Youve probably never heard of Neil Innes. And he prefers it that way.
Although Innes has been a musician, performer and comedian for decades, beginning his career in the late 1960s, he has never embraced the glitz and glamour attached to fame. Its a little ironic, then, that hes the subject of the full-length documentary “The Seventh Python,” directed by Burt Kearns, which premiered at the Wilmette Theatre June 9 and features such names as Monty Pythons John Cleese, The Simpsons creator Matt Groening and singer Aimee Mann.
The film, and Innes himself, claims that the British performers career is purely accidental.
I thought I would be a painter, Innes said in a phone interview before the premiere. I was in art school and was planning to teach painting or something. But art students are known for being complete strangers to work, so we were all short of money.
It was then that Innes and his friends formed the Bonzo Dog Doo-dah band and started playing in pubs for a few dollars a night. People loved them, and the band was discovered shortly thereafter, eventually having a top ten hit which Paul McCartney produced. Later, Innes band teamed up with Monty Python and the Beatles, appearing in their trippy feature film Magical Mystery Tour. Innes later formed a band called The Rutles, a band both honoring and parodying the Beatles.
Innes eventually found himself surrounded by some of the biggest names in film, TV and music. But he refused to take the bait.
Its ugly, that kind of thing, Innes said, referring to celebrity life. I love meeting people, but if youre an artistyou want to share [your art]. Its not about sparkly and glittery things.
This disdain for the rock star lifestyle has led Innes to see the mass media as rather offensive. Truth and wisdom can go hang out the window.”
Innes mentioned that being able to stay true to his art and have a normal life was what was so appealing about the Bonzos.
A lot of people in the front line of fame, like Paul McCartney, loved and envied the Bonzos because we could muck about and they couldnt, said Innes. They had to keep their supercool image[The Beatles] were down-to-earth and really lovely guys, but when you make that kind of money, you get some strict managers.
This kind of logic leaks into Innes performances, which are like one-man variety shows that combine music and sardonic comedy. It almost seems as though Innes is making a deliberate political statement. But he sees it more as a kind of truth-telling.
Comedy is either funny or not, he said. If youre saying something funny about something serious, and people laugh, it means they understand it. [I am] trying to make people think that being an individual is alright.
Comedy is often very specific to its regional culture, but Americans seem to get Innes humor. He said that he very much enjoys American audiences.
People think that Americans are just big consumers, but Ive met many thoughtful Americans, and we have a great time, said Innes.
In fact, it was a group of Americans that propelled the production of “The Seventh Python.” Like Innes career, the documentary was made by accident. Two women from Los Angeles, to whom Innes refers as simply Laurie and Bonnie, started www.neilinnes.org and didnt inform Innes about the site until it had been up and running for two years. Finally, they worked up the courage to tell him about their handiwork and to invite him to the United States. Innes accepted.
While in L.A., almost as an afterthought, someone decided to record the show, he said. But then of course they got [Monty Python actor] Michael Palin to comment, and then John Cleese, then Aimee Mann, and then it just snowballed.
Pretty soon, Kearns and producer Brett Hudson had a documentary on their hands. And for the first time in years, Innes has gone back on the road this summer to promote the film, stopping anywhere from New York City to Clevelandand of course, in Wilmette.
With a playful and mischievous glint in his eye, Innes performed his all-new show, Peoples Guide to World Domination, at the documentarys premiere June 9 in front of a packed audience. His songs included satirical tunes like Where Has All the Money Gone?, a critique of the financial crisis, and Eye Candy, a scathing and hilarious assault on the media. Many of his songs included call-and-response to keep the audience members on their toes.
It doesnt matter who you vote forthe government always gets in, was one of Innes anarchically-tinged one-liners over the course of evening. He also reminded the audience to keep supporting independent theaters like the Wilmette Theatre, which, according to Innes, prevent the arts from being taken over by mass mediocrity.
A screening of “The Seventh Python” followed Innes performance, which chronicles Innes unplanned rise to semi-fame. It includes footage from shows of the Bonzos and the Rutles and comments from various musicians, actors and even Innes wife, Yvonne. More information about the documentary and filmmakers can be found at www.theseventhpython.com.
by Nona Willis Aronowitz, Triblocal.com reporter
