Despite internal friction, the band recorded a fourth album in 1973, but the magic and fun had gone. This also coincided with Mike Patto's desire to write and perform more of his own, less cynical, songs. This is more than understandable as Mike had a greate voice that should have made him a star in his own right, he also belived greater success as a band, would be achieved with more approachable/commercial songs. But, for whatever reason, Ollie Halsall wasn't playing ball - his contribution on all but his own material lacking the guilt-edged touch that was Ollie. When confronted with this - Ollie quit.
The fourth album, already entiteled "Monkeys Bum" was rejected by Island Records. Whilst Muff Winwood said to have been brutally frank, he had a point. Patto were simply "Dick and the firemen" without Ollie. The industry was changing - it was time to forget it - move on!

After the split, Mike Patto joined Spooky Tooth for their last album The Mirror (1974), Ollie Halsall joined John Hiseman's Tempest, Clive Griffiths played with Alexis Korner's CCS and John Halsey worked with Grimms, Joan Armatrading, Lou Reed, and many others before joining up with Ollie again to get involved with Neil Innes and Eric Idle's RUTLES project. Starring as Barry Wom in the movie.
Mike and Ollie formed BOXER in '75, their first album being better remembered for its cover than its contest. Two more albums were recorded, but Mike Patto's career was sadly arrested by illness. He was diagnosed as suffering from lymphatic leukemia, and after a brave fight he died on 4 March 1979, in great pain.

Ollie continued to be in great demand as a session musician, but is probably best known for his lengthy career as Kevin Ayers unassuming sideman. Clive and John also joind Kevin Ayers for a tour in Europe. This came to very little, as whilst Ollie was into the "Ayres" scene in a big way, the two others were not overimpressed.
Back home, Clive joined Joe Brown's outfit, whilst John set up a profitable business from door-to-door selling of fish!! Eventually John also joined Joe Brown's outfit and for a while found himself at Lowerstoft fish marked 2 hours after returning home from a gig. On their way home from one of these gigs in the '80s, they were involved in a terrible road accident.

THE RUTLES

Ollie with Ayers

Poor Clive suffered brain damage and was permanently paralysed down one side. He is also unable to remember the PATTO's. John suffered terrible injuries and although he now walks with a parrot on his shoulder, is much recovered. He now runs a pub in Cambridge. Ollie continued to play as a session man for many artists and put down roots in the village of Deia, Spain. He died of an overdose of heroin in Madrid 29 May 1992. Only a month earlier he had played three concerts with Kevin Ayers at the Shaw Theatre in London, where he was still in quite superb form.