Twins are creepy. But a couple of the creepiest twins had to the The Krays.
Ron and Reggie Kray grew up in the East End of London back when the East End of London looked a bit like Baghdad. Most people who grew up in that mess were crooks of one kind or another.
But The Krays were a very special kind of crook. They were horrible theives but very good at violence. The army must have seen something in them because, although the Krays deserted several times, the army kept having them back, until finally sticking them in jail and then, when they proved too rowdy for an army jail, dishonourably discharging the pair of them.
Back on the streets, the brothers decided to inspire a Monty Python comedy skit about The Pirrana Brothers and a giant hedgehog named Spiny Norman. They did this by playing to their strengths. Violence and more violence. They ran protection rackets and founded a criminal enterprise called The Firm. By the time the 1960s rolled around they were nightcub owning celebrities at the heart of “Swinging London.” The sort of people that Austin Powers might associate with.
But Ron, who was the dominant twin, was also a paranoid skitzophrenic psychotic. That makes for some strange business decisions. His increasingly murderous streak and his homosexual affair with Lord Boothby attracted the wrong sort of attention. The brothers were sent to jail for murder. Ron died in prison and had a huge funeral that was attended by curious well wishers. In jail, Reg wrote the yet to published: “The Reg Kray Book of Excercises for People in Confined Spaces.” He died of cancer.
3 comments
Marcia
January 10, 2007 at 2:01 pm (UTC -5)
That really is cool. I just spent 20 minutes reading all your links.
kaarly moorgan
December 30, 2008 at 4:40 pm (UTC -5)
the krays, i’ve watched there film about 200 times! i’m collecting all off there books, and i really don’t think that they deserved what they got, i think there were good men:)
R.I.P
Ron, Reg And Charlie.
x
Shannon
March 7, 2009 at 11:10 pm (UTC -5)
Oh wow!! I’ve just seen their film and i loved it! they are awesome people i am so envious!! I wish they were still alive so i can meet them!!