The Rutles Return For U.K. Tour

Issuing a press release, Ron Nasty (Neil Innes) said he and Rutles drummer Barrington Womble (John Halsey) would be the band’s only original members, reports NME. The pseudo British Invasion group began life as part of a sketch that aired on Eric Idle’s “Rutland Weekend Television” program. 

Originally composed of Nasty, Womble, Dirk McQuickly (Idle) and Stig O’Hara (Ricky Fataar), after a clip of the band appeared on “Saturday Night Live,” NBC provided the funds for the “All You Need Is Cash” mockumentary that aired March 1978.  The program was reportedly the lowest-rated show that aired on the major TV networks in prime time that week.  It aired on the BBC one week later and gathered a considerably larger audience.

Here are the dates:

May 7 – Exeter, Exeter Phoenix
May 8 – Stroud, Subscription Rooms
May 9 – Cardiff, The Globe
May 10 – Frome, Cheese & Grain
May 11 – Southampton, The Brook
May 14 – York, Fibbers
May 15 – Newcastle, O2 Academy Newcastle 2
May 16 – Leeds, City Varieties Music Hall
May 17 – Nottingham, The Rescue Rooms
May 18 – Didcot, Cornerstone Arts Centre
May 21 – Birmingham, Town Hall
May 22 – London, O2 Academy Islington
May 23 – Farnham, Farnham Maltings
May 24 – Bridport, The Electric Palace
May 25 – Swansea, The Garage Music Venue
May 29 – Manchester, Royal Northern College Of Music
May 30 – Glasgow, ABC1 

Some shows are already on sale.  Visit Innes’ home page for more information.