Now, there’s an attention-grabbing title for you. Which is no doubt exactly what Rik Mayall thought when he chose to name his eccentric tome in this very manner. Or perhaps I should address him him as The Rik Mayall, which is how he refers to himself throughout the text. Even though it is a book all about the life and times of the man himself in his own words, I am loath to describe the book as an autobiography. It is notably short on the things you would normally expect to find in an autobiography – such as dates and facts – and most of it appears to be complete bollocks, but this is rather beside the point. This is full on, unfiltered Rik Mayall!
Rik describes himself endlessly as a giant of light entertainment and a talent of God-like proportions. I happen to agree with him but it is true to say his particular brand of humour is an acquired taste. Those not already enamoured with his work will find little in this book to change their minds. However, for those dedicated followers of The Rik Mayall this is an absolute scream and, I would say, essential reading. For all I know months and months of careful planning and research went into the book but it reads like the manic stream of consciousness of a man convinced of his superiority in every way to the rest of mankind – and convinced that everyone else knows it, too.
It is wildly offensive to absolutely everyone of every gender, race, religion and sexual orientation and unapologetically so. One gets the feeling that if this was written by anyone other than Mayall, no publisher would touch it with a barge pole. But despite the bad language, poor taste and terrible syntax, it is completely devoid of bile or malice of any kind and for all the ranting and random threats, we know that Rik is imploring us to laugh at him, not with him (yes, that way round). And laugh I did, it’s bloody hilarious. At several points I had to actually put the book down and have a proper guffaw, on occasion doubled up with mirth on my bed.
And it was during one such outburst that I thought to myself – this book really reminds me of something. Obviously such things as Bottom, The Young Ones, Dangerous Brothers, The Comic Strip (for all of which Rik takes complete and sole credit) come to mind but, no – it was something else. Hang on, I thought – random, impassioned stream of consciousness… complete disregard for facts and a linear narrative… unable to distinguish between reality and fantasy… This is rather like Finnegans Wake! Alright, it’s a Finnegans Wake you can actually understand, but the similarities are uncanny, I reckon. So, much like James Joyce, we must assume that Rik was either a raving lunatic or complete genius. In truth, he was probably both.
Nicked this picture from Google. Copyright is owned by the BBC and I don’t have permission to use it, which would make Rik proud.
Carefully enveloped in the anarchy and fury is an unusually heartfelt passage referring to the notorious quad bike accident in 1998 that almost claimed his life. As Mayall contemplates his own mortality in surprisingly beautiful prose, I thought a little tear might find its way out of my eye. But, just in the nick of time, normal offence-laden banter is resumed and we are back on the literary rollercoaster before anyone gets too emotional.
I don’t usually talk about books as I prefer writing them to reading them but I couldn’t let this one slip by unmentioned. Whether you believe Rik to be (as he continually professes himself) the most brilliant and original entertainer in the entire history of the world, or the very worst example of humanity, this book will prove you right. What we can all agree upon, however, is that when he burst onto the public stage in the early 80s – wild-eyed and relentlessly anarchic – the world really wasn’t ready for him. But when he died suddenly in 2014, we were nowhere near ready to let him go. I personally cried for three days. Not continually, obviously. On and off. I mean, I still had to go to work and the shops and things.
I would say rest in peace, but I suspect that rest and peace would be the last things The Rik Mayall would want.
Lucy Brazier 
I must get that book.
You will not be disappointed.
If I am I will hold you personally responsible and burn your books
That seems reasonable, to be fair.
Of course I will have to go and buy paper versions as it’s not easy to burn a kindle. I feel you will come out quiet well from this.
You could try putting the Kindle in the microwave, but that does jeapodise all the other books too, which hardly seems fair to the other authors who haven’t offended you by recommending a book. In any case I’m sure it won’t be necessary. This is a genuinely brilliant book. Rik never disappoints!
I may have to read this 😀
I loved Rik Mayall in most of the things he did…I say most because I didn’t watch everything…
I loved that he seemed to have the ability to walk into something, cause complete and utter chaos and have it turn out to be brilliant!
It’s surprising how many things he has been in over the years! And such a wide range, too – obviously he is best known for his more crazy roles, but I loved him in Jackanory and Grimm Tales and he was brilliant in Rik Mayall presents. I can highly recommend this book to everyone except the easily offended 🙂
Yes, there are so many things he did that i didn’t see!
I loved the New Statesman, despite being a young teenager when it was on, far too young really to be the intended audience for it! I used to sneak watch it on my tiny TV in my room!
The New Statesman was wonderful! I remember my auntie bought me the video box sets of The Young Ones when I was only about 11. Probably a bit too young to be watching that – but it was a revelation! My mum always hated my brother and I watching Bottom 🙂
I watched some of the Young Ones when I was quite little and had no idea what was going on, then re watched it later and realised it was even more surreal than I originally thought!
I don’t think my mum liked Bottom, we never watched it as a family, I think my dad quite liked it though… 🙂
It was so surreal! Most of the time it made no sense, which I think is why I loved (and still love!) it so much.
Bottom is definitely not for mums…
I agree totally!!
I love the surreal things that had no explanation at all! Things didn’t all get explained away at the end of the episode 🙂
I agree about the Borris woman too…she is absolutely plotless…
Ha! Boris woman is a constant source of entertainment! How helpful that we now have an astrological chart for our Foreign Sec. It’s the very thing we have all been waiting for!
I can’t imagine how we have survived this long without one to be honest.
I am surprised the country hasn’t descended into anarchy!
In other news – it appears that Boris woman has gone completely barking…
https://cyberboris.wordpress.com/2018/06/19/boris-johnson-has-fortuitous-aspects-on-his-birthday/
😮 Wow….what is this? Amazing that’s what! So many questions! It has the vibe of not being satirical and is on so many different levels entertaining!!!
She is a huge Boris Johnson fan, it would seem. I’ve been following her for a while now – on occasion she is hilarious!
What a gem….she was an instafollow for me! Spectacular, my head is still swimming 😊
I love her Boris quotes down the right hand side – classic!
I’ll look on my laptop later, doesn’t seem to be on the mobile version – I bet she’s entertaining at the pub after a couple of drinks!!
She needs to start drinking at a particular pub in Duxford…
She does! I was just thinking this very thing….that’d be a joy to behold!!!