Rutle On...

The Rutles was made before Lennon's shooting, and Neil Innes certainly resisted doing more stuff despite interest. Anthology fever began and it was inevitable that someone would suggest a Rutles reunion. Neil says that the album Archaeology was born from the song Questionnaire specifically the verse about how easy it is to by a gun. Neil performs a few Rutles song as part of his live set, even donning a grey Rutles wig from time to time, and occasionally he has been joined by 'Barry Wom'. But he's not the only former Rutle who has been out there doing it live!

A couple of years ago Eric Idle could be found on tour exploiting Monty Python. The show (which found itself on a CD called Eric Idle Sings Monty Python) included a rare appearance by Sir Dirk McQuickly performing I Must Be In Love. In fact Pythonline.com was recently reporting that Eric has completed work on a Rutles sequel and was pleased to say that he got a copy of it to George Harrison before his untimely death last November. Rutlemania lives on!

The Rutles is the most obvious parody of the fabs but other rock and roll spoofs have tipped their hats towards the four lads who shook the world.

Spinal Tap The ultimate Rock parody pays homage with a mention of the White Album when the band complain about the planned raunchy cover of their new album being replaced with an all black cover. The flashback to the embryonic group performing Give Me Some Money sees them resplendent in suits and Beatle style haircuts. And the snippet of David St Hubbins and Nigel Tufnel singing their first ever composition is not too dissimilar to scenes of Paul doing the same thing for Let It Be.

Return Of Bruno Bruce Willis' TV special about the mythical Bruno Radolini may have been to simply promote his debut album but it too paid tribute to the fab four. Michael J Fox appears as an obsessive fan and collector of Bruno-abilia. The Tunnel Club that saw Bruno's early performances is a reference to the Cavern Club. And to cap it all Ringo pops up to explain how Bruno was instrumental in the formation of the Beatles! There are probably others but it's been a while since I've seen it. (So if the person who borrowed my tape is reading this can they return it please!)

In 'More Bad News' Ade Edmonson's character claim to be channelling John Lennon and that he had given him a song about a girl called Imogen.

The Cartoon Network screened a "documentary" on The Banana Splits, which loosely resembled the Beatles' story.

The Powerpuff Girls episode 'Meet The Beat Alls' sees the 4 main villains joining forces to overpower the girls and go on a crime spree until the girl hit upon an idea to split them up by introducing on of them to an avant garde artist! The script for the episode is largely made up of song titles and lyrics.

I'm sure there are many more references out there too - proving that the prefabs legacy lives on beyond a lunchtime!!

Anne-Marie
TWIL Issue Eight August 2002