The Rutles were a parody of the Beatles created by songwriter Neil Innes and Monty Python's Eric Idle. Innes had collaborated with Eric Idle on the 1975-1976 TV series 'Rutland Weekend Television' and in one sketch performed as The Rutles, singing a parody of an early Beatles hit, 'I Must Be in Love'.
Innes had previously been a member of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, which had performed the song 'Death Cab for Cutie' in the Beatles film 'Magical Mystery Tour', so was well-placed to parody the Liverpudlians. The first Rutles material appeared on the 1976 album 'The Rutland Weekend Songbook'.
The success of the original sketch resulted in the 1978 mockumentary film 'All You Need Is Cash'. Innes starred as the John Lennon figure Ron Nasty. Eric Idle played the Paul McCartney figure Dick McQuickly, though he did not perform the music, being replaced by guitarist Ollie Halsall. Ricky Fataar played Stig O'Hara, a parody of George Harrison and John Halsey was Barry Wom, the Ringo Starr figure. Beatle George Harrison was involved in the production of the film and gave the project his blessing.
Innes wrote 20 Beatles parodies for the film and soundtrack album 'The Rutles' (1978), including the Lennon-esque spoof 'Cheese and Onions'. Along with 'Spinal Tap', 'All You Need Is Cash' has been acknowledged as one of the great spoof rock documentaries.
In 1996 Innes recorded another album of Rutles music, 'Archaeology', a parody of the Beatles' 'Anthology' album. Innes took part in a Rutles 30th anniversary tour in 2008. Until his death in 2019, Innes would appear at Beatles conventions both as himself and Ron Nasty.
