Spike Milligan

Spike Milligan, KBE (April 16, 1918 – February 27, 2002) was a comedian, novelist, playwright, poet, jazz musician (trumpet and guitar - also played the piano - and was a dab hand at raspberry blowing) and is best remembered as the creator, principal writer and performing member of The Goon Show.

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He suffered from bipolar disorder for most of his life, having at least ten mental breakdowns. He was a strident campaigner on environmental matters, particularly arguing against unnecessary noise. He served in the Royal Artillery in World War 2 in North Africa and also Italy, where he was hospitalized for shell shock. During most of the 1930s and early 1940s he performed as a jazz trumpeter but even then he did comedy sketches. After his hospitalisation he played guitar with a jazz/comedy group called The Bill Hall Trio, at first in concert parties for the troops and, after the war, for a short time on stage. While he was with the Central Pool of Artists (a group, in his own words, "of bomb-happy squaddies") he began to write parodies of their mainstream plays, that displayed many of the key elements of what would become The Goon Show.

KBE: REDIRECT Order of the British Empire...

1918: 1918 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar....

February 27: February 27 is the 58th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 307 days remaining, 308 in leap years....

Spike Milligan related Images and Photos (experimental)

Spike Milligan	Spike Milligan 2011 Wall Calendar	Spike Milligan 2012 Wall Calendar	Prince Charles Laughs with Heroes Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan at Launching of New "Goons" Book
Spike Lee Print	"""Spike Rocks"" T-Shirt"	Gray Spike	Multi Spike
Spike Lifesize Cutout	Director Spike Lee	Sword Spike Thor: Thor Action Figure -- 3 3/4'' H	Sword Spike Thor: Thor Action Figure -- 3 3/4'' H