Heavy Metal Sunday - Up the Pythons!

Twenty years ago today the world lost a very funny man, Graham Chapman. Best known to Monty Python fans probably for his impeccably uptight Colonel, he was acknowledged by the other members of the troupe as the best actor among them, and while he wasn't a prominent writer, he would lob in ideas to make things "more madder." For example, the Pythons were writing a sketch about returning a toaster when Graham suggested that it become a dead parrot.

Graham went on the star in Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Monty Python's Life of Brian. After Python, he became involved in extreme sports, came out of the closet, worked for gay rights, appeared on numerous TV shows, and in his last released film work, appeared in Iron Maiden's video for Can I Play With Madness? off 1988's Seventh Son of a Seventh Son. The video was shot at Tintern Abbey in Wales. (Which in my list of places to see before I die.)

So enjoy Iron Maiden - Can I Play With Madness and raise a glass sometime today to the man who made Monty Python "more madder."

Iron Maiden - Can I Play With Madness

As a bonus, here's John Cleese given his eulogy for Graham. Hysterical and touching at the same time.

This, by the way is the first HMS post to pulled from a site other than YouTube. I couldn't find any copies over there that even let you see Eddie in the clouds!