Musician and songwriter who enjoyed success with the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah band, the Rutles and Monty PythonAmid the anarchy of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, Neil Innes, who has died unexpectedly aged 75, was a creative force, calming influence and urbane spokesman for a merry group of student satirists whose early success in the 1960s predated the world of Monty Python.
Yet even Neil’s patience could be exhausted when working alongside Vivian Stanshall, the group’s singer, fellow composer and self-destructive comedic genius. When Vivian began reading aloud his epic saga Sir Henry at Rawlinson End one night and his speech slowed to a slurred crawl, Innes stormed off stage in a rage of frustration.