MARK Brandon "Chopper" Read has become a legendary figure in the annals of Australian crime. Attempts were made to ban a children's book written by Read titled Hooky the Cripple. WA passed its first real COVID test with flying colours, but did the state just get lucky? "[15], In 2001, Read was featured in an advertisement on behalf of the Pedestrian Council of Australia warning of the dangers of drunk driving. [27], Read contracted hepatitis C during his time in prison, possibly as a result of using shared razor blades. But how much do you know about him? "[citation needed], Read was featured twice in the Australian true-crime series Underbelly. Read wrote a series of semi-autobiographical fictional crime novels and children's books. Read was an author of crime novels, selling more than 500,000 copies of his works. "[23] Read suffered a minor injury to his arm after being hit with the blunt end of the tomahawk. Prime Cart. 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). [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. The late Melburnian gangster, known for his bleak sense of humour, lack of … He is Australia's most infamous prisoner, a best-selling author, a vicious killer, a seething mass of contradictions. Skip to main content.com.au. Read said that although the parody was not totally accurate, he found it funny.[24]. 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Author Bruce Tangerine’s new biography on the late career criminal and Melbourne underworld identity bases the interesting claim on the fact that the song really is an appalling … His book, "From the Inside", upon which the film is based, was a best-seller. i don't rate Eric Bana that good, this is the only film i think he's amazing in. Eric Bana gets his ears cut off as Chopper. and in late September 2013 he was admitted to Melbourne Private Hospital in failing health. He made the headlines again, on 15 December 2008, after being questioned by police about an alleged incident in Johnson Street, Collingwood. [13] Read expressed no remorse for killing Collins, alleging he was "stupid" for allowing Read to shoot on two separate occasions with his own gun. Read explained that he had a disagreement with Gangitano regarding an elderly neighbourhood hero whom Gangitano admired. Chopper Read. His alleged attacker has not been found. In 1998, he turned up drunk on a live television show hosted by Elle McFeast and, to the outrage of many viewers, "gave a colourful account of feeding a man into a cement mixer". Shot, stabbed, betrayed and minus a pair of ears; Chopper's tale of the Australian criminal underworld continues in Pulp Faction. The incident took place in Read's car, which was in the driveway of Collins' residence at Evandale, Tasmania. He asked Read to bend his ears forward and run his fingers through his hair. The standover man and self-confessed killer is Australia's only celebrity gangster and has spent most of his adult life in jail. Mark Brandon "Chopper" Read (17 November 1954 – 9 October 2013) was an Australian convicted criminal, gang member and author. February 1978: Read cuts parts of his ears off in Pentridge's H division. Further biographical releases followed in a similar vein. [6] While in Pentridge Prison's H division in the late 1970s, Read launched a prison war. Try. The 2000 film Chopper is based on his life. 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. Mark Brandon "Chopper" Read (17 November 1954 – 9 October 2013) was an Australian criminal and author. “I am deeply saddened to confirm the death of Mark Brandon Read, known widely throughout Australia and the world as 'Chopper’,” Mr Parisi said. HE cut off his own ears, released a children’s book and a hip hop album, and tried to kidnap a judge. Everything you need to know about Mark ‘Chopper’ Read. The cast featured Aaron Jeffery as Read, Vince Colosimo as Alphonse Gangitano, Michael Caton as Read's father Keith, Todd Lasance as Syd Collins, Zoe Ventoura as Read's first wife Mary-Ann Hodge, and Ella Scott Lynch as Read's lifelong friend and eventual second-wife Margaret Cassar. Read lost several feet of intestine in the attack. 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 2006, Read appeared in another commercial speaking out against domestic violence. [32] Read died of the illness on 9 October 2013, aged 58, in Parkville, Victoria at Royal Melbourne Hospital. 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. 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. The 2000 film Chopper is based on his life.. Directed by Andrew Dominik. Not the most well-written novels, however he makes you laugh while he and the world wonders how he could've evaded incarceration for so long. However, not long after the bizarre incident, the pair met for an interview while Read was serving time inside Pentridge’s notorious H Division. Read was already known as 'Chopper' - the name came from the cartoon bulldog in the show Yakky Doodle The 58-year old's death comes just two weeks after he performed a sold-out stand-up show at Melbourne's Athenaeum Theatre. [11] In a subsequent review of the "dangerous criminal" declaration on 18 July 1997, Hodgman succeeded in overturning the declaration.[12]. [2] He was bullied at school, claiming that by the age of 15 he had been on the "losing end of several hundred fights"[3] and that his father, usually on his mother's recommendation, beat him often as a child. On 13 March 2006, he released a rap album titled Interview with a Madman. In the second book of the trilogy, Idoru, Gibson wrote in his acknowledgments: Anything I know about the toecutting business, I owe to the criminal memoirs of Mark Brandon "Chopper" Read (Chopper from the inside, Sly Ink, Australia, 1991). Mark Brandon "Chopper" Read (17 November 1954 – 9 October 2013) was an Australian convicted criminal, gang member and author. [13] Overall, Read variously claimed to have been involved in the killing of 19 people and the attempted murder of 11 others. It is not agreed how "Chopper" Read got his nickname. In some of these sketches, such as "Harden The Fuck Up! A fictionalised version of Read was featured in several sketches on The Ronnie Johns Half Hour. MARK Brandon "Chopper" Read has become a legendary figure in the annals of Australian crime. 1 Mark Brandon "Chopper" Read talks about having his ears cut off In preparation for the movie Chopper, Eric Bana went to Chopper's farm in Tasmania for some long hard research, over many beers. For instance, Read claimed in early books to be vehemently against drugs, but the film portrays him as a casual drug user. Early life 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. [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. Eric Bana … 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?". [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. The late Melburnian gangster, known for his bleak sense of humour, lack of ears … Read was questioned by detectives at Richmond police station before being released without charge. Eric Bana as Mark "Chopper" Read is one of the most chilling and disturbing acting in film. With the advent of Chopper 5: Pulp Faction, Read began writing fictional tales based on his experiences of criminal life. 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. Science fiction author William Gibson based a character (Keith Blackwell) in the final two books of his Bridge trilogy on Read. Australian police scurry to confirm claims of movie subject … 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. When he died on Wednesday, somebody put up internet condolences: ''RIP Chopper, at least you'll be reunited with your ears''; ''RIP Big Ears''. Read was made a ward of the state by the age of 14 and was placed in several mental institutions as a teenager, where, he later claimed, he underwent electroshock therapy. In 2007, despite his apparent successes, he was forced to declare bankruptcy, which included an $80,000 credit card debt and $140,000 in private loans to 12 different people. The couple had one son, Charlie, and divorced in 2001. I said, 'Come here now' and he jumped into a car and pissed off. Others believe it was because he had his own ears chopped off, or because he had his teeth capped in metal. He served time after being convicted of armed robbery, kidnapping, arson, impersonating a police officer, assault and attempted murder. A fictionalised version of Read was featured in several sketches on The Ronnie Johns Half Hour. 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". 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]. [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. [29] In April 2012, Read was diagnosed with liver cancer. [30] He underwent surgery in July 2012 to remove tumours from his liver[31] Infamous 'Chopper' Read delivers shocking deathbed confession that he killed four men. The bullet was recovered from the back seat of the vehicle, and Collins named Read as the shooter. [27] On 19 January 2003, he married long-time friend Margaret Cassar, and they had one son, Roy Brandon. Mark "Chopper'' Read has died after a long battle with liver cancer. Mr. Read is a great deal scarier than Blackwell, and has even fewer ears.[25]. He began his criminal career by robbing drug dealers, based in massage parlours in the Prahran area. Read admits he planned to hold the judge hostage until inmate Jimmy Loughnan was released. ", Read was portrayed by Heath Franklin. its a true story about Mark "Chopper" Read's life, it starts with him in prison. [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. It is alleged by Read that Gangitano burst open a toilet cubicle door[where?] Read said that although the parody was not totally accurate, he found it funny. [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. In his biography, Read claimed this was to avoid an ambush by other inmates by being transferred to the mental health wing. In 1992, Read was convicted of shooting Sidney Michael Edward Collins in the chest. he then stabs a rival and then he ends up being a marked man. Posted October 09, 2013 18:49:38 Chopper Read (played by Eric Bana) gets his ear sliced off in a scene from the film Chopper (2000). Infamous criminal Mark "Chopper" Read's son Charlie breaks his silence. 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. The 2000 film Chopper was based upon his life. Sites: Read was granted parole early in 1998 and regained his freedom. Mark Brandon 'Chopper' Read is Australia's bestselling ex-convict. He has recently downgraded this to "about four or seven". 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. Mark Brandon “Chopper” Read may have cut his ears off after being subjected to Madonna’s horrific version of Don Maclean’s classic song American Pie, a new biography has claimed. 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. [citation needed] The nickname "Chopper" was given to him long before this, from a childhood cartoon character. 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. Hello, Sign in. Read was born on 17 November 1954 to a former army father and a mother who was a devout Seventh-day Adventist. 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