel in Holy Grail and though I never really saw Rutland Weekend Television, I had the book and massively enjoyed the Rutles.
I did see the Innes Book of Records though and remember staying up late to watch it with my brother, not always totally grasping it, but knowing I was seeing something smart and sophisticated and haunting.
On top of all that he had the Bonzos too. And kept on working and hustling. And was it seems happy to give the fans what they wanted, with joy, not bitterness.
This is worth a look
There had been a little bit of twitter talk about getting him on RHLSTP but we never quite made it work. He was one of those people that I assumed I’d get round to talking to at some point, always forgetting the guillotine that hangs above us all. Having seen all the tributes about what a generous and caring man he was. I regret it even more now. I’m an idiot. Turns out it’s not always sweet.
