The Birth of "The Rutles" on Rutland Weekend Television

[Billy131369]

And just SEEING Barry Wom/Ringo Starr/Richard Starkey makes me laugh Hysterically Every Time! I LOVE the bit he does with the cigarette under his lip/chin brought up into his mouth trick in "The Rutles - All You Need is Cash" - 1978. I ALWAYS rewind/rewatch that bit a dozen times when viewing A.Y.N.i.C. And by the way, THANK YOU for posting this chunk of the "Rutland Weekend Times"....And I thought I had Seen It All....Silly Me....

[Billy131369]

All i can say is WOW! Even IF Ricky Fataar isnt in there as St. George yet. I think the guy playing George/Paul-obviously not Eric- in This 1 was in "How I Won the War" in 1967 with St. John. A film thats hard to follow along with! (I think its cuz I was on acid when watching it on VHS tape years ago, Haw Hah!!!) And YES, the GENIUS of Neil Innes has NEVER EVER been Properly Recognized or Appreciated!!! And yes, I love Eric Idle too, that just goes without saying.

[CaptainDead23]

...or Gary Glitter catches them...

[Gooseberry51]

Neil Innes is absolutely incredible.. great songwriter and singer. Love his music!!!

[andypitz1]

So cool to see this! I think switching Eric Idle over to be Dirk and introducing Ricky Fataar as Stig got a great result.

[zijnemajesteit]

@andypitz1 And who was Dirk then?

[andypitz1]

@zijnemajesteit David Battley

[cedredecat]

1 person doesn't "get it" ;-(

[digitalramyun]

I don't care what it takes - please, Eric, Neil, George Harrison's estate, whoever: just sort out whatever rights issues, grudges, personal bad memories, etc. are standing in the way of RWT coming out on DVD, so we can have a box set!

You have a customer waiting right here... ;-)

[Carthsting]

earwig lol

[JanineRobin]

"scalpels ahoy"

[eieiowens]

Actually, Idle's character here is called 'Dirk' but is the George Harrison Character.

Battley's character is called 'Stig' but is the McCartney character.

So, I was mostly correct.

[eieiowens]

Quote:"Interestingly the actor playing George Harrison in this clip never made it to the full-length 'documentary', being replaced by Rikki Fatar "

WRONG! The actor playing the George Harrison character is Eric Idle, who would play the Paul McCartney character Dirk McQuickly in 'All You Need is Cash'.

The other actor is playing the McCartney character in this video.

If you used your brain a little you'd notice that Idle is playing guitar right handed, the other guy Bass left handed!

[stoobee09]

who played staff nurse sutton? she's gorgeous!!

[malkieshort]

@stoobee09

That's the lovely Carinthia West.

[FlamingoKicker]

Gary Glitter was/is a child molester

[cookmoore]

Donny Osmond :)

[BeyondBirthdayx]

It was last a lunchtime xD

[cranie4]

This was also before Dirk took up bass and Stig joined the group. Historical footage here folks.

The Nurse is also a fan of tight trousers and Destructo Art.

[cranie4]

Ah ...the Nurse in this is also fond of tight trousers and Destructo art.....

[calimar28]

A hard days rut...one of my favorite LP's...well that and "Tragical History Tour".

[hairypolack]

didnt the Beatles parody play on a very early Saturday Night Live episode?

[Marthanna3]

I think you're right, I'll have to check on the SNL boxed sets I bought (seasons 1/2/3, etc.). Martha

[DerekBayRoberts1]

Oh no, i've heard of the Ali McGraw Ward, Guns & Roses frontman Axl Rose had to stay in there for several years. the incident all started, when they were filming the "November Rain" video. And then he just slowly and gradualy got worse which lead to the split of the band. Very sad!

[Marthanna3]

As an Ali McGraw/GNR/Rutles/etc. fan...lol, DerekBayRoberts1!!! How can we explain off the "Chinese Democracy" cd? Martha

[peebee0]

I'm going to see him play tonight!

Half Moon in Putney - can't wait!

[gsf67]

I saw Neil Innes about 7 years ago at the Kings Arms in Auckland NZ, he is an under rated genius.

[scottytrotter]

I've just got back from a Neil Innes gig at The Maddermarket Theatre in Norwich, where he did a Rutles medley. Superb.

[Radicals888]

The Rutles rule!! The rest of you rats reek!

[david18160]

Great clip - I haven't seen it in eons. Interestingly the actor playing George Harrison in this clip never made it to the full-length 'documentary', being replaced by Rikki Fatar (sp.)

[tuttt99]

Stig has been dead for ages, honestly.

[metrodash]

Dirk, Kevin, Stig and Nasty get together again for tax purposes to sing "I Must Be In Love (is all you need, apart from money which can't buy everything)"

[feckingbillgates]

The narrator clip at the end of this is better than any of the similar narrator parts that actually appear in the Rutles film. They refilmed this bit, with a similar script and idea (the van driving away) but this original version works a lot better.

[feckingbillgates]

Ha - the original George character was that teacher in the original Willy Wonka film!

[eieiowens]

@feckingbillgates

He's not playing George dumbbell! Since when did George play a left handed Hofner bass???

Idle plays Stig in this video and would  later play Dirk in 'All You Need is Cash'

I am amazed how inattentive people are!

[feckingbillgates]

@eieiowens Have some fun in your life, you miserable old arse.

[videomaster54321]

@feckingbillgates u mean the original Paul, Eric Idle was George here but Paul in AYNIC

[missgreeneyes56]

I have terrible cold. I had chickenpox 3 years ago but I haven't caught love for many years.  It looks like I'm clear of it. Shame, I quite enjoyed it. it causes awful dizziness, though.

[oshuhua]

Hmmm, was that the Prof from "Vision On"?

[gaplow]

Brilliant! What a service!

[casperguylkn]

Thanks for posting this! Fantastic!

[wickedfeylady]

Hey, the nurse is played by Chastity, Ron Nasty's Yoko!

[kevmalone]

That's Gwen Taylor!

[YoMecanica]

That music video is as creative as the Beatles' ones!!!

[BeatleLover4243]

The Rutles were actually first "discovered" when Eric hosted SNL and brought this clip along of them playing...

Then people wrote letters asking if Eric could do a whole "bio" on The Rutles.... And thats how they came along...

So i've read :)

[feckingbillgates]

Once again a first appearance in America is interpreted as something being "discovered"!

[Nosregni]

"Then they catch Gary Glitter"!!!

[RobL2756]

BeeM in love? whoops, sorry!

[RobL2756]

"The Desk Sergeant said he'd beem in love FOUR times! Twice almost fatally!"

[beatlejuice72]

Eric Idle and Neil Innes are geniuses.

[feckingbillgates]

Neil Innes is the one who wrote all the Rutles songs.  Eric Idle only came up with the band's name and the documentary format for the film. He doesn't even sing on the songs. Eric Idle has loads of money now and Neil Innes doesn't, so everyone should start seeing how brilliant Innes is for once.

[maxeythecat]

@feckingbillgates No kidding!! Talk about being overlooked....it's absolutely criminal that he's been so overlooked in the comedy world as well as in music...he was a Bonzo, ferchrissake! Neil is one of rock n roll's greatest double threats....a musician, a comedian...what more can one ask for?

[chelzter]

haha i love all the Rutles songs xD

[RobL2756]

I just now had to pause and clean my monitor. During the "Rutles" segment I was taking a sip of coffee when they showed a close-up of bass drum. I laughed, choked and spit coffee all over the screen!. Instead of "Ludwig" which Ringo played, Barry Wom is playing a kit made by "Earwig"!

[bryandawkins]

My favorite Rutle was 'Leppo, he couldn't play or sing but knew how to have a good time. there is only one know photo of him with the group

[EpifanesEuergetes]

Leppo was legendary. Knowing how to have a good time was more important in Hamburg than playing or singing.