Neil Innes Biography

Fast Facts

• Graduated from Goldsmith's College School of Art with a Fine Arts degree in 1966
• Began performing with Monty Python in 1974, starting out as their warm-up man and eventually going on to earn the title of the unofficial "seventh" Python
• Released his first album with the Bonzo Dog Band, titled "Gorilla," in 1967 and went on to tour with The Bee Gees and Cream in 1968
• One of his first projects was "Do Not Adjust Your Set," where he worked with Michael Palin, Terry Jones, and Eric Idle, all of whom would later join Monty Python
• Best known as a comedic and parody musician and for his work with Monty Python
• For Monty Python, he co-wrote "The Philosopher's Song," was the whistler in "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life," and was the victim of a giant wooden rabbit in the film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail․"
• Has been a member of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and The Rutles, a Beatles parody group
• Launched his popular TV series "The Innes Book of Records" in 1978, with the first three seasons airing in that same year
• Created "Rutland Weekend Television" with Eric Idle and ex-Beatle George Harrison, which would later lead to the formation of his band The Rutles
• Is one of only two people to receive a writing credit for his contributions to Monty Python without being a member, the other being Douglas Adams, the author of "Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy․"