Neil Innes death: Monty Python and The Rutles star dies aged 75

Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy 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. 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.