Kieran Butler - Collingwood Club Therapist presents
Up-to-date, near the knuckle & no holds barred!
"Promises to be this year's most controversial musical" The Sunday Times (Perth, WA)
2009 Melbourne Fringe Festival
October 2, 3 & 9 at 9.00pm, October 4th at 7.30pm
The Retreat Hotel, 226 Nicholson St, Abbotsford - BOOK NOW
Ben Cousins new song from the show - You Tube
FREE mp3's - The Richard Pratt Song "Gettin Caught by the ACCC" - "Up Yours, You're Crazy" (written by Brian Clarke)
Feature article on the show "The
Sunday Times" (Perth) - June
28, 2009
Webpage version
Herald Sun (Melbourne) press article proves our 'Ben flipping the bird' image came first
Ben Cousins – a rock opera’ is a pastiche of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’, ‘Goodfellas’, and ‘Deadwood’ - featuring 70’s and 80’s pop song parodies - set to a backbeat of biting satire that dramatises the political manoeuverings that surrounded the resurrection of Ben Cousins’ AFL career in late 808. 'Ben Cousins – a rock opera’ was conceived by Kieran Butler (Collingwood ruined my Life) who work-shopped his original script with cast members Matt Walsh (Ben Cousins, Mike Fitzpatrick), Michelle Wilson (Jelena Dokic) and Peter Katsambanis (Mick Malthouse). In a whirlwind performance – reminiscent of his role in the critically acclaimed Edinburgh show Che Guevara on the Fringe – Butler holds down roles as the narrator, Ned Kelly, Damir Dokic, Andrew Demitriou and Eddie McGuire.
"Best footy comedy orientated show I have seen in ages" - Cam Holmes, Facebook
"An absolute ripper... The show is hilarious and very entertaining" - Joffa Corfe
"Great one-liners, funny songs, the show moved quicker than Leon on a good night!" - Fence Banger
Arts Hub Review “The show was a scream” - The Phantom
“Excellently scripted and performed… Almost obscene value for money.” Greg Potter, The Age online
Live video of 'Embrace Fear of Failure' filmed by The Collingwood Turtle (FLV player required)
Watch Kieran Butler recruit Sri Lankan batsman Sanath Jayasuria to play for Collingwood (FLV player required)
2009 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Show Page
"I'm a bit sick of Butler... he was funny last year but
I reckon I'm now close to telling him to get stuffed" -
Joffa Corfe (2007)
Joffa wrote the above quote back 2007. It was published here last year purely because it is actually quite funny if you don't take everything too personally. Joffa recently contacted Kieran because he was worried that Kieran might have taken genuine offence - which is actually quite a rare thing for people to do in this day and age. Both agreed that there were no hard feelings and a deeper understanding of one another was the ultimate outcome. For what it's worth, Kieran reckons Joffa is a decent fellow and a fine human being.
Joffa came and saw 'Ben Cousins - a rock opera' during the 2009 Melbourne Comedy Festival and had this to say:
'An absolute ripper....the show is hilarious and very entertaining'.
"Cheers to you Joffa. Not many people would have gone out of their way to straighten things out like that. Now all we need is a Collingwood flag and we can both move on to total happiness and spiritual fulfilment" - Kieran Butler
December 19, 2008 - The results of the Collingwood Presidential Primary 2015 are announced on SEN radio. Kieran Butler won 100% of the vote simply because he was unopposed. This is how most people are elected at Collingwood.
December 17, 2008 - Kieran hands out flyers and ballot papers (picture left) to Collingwood Social Club members prior to the 2008 Annual General Meeting for the Collingwood Presidential Primary 2015. The flyers outline his policy position and recent achievements.
A QUICK QUIZ was included and featured the question : "Who wrote this?"
"I am getting sick of all this "spin" business. It is as simple as this. People have had enough of the rubbish"
The answer is... Eddie McGuire
In the past four weeks Kieran has previewed songs from his forthcoming Melbourne International Comedy Festival Show "Kieran Butler - Collingwood Club Therapist" which will contain the debut of performance of "Ben Cousins - The Rock Opera" amongst other things.
Listener feed back has been overwhelmingly positive to the songs with titles such as "Ben", "Don't you want me?", "Three days a week" and "Ben is a Tiger".
September 19, 2008 - The inaugural "Heath Shaw's Cab Charge Benefit Concert" is staged in Melbourne. It is intended as a reaction to the wowsers and puritans who are threatening to take over our football clubs and our country. The evening is mired in controversy when hundreds of thousands of charity wrist bands remain unsold and the promised giant cheque - to be presented to the Collingwood Football Club - becomes a giant invoice. Kieran subsequently tells SEN listeners the losses amount to approximately 4.5 million dollars; but gives his word that he will not rest until every cent is repaid. "Heath Shaw's Cab Charge Benefit T Shirts" are ordered from as far a field as Perth, WA.
September 15th, 2008 - Kieran invites Kumar Sangakkara to play for Collingwood with Sanath Jayasuriya in 2009 live on SEN radio and Kumar lets David Schwarz know how to say "Muppet in his native tongue"! Click to listen
September 1st, 2008 - SRI LANKAN RECRUITING DRIVE DECLARED A SUCCESS - Kieran returned from Sri Lanka where he signed champion batsman Sanath Jayasuriya in Columbo to play for Collingwood in 2009 for only $50 a game! Click here to watch (WMV)
WHY SHOULD KIERAN BE COLLINGWOOD'S PRESIDENT? - "I am the Collingwood Football Club therapist. The Age said so. Collingwood supporters are attracted to tragedy. That is why I think we need change. It needs to be more holistic. As president I won’t not only promise success – but I will, at the very least, guarantee failure and misery."
"I am just offering Eddie a lifeline because no one else will. He has suffered enough for the Collingwood cause. Four or five Gold Logies lost. Not silver, gold … I lost my first family over Collingwood. That's nothing. It doesn't compare to a Gold Logie."
Kieran's campaign has already received coverage in The Age -LINK
Policy archive:
Heath Shaw & Alan Didak - One week suspension each, fine both $10,624.50– that’s 25 cents per member - and ask them both to personally hand 25 cents back to every member. The suspension imposed by Collingwood is just an over-reaction in the aftermath of a poor joke about the JFK assassination.
Bryan Strauchan – De-list him. I just don’t understand why we have persevered with him for so long. I just don’t rate him. Although he does remind me of that guy from “The Office” sometimes. Based on the two games I have seen him play for Victoria he has actually lost a yard or two. I will de-list him and give him a senior position with our recruiting department. He knows what sort of players we need at Collingwood.
More... Cut season ticket and membership prices by $100 – it shouldn’t cost so much to suffer so much... Pioneer research into creating a futuristic machine that can erase memories of past Grand Final victories that do more harm than good – except for 1927-1930... Move Collingwood back to Victoria Park and convert the Lexus centre into a world class music venue featuring a season of Dire Straits concerts to pay for the cheap season tickets... Be open and honest with all new draftees about how things are likely to pan out for them and give them the choice to either stay – or try out for the Olympic water polo team... Never, ever appoint Nathan Buckley as coach – he has suffered enough. This policy could be reviewed. I am as pragmatic as the next media personality when it comes to changing my mind if the wind blows the right way... Apply all profits from Collingwood's pokie pubs to set up a special counseling service that will help Collingwood fans come to terms with our lot in life rather than continuing to forlornly strive for a premiership that will never come.
August 4th, 2008 - At 6.52 PM SEN station management and Kieran Butler made a joint decision to not go to air with Kieran's weekly song "Centrefold Sam". At the time news was breaking that Paula Wriedt, who is mentioned in the song, had been hospitalised. The decision was made out of respect for Ms Wriedt and her family. You can hear a version of the song here
DOWNLOAD or LISTEN to mp3 ringtone "Sam newMan Sample (SMS)" by DJ Rubbbish
July 28th, 2008 - DOWNLOAD or LISTEN to Kieran's campaign song inspired by Mick Malthouse's admission that Collingwood are "No Good" - with thanks to TISM
ORIGINAL MEDIA RELEASE - Comedian announces tilt at Collingwood presidency
Kieran Butler is Melbourne based comedian and regular contributor to SEN radio. He is best known to Collingwood supporters and Melbourne comedy fans for his stand up comedy show “Kieran Butler claims Collingwood ruined my Life”. During his regular spot on SEN last Monday Kieran outlined some of his policies and formally announced his campaign to become club president at Collingwood.
He released his campaign theme song which borrows heavily from TISM’s 1991 release “We are the Champignons” - and marries it to Michael Malthouse’s recent admission that Collingwood is, in fact, no good.
“I wrote most of my comedy show in a sleepless daze in a Glasgow flat 72 hours after Collingwood lost the 2003 Grand Final. At that time I wrote that Eddie and Mick, who up until that point were both considered successful people, should just leave then and there before it ruined them too.
When Mick said that stuff on the weekend I realized it was too late for him. As president I will keep him on. He’s one of us now. But I reckon Eddie has still got time. 1 versus 100 was not as bad as it could have been. I am simply offering him an opportunity to jump ship while we’re able to laugh about it. I am just offering Eddie a life line because no one else will.
Butler’s campaign slogan is “More of the same for Collingwood”. Amongst other initiatives that will be announced in the coming months Butler has promised to:
NEXT SHOW: VICTORIA PARK FUNDRAISER, JULY 2009
Email kieran@kieranbutler.com to be the first to know about upcoming shows
REVIEW from MICF 2008 "Wild laughs of recognition... Butler's kick is formidable" The Age
REVIEW from Adelaide Fringe 2008 "A great show for all footy fans" Rip it Up
"This show is what stand up comedy is all about... 10/10!" artshub.com.au
"Comedy that doesn't talk down to the audience... the closest many men will get to therapy" The Age
"Hilarious... cleverly crafted songs... Any football fan... would enjoy Butler's hour" Adelaide Advertiser
"oh-so-painfully and hilariously true... see this show. You might just learn what football is, does and means to a fan" The Pun
More details at Collingwood ruined my Life
NEWS ARCHIVE
February
28, 2008 -
Whimsical Tricycle perform a personal song for none
other than Alexander Downer - see clipping from the Adelaide Advertiser
<<<<<
Kieran can be heard on SEN radio every Friday at 6.40 PM with Francis Leach & David Schwarz. He performs a brand new song every week. His recent tune for 2008 Australian Open finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was featured on Channel 7 and 9 in Melbourne and has since become a You Tube favourite. Check it out here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0PWKKNyP48
ANDREW SYMONDS REALLY DOES LOOK LIKE MONKEY
It is rumoured that the rift between the Australian and Indian cricket teams that has threatened to tear the game apart was just a misunderstanding over the fact that Andrews Symonds looks a lot like Monkey from the cult TV series!
Kieran's original music is featured as a part of WHIMSICAL TRICYCLE who are next performing at the 2008 Adelaide Fringe with their show 'Insane in London'. The show has been critically acclaimed around the world. These are the most recent reviews from the 2007 EDINBURGH FRINGE
FIVE STARS from Scot Festival
FOUR STARS from Fresh Air
FOUR STARS from Three Weeks
Kieran is the co-creator (with Austin Low) of Che Guevara on the Fringe. The show - a revolutionary blend of multi-media, sketch comedy, music, interpretive dance and street performance - was an official sell out at the 2007 EDINBURGH FRINGE in its third consecutive year.
FOUR STARS from The Scotsman
FOUR STARS from Three Weeks
June 23, 2007 - The "Song for Chris Tarrant" from Kieran Butler claims Collingwood ruined my Life... Again! was mentioned in the sports pages of The Melbourne Age in article all about, you guessed it, Chris Tarrant! READ THE ARTICLE & HEAR THE SONG
July 3, 2007 - You Tube video page - Click on the link to view videos uploaded by Kieran to You Tube over the past 12 months including "Buckfast: the music video" that recently scored it's 24,000th hit - Whimsical Tricycle also have a new video for their song "Insane in London" & you can also Kieran on "Fishin' Trip" with Jason Kennedy. "Fishin' Trip" goes to air every Friday at 7 PM on Foxtel - Aurora - Channel 183.
APRIL/MAY 2007
- Collingwood ruined my Life -
The show went on the road as a guest of the
Queensland Magpies on May 26 and played to yet another crowded room in the
afternoon just before the Pies trounced the Lions - The Reverse Curse rating is
now 80%!
Amongst the audience at the SOLD OUT show on April 21st at the Carringbush Hotel were 70's Collingwood legend, Rene Kink, and 1990 Premiership player, James Manson. They both said that they enjoyed the show and Kieran even got to have a chat with 'The Hulk' about his acting career! Just in case you have been living in Brisbane all your life, Rene Kink played the role of 'Tank' in the cult Australian film 'The Club'. All Kieran could say was "by the time I was 15 I couldn't even hold my spot in the school thirds" 'Charlie' Manson spent time chatting with Kieran and the boys from the Sydney Magpies.
March 2007 - "The Magpies' secret weapon" - Kieran appears in the Melbourne Times and talks about his show, tantrums and Chris Tarrant's move to Fremantle - CLICK HERE
A rave review from the Adelaide Advertiser and all three shows TOTALLY SOLD OUT for 'Kieran Butler claims Collingwood ruined my Life' at the 2007 Adelaide Fringe
February 2007 - NEW SONG - The song for Chris Tarrant has been released and you can hear it now! LISTEN NOW
NEW VIDEO - Brand new video from the last night of 'Kieran Butler claims Collingwood ruined my Life' at the 2006 Melbourne International Comedy Festival - WATCH VIDEO
September 2006 - Kieran and his good friend Austin Low have wrote a theme tune for the podcast 'Purple Comedy' Click to listen and check out Purple Comedy
NEW LIVE VIDEOS - Kieran's stand up set from the 2005 Edinburgh Fringe show Scotland 4 Australia 1 has recently been unearthed Click here to watch it now
Billy Watson has put together extended videos of 'Che Guevara on the Fringe 2' Click here
Michelle Wilson (Whimsical Tricycle) updated her blog concerning her detention for 28 hours at Heathrow Click here to read it
August 2006
- At the 2006 Edinburgh Fringe
Whimsical Tricycle met Harry
Shearer (Spinal Tap, The Simpsons)
Kieran had his memoirs of being a Collingwood supporter published in the book 'Barrackers are Shouting' Click here
Whimsical Tricycle released their debut CD 'Kismet' at the 2006 Edinburgh Festival Fringe and received rave reviews for their live performances...
Edinburgh Evening News
"touching and heart-rending… one of the most uplifting musical experiences on
the Fringe”
Three
Weeks “a good hour of touching, non-dramatic songs with a cheerful, upbeat
sound… this is the kind of music you’d like on your Ipod.”
Che Guevara on the Fringe 2 with Austin Low Trey Guevara (Kieran) and Frankie McCastro (Austin) travelled back through time from 2043 and led a mob of chanting punters to the Gilded Balloon on the last day of the Fringe. See the video
from
Three Weeks for Che Guevara on the Fringe 2 at the Edinburgh
Fringe
Click here for more news
During the 2006 Edinburgh Fringe Kieran also worked as Production Stage Manager with the team who produced the late night show Talk of the Fest - hosted by Paul Provenza. Kieran made a promotional video with Paul and Brendon Burns at the beginning of the festival. Check it out now!
July
2006 - Kieran works with Bill Hunter - Just to prior leaving Australia for
the 2006 Edinburgh Fringe Kieran headlined a string of shows in the very fair
town of Adelaide. A chance
meeting with WA comic Nick
the Hippy resulted in an invitation from Nick to help out as an extra on
a movie he was working on.
The very next day Kieran rolled up to an Adelaide bar and suddenly found himself acting in a movie with his acting hero Bill Hunter (pictured), Warwick Capper and Mark 'Jacko' Jackson. It was an overdose of Aussie pop cultural icons! The movie is called "Yobbos! Up the Guts" of course and hasn't seen the light of day! Pity...
April/May
2006 - Melbourne International Comedy Festival - Earlier this year Kieran
appeared in his first solo show in Melbourne for 3 years....
Kieran
Butler claims "Collingwood
ruined my life" The show
sold out on a majority of nights during the four week season and received some
glowing reviews from the press and punters!
The Melbourne Age "There's a knack to this kind of comedy: you have to infuse the personal material with humour and pathos without letting it become self-indulgent, and Butler achieves this... This is comedy that doesn't talk down to the audience... It's also the closest many men will get to therapy" Read the full review
Click here for more info on 'Collingwood ruined my Life'
December, 2005 - 'Kieran Butler - Stand Up Comedian' - Filmed in the UK & Australia in 2005 (10 mins - WMV File)
August 2005 - Kieran appeared on BBC Radio Scotland and explained why Scottish soldiers shouldn't join the Australian army... and then he sung a song about it - didn't see that coming! Click to listen
March. 2005 - Kieran & Michelle released the 'Buckfast' song and video clip in Scotland. The rest is history!
BUCKFAST - The Music Video (WMV)
'Buckfast - the song' (mp3) 'Buckfast - the ringtone' (mp3)
'Hilarious... very catchy... compares well to anything else in the charts' - *** Noise Magazine
NATALIE IMBRUGLIA SINGS ALONG WITH 'PORN'
Also in March 2005, on Scottish radio station Beat 106, Fraser and Paul got the chance to play Kieran's most popular parody song 'Porn' to Natalie Imbruglia. She still hasn't told her lawyers. She even started singing along!
