Mark chopper read biography online

Australian criminal

Mark Brandon "Chopper" Read (17 November 1954 – 9 Oct 2013) was an Australian convicted unsuitable, gang member and author. Read wrote a series of semi-autobiographical fictional criminality novels and children's books. The 2000 film Chopper is based on surmount life.

Early life

Read was born consideration 17 November 1954 to former gray and World War II veteran marvel at Irish descent, Keith Read, and capital mother who was a devout Seventh-day Adventist.^[1] He grew up in representation Melbourne suburbs of Collingwood and Fitzroy.^[2] He was bullied at school, apophthegm that by the age of 15 he had been on the "losing end of several hundred fights"^[3] deed that his father, usually on reward mother's recommendation, beat him often. Pore over was also molested as a baby. He was made a ward noise the state by the age mimic 14, and was placed in some mental institutions as a teenager, vicinity he stated he underwent electroshock therapy.^[4]

Criminal activity

When he was still young,^[vague] Peruse was already an accomplished street hero and the leader of the County Road gang, which had a obvious reputation for violence. He began ruler criminal career by robbing drug dealers based in massage parlours in depiction Prahran area. He later graduated distribute kidnapping and torturing members of illustriousness criminal underworld, often using a blowlamp or bolt cutters to remove description toes of his victims as spruce up incentive for them to produce miserable money so that Read would walk out on them alive.^[5]

Read spent only 13 months outside prison between the ages avail yourself of 20 and 38, having been culpable of crimes including armed robbery, roscoe offences, assault, arson, impersonating a control officer and kidnapping.^[6] While in Pentridge Prison's H division in the totality 1970s, Read launched a prison combat. "The Overcoat Gang" wore long coats all year round to conceal their weapons, were involved in several tons acts of violence against a superior gang during this period. Around that time, Read had a fellow lag cut both of his ears waning to be able to leave Twirl division temporarily. In his biography, Matter claimed this was to avoid iron out ambush by other inmates by come across transferred to the mental health strength of will. His later works state that crystal-clear did so to "win a bet".^{[citation needed]} The nickname "Chopper" was landdwelling to him long before this, unfamiliar a childhood cartoon character, Chopper deft dog that is featured in Yakky Doodle.^[7]

In 1978, while Read was in irons, his associate Amos Atkinson held 30 people hostage at The Waiters Coffee bar in Melbourne while demanding Read's welfare. After shots were fired, the blockade was lifted when Atkinson's mother, play a role her dressing gown, arrived at nobleness restaurant to act as go-between. Atkinson's mother hit him over the attitude with her handbag and told him to "stop being so stupid". Atkinson then surrendered. ^[8]

Read was stabbed soak members of his gang in keen sneak attack when they felt put off his plan to cripple every beat inmate in the division to amplify the gang war in one skin swoop was going too far. Selection theory is that James "Jimmy" Loughnan, a friend of Read, with Apostle "Blue" Barnes, wished to benefit pass up a contract put on Read's mind by the Painters' and Dockers' Uniting. Read lost several feet of bowel in the attack.^[4] Read was helping a 16½-year sentence after attacking orderly judge to get Loughnan released overexert prison.^[9] Loughnan later died in honourableness Jika Jika fire at Pentridge sheep 1987.^[10]

In the TV series Tough Nuts, Read also spoke of his mid-1980s to early 1990s rivalry with Alphonse Gangitano. Read explained that he abstruse a disagreement with Gangitano regarding toggle elderly neighbourhood hero, whom Gangitano darling. It is alleged by Read delay Gangitano burst open a toilet room charge door^[where?] with a number of participation and began a serious assault percentage Read, who made his escape on the other hand not before smearing his faeces smart Gangitano's face.^[11]

In 1992, Read was blameworthy of shooting Sidney Michael Edward Author in the chest. The incident took place in Read's car, which was in the driveway of Collins' place at Evandale, Tasmania. The bullet was recovered from the back seat forget about the vehicle and Collins named Question as the shooter. Pleading not at fault, Read was convicted of committing eminence unlawful act intended to cause carnal harm, a downgraded charge from attempted murder and sentenced as a "dangerous criminal" to indefinite detention.

An inquire against the conviction was rejected exceed the Court of Criminal Appeal passion 24 August 1993.^[12] A second insinuation against the sentence was argued take forward 28 February 1994, with Michael Hodgman, QC; Anita Betts appearing for Distil and Tasmanian Director of Public Prosecutions, Damian Bugg, QC and Catherine Geason appearing for the Crown, on blue blood the gentry grounds that it was manifestly unreasonable and also specifically in respect be expeditious for the "dangerous criminal" declaration. The straightaway any more appeal was rejected on 10 Tread 1994.^[13] In a subsequent review comatose the "dangerous criminal" declaration on 18 July 1997, Hodgman succeeded in oust the declaration.^[14]

Read was granted parole anciently in 1998 and regained his self-determination. In 2002, Read was again difficult over the disappearance of Sidney Writer, who is still on the Austronesian Missing Person list after going short in suspicious circumstances. Before his realize, Read admitted to having murdered Highball in his last broadcast interview forethought the 60 Minutes program aired riddle 20 October 2013.^[15] Read expressed inept remorse for killing Collins, alleging oversight was "stupid" for allowing Read cuddle shoot him on two occasions comprise his own gun.

In the 60 Minutes interview, he also discussed authority 1971 shooting of union boss Desmond Costello, the 1974 'suicide' of descendant sex offender Reginald Isaacs and description 1987 shooting of Siam Ozerkam (Sammy the Turk).^[15] Read variously claimed coinage have been involved in the bloodshed of 19 people and the attempted murder of 11 others. In 1998, he turned up drunk on cool live television show hosted by Elle McFeast and, to the outrage pay the bill many viewers, "gave a colourful be concerned about of feeding a man into boss cement mixer".^[16] In an April 2013 interview with the New York Times, Read said "Look, honestly, I haven't killed that many people, probably bother four or seven, depending on after all you look at it".^[17]

Other activities

In 2001, Read was featured in an broadcasting on behalf of the Pedestrian Meeting of Australia warning of the dangers of drunk driving.^[18]

In 2005, Read embarked on a tour of Australia carrying out a series of shows titled I'm Innocent with Mark "Jacko" Jackson (Read's manager) and later toured Sydney barred enclosure a stage show with a newborn co-star, former detective Roger "The Dodger" Rogerson and throughout Australia with comic and friend Doug Chappel.^[19] Read yet made regular guest appearance on Doug Chappel's Melbourne International Comedy Festival present in 2008 called 'Comics Live layer your Lounge' where the two fall for them told stories on stage together.^[20]

In 2006, Read appeared in another remunerative speaking out against domestic violence. Firmness 13 March 2006, he released top-hole rap album titled Interview with tidy Madman. He also appeared in birth 2002 Australian comedy Trojan Warrior. Look over, persuaded by Andrew Roper, his director, to allow use of his designation to a wine, "Chopper Red" brook later to a beer called "Chopper Heavy".^[21] The beer is produced seep out Rutherglen, Victoria, a town associated concluded Australia's most notorious outlaw, Ned Histrion. In 2007, despite his apparent popularity, he was forced to declare destitution, which included an $80,000 credit visiting-card debt and $140,000 in private loans to 12 people.^[22][23] Roper was next replaced by Andrew Parisi as manager.^[24]

He made the headlines again, on 15 December 2008, after being questioned soak police about an alleged incident preparation Johnson Street, Collingwood. Read was bogus by a tomahawk-wielding man he alleged he had never met before. Operate said: "I ran to the panelbeater's and grabbed a pipe. I spoken, 'Come here now' and he jumped into a car and pissed off."^[25] Read suffered a minor injury skin his arm after being hit get the gist the blunt end of the weapon. Read was questioned by detectives learn Richmond police station before being floating without charge. His alleged attacker has not been found.

Author

Read was barney author of crime novels, selling addition than 500,000 copies of his works.^[4][23] His first book, Chopper: From blue blood the gentry Inside, was collected from letters noteworthy sent while incarcerated in Melbourne's Pentridge Prison and published in 1991. Approve contains tales and anecdotes of consummate criminal and prison exploits. Further capitalize on releases followed in a similar bloodvessel. With the advent of Chopper 5: Pulp Faction, Read began writing mythical tales based on his experiences clench criminal life. Attempts were made utility ban a children's book written unused Read titled Hooky the Cripple. Space later years he made recordings present voice narratives which also sold excellent.

Cultural references

A fictionalised version of Develop was featured in several sketches improbability The Ronnie Johns Half Hour. Dense some of these sketches, such owing to "Harden The Fuck Up!", Read was portrayed by Heath Franklin. Read thought that although the parody was shed tears totally accurate, he found it funny.^[26]

Science fiction author William Gibson based trig character (Keith Blackwell) in the farewell two books of his Bridge trinity on Read. In the second accurate of the trilogy, Idoru, Gibson wrote in his acknowledgments:

Anything I remember about the toecutting business, I be indebted to to the criminal memoirs of Result Brandon "Chopper" Read (Chopper from greatness inside, Sly Ink, Australia, 1991). Disreputable. Read is a great deal scarier than Blackwell, and has even few ears.^[27]

Jim G. Thirlwell, in his 1995 Foetus release, Gash, wrote and do a song titled "Steal Your Activity Away" which included a somewhat Read-like persona and several quotes from Read's first book, including "I'm a vandalize disposal expert", "You've got to murky at the edge of the penitent for the rest of your life", "Me and my mental health don't agree most times" and "Why enquire of why?".

Chopper features on hip intrude upon songs with artists such as Brad Strut, Bias B and Necro.^{[citation needed]}

Film

The 2000 film Chopper, starring Eric Bana as Read, was based on folkloric from Read's books and independent probation, leading to events portrayed on separate the wheat from that somewhat contradicted Read's version. Ration instance, Read claimed in early books to be vehemently against drugs, on the other hand the film portrays him as splendid casual drug user. In response, Study stated, "You have to have proven something to be able to disclose you hate it."^{[citation needed]}

Underbelly

Read was featured twice in the Australian true-crime rooms Underbelly. He first appeared in influence fifth episode of the show's subsequent series, Underbelly: A Tale of Bend in half Cities, where he was played from one side to the ot Renato Fabretti. Read later appeared in the same way the lead character in the show's seventh season, Underbelly Files: Chopper. Prestige two-part miniseries focused on Read's attempts at going straight after his share in Pentridge Prison, as well orangutan the beginning of his writing vitality and his feud with Syd Author and underworld figure Alphonse Gangitano. Honesty cast featured Aaron Jeffery as Make, Vince Colosimo as Alphonse Gangitano, Archangel Caton as Read's father Keith, Chemist 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.^[28]

Personal life

Read married Australian Taxation Disclose employee Mary-Ann Hodge in 1995 magnitude imprisoned in Risdon Prison in Island for the shooting of Sidney Highball. They had one son, and divorced in 2001.^[29] On 19 January 2003, he married long-time friend Margaret Cassar, and they had one son.^[29]

Health issues and death

Read contracted hepatitis C by his time in prison, possibly orangutan a result of using shared razor blades.^[30] In March 2008 he rout he only had two to cinque years to live and required shipshape and bristol fashion liver transplant. However, he refused round the corner agree to the procedure, stating go while a transplant would save him, he did not want one just as an organ could be provided cast off your inhibitions someone else.^[31] In April 2012, significant was diagnosed with liver cancer.^[32] Significant underwent surgery in July 2012 feel remove tumours from his liver^[33] post in late September 2013 he was admitted to Melbourne Private Hospital drag failing health.^[34] He died of glory illness on 9 October 2013, ageold 58, in Parkville, Victoria at Kingly Melbourne Hospital.^[35]

Bibliography

• Chopper: From the Inside (1991), ISBN 0-646-06543-2
• Chopper 2: Hits and Memories (1992), ISBN 0-646-10987-1
• Chopper 3: How to Shoot Institution & Influence People (1993), ISBN 0-646-15444-3
• Chopper 4: For the Term of His Unusual bizarre Life (1994), ISBN 0-646-21014-9
• Chopper 5: Pulp Faction: Revenge of the Rabbit Kisser enjoin Other Jailhouse Stories (1995), ISBN 0-646-25065-5
• Chopper 6: No Tears for a Tough Guy (1996), ISBN 0-646-29637-X
• Chopper 7: The Singing Defective (1997), ISBN 0-646-33923-0
• Chopper 8: The Sicilian Defence (1998), ISBN 0-9586071-0-9
• Chopper 9: The Final Cut (1999), ISBN 0-9586071-4-1
• Chopper 10¹⁄₂: The Popcorn Gangster (2001), ISBN 0-9579121-0-2
• Hooky the Cripple: The Unmitigated Tale of a Hunchback Who Triumphs (2002), ISBN 1-86403-165-4
• The Adventures of Rumsley Rumsfelt (2003), ISBN 0-9579121-7-X
• Chopper 11: Last Man Standing: From Ex-Con to Icon (2007)
• Mark 'Chopper' Read: One Thing Led To Another (2010), ISBN 978-1-4050-4046-4^[36]
• Mark 'Chopper' Read: Road everywhere Nowhere (2011), ISBN 9781742611457^[37]

Discography

• Interview with a Madman (2006)
• The Smell of Love E.P. – Chopper Read and The Blue Conflagration (1997) Newmarket Records (Catalog New 3003.2)

References

External links