Monty Python release new song and announce final live show
Monty Python have revealed The Silly Walks Song - a brand new music track.
Primarily written for the sketch group to perform at their live stage shows in July, The Silly Walks Song is the first new creation from the comedy team since the 1980s. Eric Idle joked on Twitter: "First new Python material in a thousand years."
A music video to showcase the release has been uploaded to YouTube (see the bottom of this story), with the visual montage presented in it featuring scenes from the Python films and TV series mixed with other stock footage.
The Silly Walks Song comments on society's links with money and on the group's reformation for a series of highly-paid O2 gigs this summer. Lyrics include "Money is the root of all evil - money is the fruit of sin - money is the root of everything." and "Boring. Boring. Boring. Work all day, earn your bread... till you finally drop down dead."
The track is one of five that will appear on Monty Python Sings (Again) - a forthcoming re-mastered, extended re-release of the 1989 album Monty Python Sings.
Eric Idle has been working on the new tracks with John Du Prez. The composer, who is a long-time friend of Idle, created the score to the group's last film, the 1983 release Monty Python's The Meaning Of Life. He also created Brian Song for Monty Python's Life Of Brian and, more recently, worked with Idle to create the Python-linked stage musical Spamalot.
The new music video coincides with the announcement that the group will perform together for the last time on the 20th July 2014. The final show will be labelled The Last Night Of The Pythons Live.
Given the high level of demand for tickets, it had been expected the group would take Monty Python Live on a global tour. However, today's news signals that the last chance fans will have to see their comedy heroes perform together is at one of the shows in London.
A statement released this evening says: "Monty Python, the world's busiest comedians, have reluctantly decided that 20th July 2014 at The O2 London will probably be their last live performance together. The tickets for this show have been held back pending this decision and will now go on sale at 12 noon tomorrow, Friday 4th April."
The statement goes on to explain: "The Pythons had hoped to take up some of the many offers to perform at arenas all over the world, but individual commitments to other projects over the next three years has made this impossible.
"The septuagenarian Pythons are well aware of what these shows mean to their fans. They have put together a dazzling spectacle featuring all of the favourite sketches, musicians, dancers, with set and lights by the creative team behind the London Olympic closing ceremony.
"The shows at The O2 promise to be a spectacular celebration of Britain's most iconic and influential comedians. Don't miss the party - you probably won't get the chance again."
John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin and Carol Cleveland will perform 10 nights of Monty Python Live (Mostly) in total (1 - 5, 15 - 16 and 18 - 20 July 2014). Tickets for the final night will go on sale at noon on Friday via www.montypythonlive.com. Demand is expected to be very high. Tickets for the initially announced single date sold out in 43.5 seconds - a record for an arena venue.
Below is the music video for The Silly Walks Song: