For those who don't know, Mark Brandon Read aka Chopper made a name for himself as the most feared stand-over man the Melbourne (Australia) criminal world has ever seen. From the early Seventies until the mid Nineties he made his way extracting suitable payments from those elements of the underworld most flush with cash. Along the way he shot a few drug lords, torched a few toes and was forced to dig his own grave (which he subsequently filled with his would be assassin). He has also served some 24 years in prison on charges ranging from assault, armed robbery, kidnapping (of a judge), malicious wounding and was charged (but acquitted) with the murder of a drug dealer.
Apart from Irish whiskey, good cigars, Pontiac motor cars and a pistol grip baby .410 shotgun with solid load shells, what I love most is kidnapping smartarse gangsters and taking their money. To the human filth I have bashed, belted, iron barred, axed, shot, stabbed, knee capped, set on fire and driven to their graves, I can only quote from the motto of the French Foreign Legion,
Je Ne Regrette Rien... I REGRET NOTHING.
In my opinion the features that have enabled Chopper to surivive his violent life, are his strength of character, his rat cunning, his eloquence, and his ability to quickly adapt himself to whatever situation in which he finds himself.
In 1991 while serving time in Pentridge prison, Chopper produced his first book which was a compilation of letters he had written to a journalist. In it he outlined parts of his life and his thoughts on various underworld identities past, present and future. It was a turning point in his life.
Since then he has written 11 other books, some fiction and some faction. He has also released several CDs and they have made a film based loosely on his life. He is also an accomplished artist with a keen eye for layout, style and colour.
He is now married (for the second time), has 2 children and lives in Collingwood. He occassionally tours around Australia, performing spoken word where he provides insight into his past life as one of Australia's most ruthless and respected headhunters.
Oh, did I mention that he also likes his beer.
He commissioned us to make it just this way and now we can offer it to you too.
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