Comedian and musician Neil Innes, who collaborated with Monty Python and played with The Rutles, has died aged 75, his agent has said.
Essex-born Innes wrote music for Monty Python’s albums including Monty Python’s Previous Record and The Monty Python Matching Tie and Handkerchief, after becoming involved with the comedy group in the 1970s.
He appeared in the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail as a head-bashing monk, the serf crushed by the giant wooden rabbit, and the leader of Sir Robin’s minstrels. He also had small roles in Terry Gilliam’s Jabberwocky and Monty Python’s Life of Brian.
Innes is said to have provided the famous whistling on “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life”.
Aside from his work with Monty Python, Innes was a member of the band The Bonzo Dog Dada Band, whose song “I’m the Urban Spaceman” won Innes an Ivor Novello award.
He also joined Eric Idle on the series Rutland Weekend Television, which led to the creation of the spoof Beatles band The Rutles.
