I'm 55 years old; I'm not going to put my name down against some 10-year-old kid.". HE cut off his own ears, released a children’s book and a hip hop album, and tried to kidnap a judge. Read was questioned by detectives at Richmond police station before being released without charge. His alleged attacker has not been found. February 1978: Read cuts parts of his ears off in Pentridge's H division. Chopper Read,”it read. The second appeal was rejected on 10 March 1994. Chopper Read has an ingratiating way recounting his dirty deeds, even with the cops and those guarding him in prison. Prime Cart. The 2000 film Chopper is based on his life.. But how much do you know about him? [4][21] His first book, Chopper: From the Inside, was collected from letters he sent while incarcerated in Melbourne's Pentridge Prison and published in 1991. In 2006, Read appeared in another commercial speaking out against domestic violence. Everything you need to know about Mark ‘Chopper’ Read. Mark Brandon "Chopper" Read (17 November 1954 – 9 October 2013) was an Australian convicted criminal, gang member and author. Mark Brandon "Chopper" Read (17 November 1954 – 9 October 2013) was an Australian convicted criminal, gang member and author. Early life Read wrote a series of semi-autobiographical fictional crime novels and children's books. Read explained that he had a disagreement with Gangitano regarding an elderly neighbourhood hero whom Gangitano admired. Chopper Read. However, he refused to agree to the procedure, stating that while a transplant would save him, he did not want one when an organ could be provided to someone else. He served time after being convicted of armed robbery, kidnapping, arson, impersonating a police officer, assault and attempted murder. Attempts were made to ban a children's book written by Read titled Hooky the Cripple. The couple had one son, Charlie, and divorced in 2001. Chopper Reid talks to Eric Bana - cutting ears off - YouTube The 2000 film Chopper is based on his life. The late Melburnian gangster, known for his bleak sense of humour, lack of … In his biography, Read claimed this was to avoid an ambush by other inmates by being transferred to the mental health wing. Infamous 'Chopper' Read delivers shocking deathbed confession that he killed four men. Sites: [28] In March 2008 he revealed he only had two to five years to live and required a liver transplant. He grew up in the Melbourne suburbs of Collingwood and Fitzroy. Read said that although the parody was not totally accurate, he found it funny. For the latest updates on the bushfire for the Shire of Mundaring and the city of Swan, north-east of Perth, search on ABC Emergency or find your local ABC radio station. [14] In an April 2013 interview with the New York Times, Read said "Look, honestly, I haven't killed that many people, probably about four or seven, depending on how you look at it. he then stabs a rival and then he ends up being a marked man. His book, "From the Inside", upon which the film is based, was a best-seller. For instance, Read claimed in early books to be vehemently against drugs, but the film portrays him as a casual drug user. He began his criminal career by robbing drug dealers, based in massage parlours in the Prahran area. A fictionalised version of Read was featured in several sketches on The Ronnie Johns Half Hour. and in late September 2013 he was admitted to Melbourne Private Hospital in failing health. Read was attacked by a tomahawk-wielding man he said he had never met before. Read said that although the parody was not totally accurate, he found it funny.[24]. Some say it was because he chopped off the toes of his enemies. He has also said he would "never let the truth get in the way of a good yarn". Jim G. Thirlwell, in his 1995 Foetus release, Gash, wrote and performed a song titled "Steal Your Life Away" which included a somewhat Read-like persona and several quotes from Read's first book, including "I'm a garbage disposal expert", "You've got to stand at the edge of the grave for the rest of your life", "Me and my mental health don't agree most times" and "Why ask why?". Pleading not guilty, Read was found guilty of committing an unlawful act intended to cause bodily harm, a downgraded charge from attempted murder, and sentenced as a "dangerous criminal" to indefinite detention. In 2002, Read was again questioned over the disappearance of Sidney Collins, who is still on the Australian Missing Person list after going missing in suspicious circumstances. Read was born on 17 November 1954 to a former army father and a mother who was a devout Seventh-day Adventist. Read admits he planned to hold the judge hostage until inmate Jimmy Loughnan was released. It contains tales and anecdotes of his criminal and prison exploits. [6] While in Pentridge Prison's H division in the late 1970s, Read launched a prison war. 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He also appeared in the 2002 Australian comedy Trojan Warrior. Another theory is that James "Jimmy" Loughnan, a longtime friend of Read, with Patrick "Blue" Barnes, wished to benefit from a contract put on Read's head by the Painters' and Dockers' Union. The late Melburnian gangster, known for his bleak sense of humour, lack of ears … [30] He underwent surgery in July 2012 to remove tumours from his liver[31] Chopper features on hip hop songs with artists such as Brad Strut, Bias B and Necro[citation needed], The 2000 film Chopper, starring Eric Bana as Read, was based on stories from Read's books and independent research, leading to events portrayed on screen that somewhat contradicted Read's version. He made the headlines again, on 15 December 2008, after being questioned by police about an alleged incident in Johnson Street, Collingwood. Infamous criminal Mark "Chopper" Read's son Charlie breaks his silence. [29] In April 2012, Read was diagnosed with liver cancer. Chopper Read Wife Mark Chopper Read Ears Chopper Read Movie Mark Chopper Read Young Chopper Read Tattoos Mark Brandon Read Mark Chopper Read Sons Chopper Read Art Chopper Read Younger Mark Chopper Read Books Chopper Criminal Charlie Chopper Mark Read ... Underworld figure Mark 'Chopper' Read reveals how he wants to bow out | Herald Sun. Read says he was certified mentally insane three times - at ages 15, 19 and 23, and that he was given "60 serves of shock treatment in six months". He later graduated to kidnapping and torturing members of the criminal underworld, often using a blowtorch or bolt cutters to remove the toes of his victims as an incentive for them to produce enough money so that Read would leave them alive. In the 60 Minutes interview, he also discussed the 1971 shooting of union boss Desmond Costello, the 1974 ‘suicide’ of paedophile Reginald Isaacs, and the 1987 shooting of Siam Ozerkam (Sammy the Turk). [16], In 2005, Read embarked on a tour of Australia performing a series of shows titled I'm Innocent with Mark "Jacko" Jackson[17] (Read's then manager) and later toured Sydney in a stage show with a new co-star, former detective Roger "The Dodger" Rogerson and throughout Australia with comedian and friend Doug Chappel. The two-part miniseries focused on Read's attempts at going straight after his stint in Pentridge Prison, as well as the beginning of his writing career and his feud with Syd Collins and underworld figure Alphonse Gangitano. The 2000 film Chopper was based upon his life. Nov 20, 2013 4:01pm. In some of these sketches, such as "Harden The Fuck Up! Home: Chopper's Nuts: Biography: Filmography: Tours: Chopper Heavy Beer: Chopper's Myspace: Chopper's Music: Books: Related Links: Contact Me: Chopper The Game: Pictures: Pictures. Read wrote a series of semi-autobiographical and fictional crime novels. But it is important to take what Chopper said with a grain of salt. The bullet was recovered from the back seat of the vehicle, and Collins named Read as the shooter. "[23] Read suffered a minor injury to his arm after being hit with the blunt end of the tomahawk. Mark "Chopper'' Read has died after a long battle with liver cancer. [8], In the TV series Tough Nuts, Read also spoke of his mid-1980s to early 1990s rivalry with Alphonse Gangitano. Chopper Read Wife Chopper Read Ears Mark Chopper Wife Reads Charlie Chopper Mark Chopper Read Young Chopper Read Tattoos Mark Chopper Read Funeral Mark Brandon Read Chopper Read Movie Mark Chopper Read Books Chopper Read Art Chopper Reid Tattoos ... Adam Shand's new book about Chopper Read busts the myths we all know | Daily Mail Online. With Eric Bana, Simon Lyndon, Vince Colosimo, Renée Brack. He has recently downgraded this to "about four or seven". “I am deeply saddened to confirm the death of Mark Brandon Read, known widely throughout Australia and the world as 'Chopper’,” Mr Parisi said. In later years he made recordings of voice narratives which also sold well. In response, Read stated, "You have to have tried something to be able to say you hate it. ", Read was portrayed by Heath Franklin. Early life. A fictionalised version of Read was featured in several sketches on The Ronnie Johns Half Hour. In 1992, Read was convicted of shooting Sidney Michael Edward Collins in the chest. Science fiction author William Gibson based a character (Keith Blackwell) in the final two books of his Bridge trilogy on Read. It is not agreed how "Chopper" Read got his nickname. Further biographical releases followed in a similar vein. [citation needed], Read was stabbed by members of his own gang in a sneak attack when they felt that his plan to cripple every other inmate in the entire division and win the gang war in one fell swoop was going too far. His later works state that he did so to "win a bet". The 2000 film Chopper is based on his life. [33], Learn how and when to remove this template message, http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/five-die-in-jika-jika-pentridge-prison-fire-of-1987/story-fnat7jnn-1226345772404, "小松ストア上場廃止と少ない投資の株戦略 - 株主優待ブログでのブロガーのオススメ", "Mark 'Chopper' Read's final interview: Part One (2013) | 60 Minutes Australia - YouTube", "Australia's Brand Name for Ferocity, Softened by Time", "Chopper Read's life of crime did not pay", "Chopper Read admitted to hospital: manager", "More cast revealed for Underbelly Files: Chopper", "The life, times and crimes of notorious celebrity crook Mark 'Chopper' Read", "Cancer-stricken Chopper 'has weeks to live, "Hepatitis like a prison accessory, says Mark Read", "Mark 'Chopper' Read admitted to hospital", "Australia criminal Mark 'Chopper' Read dies", "Road to nowhere / Mark 'Chopper' Read with Simone Ubaldi", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mark_%22Chopper%22_Read&oldid=1003085601, Deaths from cancer in Victoria (Australia), All Wikipedia articles written in Australian English, Articles needing additional references from July 2011, All articles needing additional references, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2012, Articles with unsourced statements from April 2013, Vague or ambiguous geographic scope from April 2013, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2020, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2011, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz identifiers, Wikipedia articles with PLWABN identifiers, Wikipedia articles with RKDartists identifiers, Wikipedia articles with Trove identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 27 January 2021, at 10:00. Read was born on 17 November 1954 to a former army and World War II veteran father Keith Read of Irish descent and a mother who was a devout Seventh-day Adventist. Read died today at the Royal Melbourne Hospital after a long battle with liver cancer, his manager Andrew Parisi said in a statement. [1] He was placed in a children's home for the first five years of his life. In the late 1970s, Read had a fellow prisoner cut his ears off, in order to get out of Pentridge Prison's H division Chopper Read (played by Eric Bana) gets his ear sliced off in a scene from the film Chopper (2000). Eric Bana as Mark "Chopper" Read is one of the most chilling and disturbing acting in film. [5], Read spent only 13 months outside prison between the ages of 20 and 38, having been convicted of crimes including armed robbery, firearm offences, assault, arson, impersonating a police officer and kidnapping. Chopper tells the intense story of Mark "Chopper" Read, a legendary criminal who wrote his autobiography while serving a jail sentence in prison. Read was already known as 'Chopper' - the name came from the cartoon bulldog in the show Yakky Doodle On 13 March 2006, he released a rap album titled Interview with a Madman. Mark Brandon 'Chopper' Read is Australia's bestselling ex-convict. [7] Loughnan later died in the Jika Jika fire at Pentridge in 1987. Try. i don't rate Eric Bana that good, this is the only film i think he's amazing in. Read later appeared as the lead character in the show's seventh season, Underbelly Files: Chopper. ", Read was portrayed by Heath Franklin. "[15], In 2001, Read was featured in an advertisement on behalf of the Pedestrian Council of Australia warning of the dangers of drunk driving. Once Read was completely naked, Bergervoet diligently ran through the steps he had memorised in training. [10] A second appeal against the sentence was argued on 28 February 1994, with Michael Hodgman, QC, and Anita Betts appearing for Read, and Tasmanian Director of Public Prosecutions, Damian Bugg, QC, and Catherine Geason appearing for the Crown, on the grounds that it was manifestly excessive, and also specifically in respect of the "dangerous criminal" declaration. He was sentenced to 13 years in jail for attempting to kidnap a County Court judge at gunpoint. With the advent of Chopper 5: Pulp Faction, Read began writing fictional tales based on his experiences of criminal life. Shot, stabbed, betrayed and minus a pair of ears; Chopper's tale of the Australian criminal underworld continues in Pulp Faction. His gang, dubbed "The Overcoat Gang" because they wore long coats all year round to conceal their weapons, were involved in several hundred acts of violence against a larger opposing gang during this period. its a true story about Mark "Chopper" Read's life, it starts with him in prison. Chopper claims to have been stabbed seven times, shot once, run over by a car, and gouged to the head with a claw hammer 14. Chopper is a 2000 Australian crime drama film written and directed by Andrew Dominik, in his feature directorial debut, based on the autobiographical books by criminal turned author Mark "Chopper" Read.The film stars Eric Bana as the title character and co-stars Vince Colosimo, Simon Lyndon, Kate Beahan and David Field.The film follows Read's life and time in prison. He said: "I ran to the panelbeater's and grabbed a pipe. Australian police scurry to confirm claims of movie subject … In some of these sketches, such as "Harden The Fuck Up! Eric Bana … Account & Lists Account Returns & Orders. Directed by Andrew Dominik. Read admitted to having murdered Collins in his last broadcast interview before death on the 60 Minutes program aired on 20 October 2013. Read lost several feet of intestine in the attack. CHOPPER READ THE BLUE FLAMES - Get Your Ears Off | Amazon.com.au | Music. The standover man and self-confessed killer is Australia's only celebrity gangster and has spent most of his adult life in jail. [4], When he was still young, Read was already an accomplished street fighter and the leader of the Surrey Road gang, a hardened street gang with notorious reputation for violence. Mark Brandon "Chopper" Read (17 November 1954 – 9 October 2013) was an Australian criminal, author and rapper.Read wrote a series of semi-autobiographical and fictional crime novels. Read wrote a series of semi-autobiographical fictional crime novels and children's books. An appeal against the conviction was rejected by the Court of Criminal Appeal on 24 August 1993. [27], Read contracted hepatitis C during his time in prison, possibly as a result of using shared razor blades. He first appeared in the fifth episode of the show's second series, Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities, where he was played by Renato Fabretti. The 58-year old's death comes just two weeks after he performed a sold-out stand-up show at Melbourne's Athenaeum Theatre. Read had been molested as a child. This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. Mr. Read is a great deal scarier than Blackwell, and has even fewer ears.[25]. Skip to main content.com.au. [26], Read married Australian Taxation Office employee Mary-Ann Hodge in 1995 while imprisoned in Risdon Prison in Tasmania for the shooting of Sidney Collins. Read even made regular guest appearance on Doug Chappel's Melbourne International Comedy Festival show in 2008 called 'Comics Live in your Lounge' where the two of them told stories on stage together.[18]. He asked Read to bend his ears forward and run his fingers through his hair. WA passed its first real COVID test with flying colours, but did the state just get lucky? Police condemn 'vigilante action' after 'aggressive driving' in Townsville ends in 22-year-old's death, Victoria Police concerned about missing Melbourne mother who would 'never leave her son', Sound of Music star Christopher Plummer dead at 91, Perth Hills bushfire emergency warning downgraded despite threat of gusty winds, Pies, Dees maintain unbeaten starts with thumping AFLW wins, WA's high-risk workers, vulnerable groups to receive 10,000 Pfizer vaccine doses: Premier. [11] In a subsequent review of the "dangerous criminal" declaration on 18 July 1997, Hodgman succeeded in overturning the declaration.[12]. 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