Did Zeppelin fund the production of Monty Python and the Holy Grail?

[TheStairwayRemainsTheSame]

Or is it just a myth?

" In the early 1970's the Monty Python troop (Michael Palin, Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, and Terry Jones) began producing, with the help of a fundraising concert headlined by Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, initial photography on what would later become the single most unforgivably sidesplitting, enormously irreverent, shrewdly perceptive, unremittingly uproariously aggressive, gruesomely hysterical, and endlessly quotable comedies EVER."

Edited June 3, 2011 by TheStairwayRemainsTheSame

[JohnnyBgoode]

I do believe this is true.

[TheStairwayRemainsTheSame]

"Watch out for the Holy Grail" so they knew it was coming out Robert said that at Earl's Court

[lzzoso]

I have read that Led Zeppelin did help finance this movie and possibly other Monty Python movies.

Just a bit off topic but I think somewhat relevant. This may or may not be a little known fact, but Bonzo was in a little known movie released in 1974 titled, Son of Dracula, produced by Ringo Starr and released on the Apple label. Not as an actor but what he did best. Drumming.

You gotta love the internet (at least I do). I was able to see "our kid" in the very brief moments he was actually in this movie.

[Virginia]

Wow; I'd never heard that before; that's so cool!! Another reason to love them! (that's one of my favorite movies!)

[reswati]

In the words of John Cleese and Terry Jones:

"My answer's a bit roundabout here, but the very first showing of the film was in a theater in Soho for about 200 people. We had all our investors there: Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and various other rock groups."

http://dir.salon.com/people/feature/2001/06/16/jones_cleese/index.html

Ni peng!

Edited June 3, 2011 by reswati

[TheStairwayRemainsTheSame]

Dingo: And after the spanking, the oral sex.

Galahad: Well, I could stay a bit longer...

^Who does that remind you of...

[SteveAJones]

I have read that Led Zeppelin did help finance this movie and possibly other Monty Python movies.

Just a bit off topic but I think somewhat relevant. This may or may not be a little known fact, but Bonzo was in a little known movie released in 1974 titled, Son of Dracula, produced by Ringo Starr and released on the Apple label. Not as an actor but what he did best. Drumming.

You gotta love the internet (at least I do). I was able to see "our kid" in the very brief moments he was actually in this movie.

In post #2350 (posted April 12, 2009) of the Zeppelin Mysteries Thread I provided stills and a link to watch the complete Son Of Dracula film:

http://forums.ledzeppelin.com/index.php?/topic/308-zeppelin-mysteries-hosted-by-steve-a-jones/page__st__2320

[SteveAJones]

In post #2819 (posted September 9, 2009) of the Zeppelin Mysteries Thread I provided a Monty Python anecdote concerning Led Zeppelin and Elvis Presley:

http://forums.ledzeppelin.com/index.php?/topic/308-zeppelin-mysteries-hosted-by-steve-a-jones/page__st__2800

Still seeking confirmation of the amount Swan Song Records contributed to the film as I cannot find my notes on this topic. The figure $160,000 (equivalent) comes to mind but I've learned long ago not to rely upon my memory.

Update: I show the film's budget was 150,000 GBP.

Edited June 3, 2011 by SteveAJones

[SteveAJones]

Or is it just a myth?

" In the early 1970's the Monty Python troop (Michael Palin, Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, and Terry Jones) began producing, with the help of a fundraising concert headlined by Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, initial photography on what would later become the single most unforgivably sidesplitting, enormously irreverent, shrewdly perceptive, unremittingly uproariously aggressive, gruesomely hysterical, and endlessly quotable comedies EVER."

Grant and Page did contribute a portion of the funding, but it was business transaction. There was no fundraising concert headlined by Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd.

[TheStairwayRemainsTheSame]

Grant and Page did contribute a portion of the funding, but it was business transaction. There was no fundraising concert headlined by Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd.

Ah that explains it

[SteveAJones]

So there is not truth to the rumor that Peter Grant played the black knight (none shall pass) in the film?

...also rumored to have played the priest at 1:23 & 1:43 in this clip from The Guns of Navarone.

[justawoman]

So there is not truth to the rumor that Peter Grant played the black knight (none shall pass) in the film?

I thought he played the head knight of the 'Knights that say Ni'? Or did they say Ekki-Ekki-Ekki-Ekki-PTANG. Zoom-Boing. Z'nourrwringmm? He must really like his shrubbery!

[sixpense]

George Harrison.

[spidersandsnakes]

Hilarious one :)

[dave2007]

In post #2819 (posted September 9, 2009) of the Zeppelin Mysteries Thread I provided a Monty Python anecdote concerning Led Zeppelin and Elvis Presley:

http://forums.ledzeppelin.com/index.php?/topic/308-zeppelin-mysteries-hosted-by-steve-a-jones/page__st__2800

Still seeking confirmation of the amount Swan Song Records contributed to the film as I cannot find my notes on this topic. The figure $160,000 (equivalent) comes to mind but I've learned long ago not to rely upon my memory.

Update: I show the film's budget was 150,000 GBP.

Don't have the book to hand...but from memory Michael Palins book states Zep put up £25,000 and Pink Floyd £20,000 ( or the other way around)

[SteveAJones]

Don't have the book to hand...but from memory Michael Palins book states Zep put up £25,000 and Pink Floyd £20,000 ( or the other way around)

Oh, it's discussed in Palin's book? Thank you.

[Black_Dog_90]

This is really interesting. I hope it is true because it would have been really nice of Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd and I'm also a big fan of Monty Python and the film. The film is actually my favourite comedy film and the funniest film I have seen. So Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd did contribute in the making of the film, so thanks for the contribution.

[Black_Dog_90]

I have found this in trivia section on IMDb and only Pink Floyd is mentioned.

"Funds earned by Pink Floyd's album "The Dark Side of the Moon" went towards funding The Holy Grail. The band were such fans of the show they would halt recording sessions just to watch "Monty Python's Flying Circus" (1969)."

[iwantsurfaces]

Michael palin's diaries confirms they put £25k into the film. Lovely bit where he says plant and page were standing together "almost shyly" at the backers party.

[dazedcat]

George Harrison.

That's what I always thought too. I'm pretty sure he mortaged his house at the time to raise funds for the movie.............or was that another Python movie?

[Strider]

Michael palin's diaries confirms they put £25k into the film. Lovely bit where he says plant and page were standing together "almost shyly" at the backers party.

Thanks...my Palin book is buried so deep in my storage I haven't been able to get to it. So thanks for saving me the trouble and confirming my suspicians.

[Triplet Kick]

I'm pretty sure he mortaged his house at the time to raise funds for the movie.............or was that another Python movie?

You're thinking of The Life of Brian. Handmade Films was created by Harrison & his business manager in 1978 to rescue the Python production after EMI pulled out over the script. Apparently Harrison remortgaged his house to finance it. He got a

for his efforts.

[dazedcat]

Yes thanks, I had the wrong movie then. I knew Harrison was involved in something they did.

[Greg]

Sky Arts have just shown an excellent 6-part Python documentary featuring interviews with all the remaining members, and Terry Giliian and one other both confirm that Zeppelin contributed financially to the production cost. Michael Palin comments on Zeppelin, saying that he was very pleased with the fact they didn't want any input, and were just happy to let Python get on with it. Terrific stuff.