Nice piece. It's been ages since I listened to Archaeology, but I recall digging it quite a bit at the time — and, unfortunately, missing out on the band's LA gig (at the Troubadour, I think) following its release.
The first I learned of Idle's dismissive attitude towards Innes' musical contributions was when I checked out his commentary track on All You Need Is Cash, back when it was first reissued on DVD. He makes very little mention of the music at all on it, which I found both frustrating and totally point-missing; much as I love AYNIC, we wouldn't still be talking about it today if it weren't for Innes' spot-on music.
Thanks man. Yeah, it’s a shame that Idle can’t be content with enjoying the fact that he was an important part of creating something as great and wonderful as the Rutles, especially considering the joyous fan following that surrounds it (and Innes music). I’m sure there’s a lot of factors for his jealousy, amongst them being a songwriter himself, albeit a much lesser talented one. That, plus not being a musical part whatsoever of the Rutles may have added to that chip on his shoulder.
It’s obvious that the relationship between Innes and Idle was a complicated one - since Archaeology was released, the duo reunited in concert several times (including when Idle surprised Innes by joining him on stage in LA in the 2000s). They also participated in a panel discussion at the Museum of TV & Radio (now Paley Center) with director Gary Weis on the Rutles, which is up on YT and definitely worth watching.
On a brief aside, I had the pleasure of traveling with Neil Innes when he came to the States for several shows on his last US visit, and he was an absolute joy to be around, always full of laughter and ideas and just wonderful to converse and work with. At some point I’ll write up a feature on my travels with Neil.
A really good article, I never realised the friction of Idle and Innes. I never got around to buying the albums, although I watched Rutland Weekend Television when it aired. On a side note - Rutland is sort of like Pluto (celestial body, not cartoon dog) in that it was an English county, and then it got assimilated into others at one stage, but now it is back to being Englands smallest county - except when the tide is out around the Isle of Wight, when it is the second smallest!
Nice piece. It's been ages since I listened to Archaeology, but I recall digging it quite a bit at the time — and, unfortunately, missing out on the band's LA gig (at the Troubadour, I think) following its release.
The first I learned of Idle's dismissive attitude towards Innes' musical contributions was when I checked out his commentary track on All You Need Is Cash, back when it was first reissued on DVD. He makes very little mention of the music at all on it, which I found both frustrating and totally point-missing; much as I love AYNIC, we wouldn't still be talking about it today if it weren't for Innes' spot-on music.
Thanks man. Yeah, it’s a shame that Idle can’t be content with enjoying the fact that he was an important part of creating something as great and wonderful as the Rutles, especially considering the joyous fan following that surrounds it (and Innes music). I’m sure there’s a lot of factors for his jealousy, amongst them being a songwriter himself, albeit a much lesser talented one. That, plus not being a musical part whatsoever of the Rutles may have added to that chip on his shoulder.
It’s obvious that the relationship between Innes and Idle was a complicated one - since Archaeology was released, the duo reunited in concert several times (including when Idle surprised Innes by joining him on stage in LA in the 2000s). They also participated in a panel discussion at the Museum of TV & Radio (now Paley Center) with director Gary Weis on the Rutles, which is up on YT and definitely worth watching.
On a brief aside, I had the pleasure of traveling with Neil Innes when he came to the States for several shows on his last US visit, and he was an absolute joy to be around, always full of laughter and ideas and just wonderful to converse and work with. At some point I’ll write up a feature on my travels with Neil.
A really good article, I never realised the friction of Idle and Innes. I never got around to buying the albums, although I watched Rutland Weekend Television when it aired. On a side note - Rutland is sort of like Pluto (celestial body, not cartoon dog) in that it was an English county, and then it got assimilated into others at one stage, but now it is back to being Englands smallest county - except when the tide is out around the Isle of Wight, when it is the second smallest!