OBIT: Actor and comic Spike Milligan (1918-2002)

Subject: Spike Milligan
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 05:55 AM

Actor and comic Spike Milligan has died at his home in Sussex, his agent has said. He was 83 years old. One of Britain's most respected performers, he was known to millions as one of the founding members of The Goons.

Together with Peter Sellers, Michael Bentine and Harry Secombe, the quartet helped redefine comedy programmes for a generation.

He was also a respected comic author.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: mooman
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 06:02 AM

This is a sad loss. One of the all time greats and a personal favourite. May he rest in peace.

mooman

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: Fiolar
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 06:20 AM

Oh Lord - so the last of the Great Comedians has gone to join the rest of the Goon Family. A recent post asked who was next in regard to the Chuck Jones obit. Here's the answer. Spike - we have indeed lost a friend today.Have a great time with Neddie, Bluebottle and the rest.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: GUEST,harvey andrews
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 06:29 AM

Now, that does hurt.It really feels like the end of an era.An irreplaceable imagination that gave light to my adolescent darkness and to many like me. Now the Pythons move to the top of life's ladder.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: cobber
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 06:31 AM

He told us he was sick Thanks Spike for nearly fifty years of fun and laughter

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: GMT
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 06:58 AM

This is really bad news. RIP Spike.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 06:58 AM

Oh dear. It's as if a bright light has gone out.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: alanabit
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 07:08 AM

For me he ranked alongside Peter Cook as one of the finest and most original comic talents of the post war era. He had a range of comic imagination that was unique. Quite irreplaceable.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 07:11 AM

I'm glad I learnt about that on the Mudcat just now. So the Goons are reunited at last. (Was ever an episode set in heaven?) And the heart of the Goons was Spike.

Here's a link to the Goon Show Preservation Society (Royal Patron Prince Charles/Eccles) - and here is the "cast list" for the main characters Spike played, taken from there:

Eccles, "the original goon," a voice combining Disney's Goofy character; Edgar Bergen's Mortimer Snerd; and Clifton Finnegan, the super-stupid regular customer at Duffy's Tavern. Jokes about his stupidity are a staple of the show, with Eccles himself cheerfully joining in. His character serves both grown-up parts and as the playmate of Bluebottle.

Miss Minnie Bannister, spinster, a sexy senior citizen who plays the saxophone and regularly breaks out in song or dance. She lives in sin with Henry Crun, but whenever Major Bloodnok comes on the scene it's made clear that they were lovers in the past. (Milligan got the quaver in her voice by pinching his neck and wobbling it about as he spoke her lines.)

Count Moriarty, French scrag and lackey to Grytpype-Thynne, who usually introduces him and attributes to him some outlandish title or record that he holds ("Has played the male lead in over 50 postcards"). Delightfully wretched in his poverty and degradation.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 07:16 AM

And I hope he read this story in the paper before he died - An iguana too far. I think he'd have loved it. It reads like a Goon Show, come to life. I find that very encouraging.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 07:33 AM

Besides being a comedian, he wrote some fine poems including some war poetry that ranks with the greats.
Keith.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: John J
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 07:36 AM

How very sad.

The world has lost a wonderful entertainer, and it will be a sadder place for this great loss.

:-(

JJ

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: Michael in Swansea
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 07:38 AM

Sad loss
RIP Spike

Mike

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 07:52 AM

When Spike's old pal Harry Secombe was very ill (in fact just before he died). Spike sent him a message saying 'I hope you die before me otherwise you'll come and sing at my funeral'. One of the best a true comic genius.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: Trevor
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 07:55 AM

Sad, sad, sad.

'Caw', said the crow.

'Balls' said the Milligan.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 08:02 AM

Spike was really just before my time, so I haven't heard very much of him. What I have heard was absolutely brilliant. I need to hear more of the Goon Show.

This is a sad day, he was a real innovator.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: greg stephens
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 08:06 AM

Oh dear, you read a bit of news like that and you realise how much the man meant to your life. Well, to echo what has already been said, they are all together again. What a brilliant contribution they all mad to making the world a better place to live in. (I'll leave "they all mad" as it came out... my typing made a better comment than I could think of)

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: sophocleese
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 08:07 AM

I'm glad I live in a world where Spike Milligan has been. A marvelous comic, we're still enjoying his humour years later.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: GUEST,milliganophile
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 08:11 AM

Altogether now YINTONG YINTONG YINTONG YINTONG

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 08:18 AM

In my last post I used the term "cast list". Just as I was about to submit the post I read it, and what I had written was "cats lust". Spike lives!

Just dug out a record of Tales of Old Dartmoor. Played it for nostalgia's sake. Found myself laughing out loud.

Here is a RealAudio version of part of the Ying Tong Song - and

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: Murph10566
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 08:19 AM

Spike wrote the amazing, zany (and still Hilarious) "PUCKOON" - my first, but certainly not last, exposure to his comic genius... A well-deserved respectful salute to a genuinely funny gentleman...

M.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 08:22 AM

I think those clickies just fell in the water. Here are their cardboard, but perfectly formed, replicas:

The Ying Tong Song - words only

And here they are singing it

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: GUEST,Den at work
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 08:26 AM

After Harry died I had been dreading this day. There was never anyone quite like him and I'm sure there never will. Den

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: Peter T.
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 08:39 AM

Chuck Jones and Spike Milligan in the same week. jesus. yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: MikeofNorthumbria
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 08:52 AM

It was a privilege to share the planet with that man. We will miss him badly, but his work lives on. Indeed, the real world contines to imitate his prophetic fantasies with uncanny accuracy. Just close your eyes and imagine - Tony Blair as Neddie Seagoon ("At last - I am in control of the ship of state ... or the stout of shape ...or the shop of stews ... or something like that.") Peter Mandelson as Bluebottle ("Oh no, my Capitain, you have deaded me ...again!") John Prescott as Eccles ("Of course I know what time it is ...I've got it written on a piece of paper.") Geoffrey Robinson as Major Bloodnok ("It's all lies, I tell you - that money was a birthday present from Mrs Roberta Maxwell of 42 Balls Pond Road.") Ian Duncan-Smith as Grytte-Pype Thynne ("All right Neddie, just keep making a twit of yourself until the public gets bored with you. Then my friends and I will launch a swift coup d'etat, and sell off Britain's remaining assets to a merry band of multinational speculators, while vigorously waving the union jack and singing Rule Britannia".) Neil and Christine Hamilton as Henry Crun and Minnie Bannnister ("You can't get the brown envelopes any more, Min.") And so on ...

Thanks for all the laughs, Spike.

Wassail!

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: GUEST,Keith A of Hertford at work
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 08:56 AM

Spike also wrote this

It was January 1944, Italy-a small group of Gunners had come forward to a small decimated wood outside the village of Lauro...We were to dig gun positions for our battery to occupy for the forthcoming attack across the Garigliano river...I could here digging-nearby-and thought it was a similar operation to ours...but the digging I could here was a much grmmer affair. It was The London Scottish burying their dead-suddenly to the sound of the rain, a lone piper struck up 'Over The Sea To Skye', the words of the song came to mind 'Carry the boy whose born to be king'-it was a haunting experience. Then ten days later...came a midnight disaster-a German gun found our range and a direct hit on Sergeant Wilson's gun position-the camouflage net caught fire-the charges started to explode-all were killed or burnt to death but two. Next day we buried them-we had no piper-just the sound of the guns around us-and I felt moved to write what was in fact my first poem.

THE SOLDIERS AT LAURO
(spike milligan)

Young are our dead
Like babies they lie
The wombs they blest once
Not healed dry
And yet- too soon
Into each space
A cold earth falls
On colder face.
Quite still they lie
These fresh cut reeds
Clutched in earth
Like winter seeds
But they will not bloom
When called by spring
To burst with leaf
And blossoming
They sleep on
In silent dust
As crosses rot
And helmets rust.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: Les from Hull
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 09:05 AM

I've never gone in for having heroes. Except Spike. Thanks for everything you said and did and wrote and recorded, Spike.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: Coyote Breath
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 09:24 AM

So sad. 83 is still too young!

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: Morticia
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 09:34 AM

I am so thrilled I got to meet him, he was a lovely man and a very kind one....going to miss you very much, Spike.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: Pied Piper
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 09:40 AM

I remember seing Spike in a TV documentery in Australia.He was at an aborigenal rock painting site.The pictures showed ships painted at the time the first Europians arrived.All over this important document were modern grafitti,and Spike was angered and saddend at such ignoance.I was deeply moved and inpresed. Thank you RIP

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 09:53 AM

Bravo Spike! You and your British Friends kept me from childhood insanity! To be surrounded by a world that seemed to make no sense at all, could be very scary and isolating......and then to hear:

"I'm walking backwards for Christmas...."

Knowing that the Goons, and Leadbelly had survived (and almost flourished) in the mainstream world, let me know it COULD be done!

No tears from me, just smiles, and thank yous.

Rick

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 10:06 AM

Poor Spike! "They'll write it on my grave: 'He wrote the Goon Show'!"

I'm sure he has one more joke ... just wait and see.

Steve

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: Brian Hoskin
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 10:48 AM

I remember Spike saying somewhere once that he was going to be buried in a washing machine 'to confuse archaeologists'. I loved his mixture of wit and irreverence, we can't afford to lose people like that.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: GUEST,Airto
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 12:51 PM

I loved his line about Irish tenors..."known and feared the world over".

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: C-flat
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 01:15 PM

Spike could make me cry with laughter but behind that humour was a sadness at Mankinds inhumanity to it's environment and to itself. His genius masked a sometimes tortured soul and I hope he's in a better place. GOON but not forgotten.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: RolyH
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 01:24 PM

A great influence on the British sense of humour.Will be sorely missed.RIP Spike

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 01:37 PM

How to comment, a lost wit. The last Goon of all. Anyone wanting to catch Milligan at his best, either the books, "Puckoon" or "Adolf Hitler, My part in His Downfall". Any videos of his "Q" series The record (probably now a tape & C.D.) "Spike Milligan & Jeremy Taylor 'Live' at Cambridge University"

The last is probably my favourite set of memories of this great Goon.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: Ralphie
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 01:40 PM

Bluebottle: Open the door!!
Eccles: How?
Bluebottle: Turn the knob on your side.
(PAUSE)
Eccles:.......I haven't got a knob on my side...

Agree with all of the above...

Ralphie

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: Paul from Hull
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 02:48 PM

Oh well.....No more Milligna...

*sigh*

"I wanna go 'oww'...."

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: alanabit
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 02:52 PM

A fact that has not been mentioned to date, is that he was, by his own admission, a manic depressive. For those who have to struggle against mental illness, he was a good example of what can be achieved in the face of adversity. He certainly witnessed events during the war which were stamped indelibly on his memory throughout his life. He didn't complain. He got on with a productive and fulfilling life which gave out far more than he ever got back. Not just a great entertainer, but a damned fine man.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: GUEST,okthen
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 02:58 PM

Now we'll all have to grow up.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: Paul from Hull
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 03:03 PM

Oh Hell, I hope not.....*G*

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: Dave Swan
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 03:11 PM

Did I read somewhere that he and Paddy Maloney were friends? I think they were introduced my Sellars.

Hoisting one in his direction.

Damn.

Dave

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: Les from Hull
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 03:12 PM

I think he was a patron of some mental health society, so he referred to himself as 'Chief Nutcase' or some such. I'm sure someone can provide the actual details.

Yes Paul - you gotta go 'ow', it's the only cure for la grippe, you know.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: Paul from Hull
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 03:18 PM

True true.....

Have they found a cure for the Dreaded Spon yet? Other than 'infecting' the poor afflicted with the Even More Dreaded Quodge?

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 04:16 PM

Once more in chorus...

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: Ditchdweller
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 04:24 PM

Bluebottle; And you're not really colourblind are you Eccles?

Eccles; No.

Bluebottle: Goodnight Eccles my dear chap; [Door Slams]

Eccles: Goodnight Redbottle.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 04:46 PM

I've lost the man I love best in the world. I remeber as a child, lying on the floor with my ear pressed against a radio with failing batteries, listening to my all time favourite programme. God is in for a good laugh.
No more will he answer the door in his pyjamas.
God rest your soul Spike, the world is a better place for having had you in it.
Sadly.....Giok

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: nager
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 04:51 PM

I have just heard the news this morning here in Australia and it is very very sad.. Spike was a frequent visitor to the town of Woy Woy, north of Sydney where his mum lived and died a few years ago now. He loved the name Woy Woy... you would be forgiven thinking he had named it himself! Affectionately he lampooned the place and even once declared it a republic. A wing of the local library was named in his honour a few years back. There is a local folk club at Woy Woy (The Troubador)where I will be going tomorrow night. Am brushing up on my Milligan jokes, limericks and stories tonight. Thanks for all the laughs Spike.. you were far and away the best.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: BH
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 06:38 PM

Precursor of all the wonderful off the wall and esoteric comedy to follow---Monty Python case in point.

NPR did a nice piece on him this evening with the head of the Firesign Theat. paying tribute and telling this wonderful story--abbreviated here---he and SM were walking past an undertaking establishment. SM went in and found no one there so he lay down on the counter, crossed his arms on his chest, hit the bell and yelled" shop".

Bill H

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: jon a
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 07:29 PM

Musician, comedian, and observer of life! Spike Milligan was a breed all of his own, his war memoirs are show his depth of charecter, his comedy a new level of it,s genre, it is a poorer world today!

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: Mr Red
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 07:37 PM

Not gone but away on his "Transports of Delight"

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: GUEST,Gerry Forrester
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 07:46 PM

'You deaded me'. You are so missed and mourned Spike.The world is a lesser place. Thank you for the humour, the tradegy and the life. G.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: Cobble
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 07:50 PM

The best ever goon show will be on right now, I dont think you will rest in peace spike, you'll be too busy making others laugh, somewhere else.

Thank you from Brian and Margaret.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 08:11 PM

The only records that Manitas and I had in common when we got together were the Kippers' 'Since Time Immoral' and The Goons, 'Ying Tong Song'.... what does that say about us?

I actually stopped in the street and wailed when I saw the headline.... bit of a bugger outside the tube station, but then, most everyone else was doing it too.

During the first ever Comedy Awards they announced that Spike had won the 'lifetime achievement' award and that Prince Charles had written a letter... Spike was asked what he thought of this and replied 'what does the grovelling bastard want now?' The only truly funny moment in what had been a direly unfunny programme.

LTS

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: Hollowfox
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 09:36 PM

Yes, ther was a lot to him beside the Goon Show. As well as the books Nigel mentioned, there's his correspondance with Robert Graves, anthologized as Dear Robert, Dear Spike; there's his other WWII memoir "Rommel? Gunner Who?", and his truely strange retellings of children's classics, like Black Beauty. Must be a helluva party in Heaven between him and Chuck Jones just arriving.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: Bluebeard
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 11:03 PM

Another of my boyhood heroes passes. RIP Sir Spike

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: GUEST,Boab
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 11:20 PM

A good man with a social conscience who "acted the fool", but gave no respect at all to the real fools and hypocrites. Sad Loss.... Boab

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: Hrothgar
Date: 28 Feb 02 - 02:27 AM

Those three are back together!!!!

Has somebody warned God?

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Feb 02 - 04:52 AM

My God this is a sad day indeed.
R.I.P Gunner Milligan.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 28 Feb 02 - 07:36 AM

All four of them. Don't forget Michael Bentine, who was a very imporant part of it all.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: donal
Date: 28 Feb 02 - 07:46 AM

My favourite spike-isms....

"I can speak esperanto like a native"

"I lost my dog so I put an ad in the paper. I said "here boy""

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: donal
Date: 28 Feb 02 - 07:50 AM

another good one

"When I look back, the fondest memory I have is not really of the goons. It is of a girl called Julia with enormous breasts"

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: Fiolar
Date: 28 Feb 02 - 08:13 AM

In addition to the various marvellous shows he also made a fantastic series of records. One of my particular favourites is called "Another Lot" which parodies the reading of a will (I think). Some of the items listed are really hilarious. Try "One small brown box containing - another small brown box" or "seven and a half pair of damask curtains with foam rubber lining well known in Belgravia." I believe the LP is called "Pickled Milligan" but I haven't heard it since the 50s. In passing the "Q series" never really got the benefit they deserved. They were probably too anarchic for the hide bound bureaucrats of television. Farewell Mad Dan Eccles, you were a bright shining light in my life.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: Les from Hull
Date: 28 Feb 02 - 08:27 AM

In a music forum I don't think we should forget that Spike was an excellent musician (guitar and trumpet, and professionally too) and, although he did play the dreaded jazz, I think we could forgive him that. And his work for the environment alone should keep him in our hearts forever.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 28 Feb 02 - 09:09 AM

Actually, there is one part-time Goon left--Eric Sykes. He co-wrote the occasional GS script, and appears on the record "My September Love" as the rival lover ("Just a minute--there's another man gotten on to the record! He's goin' up to My September Love in December--what's he gonna do? He's gonna sing to her!" ... "Get off this record!"--"I can't, it's going too fast!"). Despite being very deaf and having severe tunnel vision, he just won't stop writing comedy. (Nor should he, IMO!)

Steve

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: GUEST,John McN.
Date: 28 Feb 02 - 04:17 PM

Min,Strap this rocket to your back and go and stand in the fireplace.Hold this biscuit tin behind you to protect your nether limbs...(fizzing noise ,whoosh and receding wail) "Calling Min,calling modern Min,can you give me your position" "I'm stuck halfway up the chimney"

The Space Race 195? God bless you Spike,I'm glad I had the chance to shake your hand ,a genius and a full card carrying human being.. Irreplaceable..

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: GUEST,SoapySoutar
Date: 28 Feb 02 - 06:27 PM

Goodbye Spike, I'll miss you. Puckoon was a joy, so were the war diaries. As I was really too young to listen to the Goons live, my first contact with Spike et al was with the BBC TV show the Telegoons.

SoapySoutar in Ontario

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 28 Feb 02 - 06:50 PM

Well, you really need to have the voices and the sound effects in your head, but here is a link to a bunch of Goon Show scripts. (And that link I gave last post to them singing the Ying Tong Song goes some way to tune you into the voices.)

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 28 Feb 02 - 08:51 PM

Maybe this other thread someone has started should take over as Part 2, since this is getting a bit longish for some people to load. In which case maybe post there rather than here?

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: Leeder
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 12:54 AM

For those of us who didn't really follow the Goon Show, due to lack of age or lack of Britishness, I might point out that Spike is probably known by more people worldwide for his French Knight in Monty Python & The Holy Grail. Let's not overlook his best-known performance.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: Fiolar
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 06:08 AM

To jog folks' memories Spike was played by Jim Dale in the 1972 film "Adolph Hitler - My Part in His Downfall" and Spike himself played his father Leo Milligan. Perhaps some television channel will transmit it again.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Spike Milligan
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 06:17 AM

There's a part two thread now.