Mark Brandon Read used to think he and Chopper Read were one and the same. Now, he’s not so sure.

He claims the story has parted company with reality, and his role is now increasingly played by other people — from Eric Bana’s brilliant portrayal in the film Chopper to comedian Heath Franklin who will soon take his parody to the Edinburgh Comedy Festival.

This week, SUNDAY reporter Adam Shand explores the man behind the Chopper myth — the vicious standover man who became a celebrity author, only to be consumed by his own legend. Being free has not guaranteed happiness.

For the first time, Read speaks of another murder in Pentridge — that of a child killer and rapist. “I’m not saying I did it, but if I did, I was very proud to have a role in his death,” he says.

He also reveals that he witnessed his psychologist commit suicide when he was a child.

Everyone is making money from Uncle Chop-Chop — just not the man himself. “I don’t even feel angry about it, I just feel — don’t they feel any sense of shame?” Read says.

“They get up in the morning they feed their kids and pay their bills because a man called Chopper Read once cut his ears off 20-odd years ago, and their whole life revolves round impersonating Chopper Read, mimicking and copying as a no-eared lunatic.”

At his wife’s insistence Read has trademarked the name Chopper Read. Attendances at his live shows have fallen off since comic Franklin began performing Chopper, and he says the imitator is damaging the family brand.

For Read, who thought retirement would be a bullet in the back if his head — at 53, he is bankrupt, depressed, and ironically, blessed with physical good health.

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