Return of the greats - Spinal Tap Reunion

[Spudman]

Mock metal group Spinal Tap to reunite

04/25/2007 2:04 AM, AP
Jake Coyle

NEW YORK (AP) — Spinal Tap is back, and this time the band wants to help save the world from global warming.
The mock heavy metal group immortalized in the 1984 mockumentary, "This is Spinal Tap," will reunite for a performance at Wembley Stadium in London as part of the Live Earth concerts scheduled worldwide for July 7.
The original members of Spinal Tap will be there: guitarist Nigel Tufnel (played by Christopher Guest (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/DailyNews/celeb/ap/ap_en_mu/spinal_tap_reunion/22770628/*http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news?fr=news-storylinks&p=%22Christopher%20Guest%22&c=&n=20&yn=c&c=news&cs=nw)), singer David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/DailyNews/celeb/ap/ap_en_mu/spinal_tap_reunion/22770628/*http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news?fr=news-storylinks&p=%22Michael%20McKean%22&c=&n=20&yn=c&c=news&cs=nw)) and bassist Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/DailyNews/celeb/ap/ap_en_mu/spinal_tap_reunion/22770628/*http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news?fr=news-storylinks&p=%22Harry%20Shearer%22&c=&n=20&yn=c&c=news&cs=nw)). Rob Reiner (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/DailyNews/celeb/ap/ap_en_mu/spinal_tap_reunion/22770628/*http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news?fr=news-storylinks&p=%22Rob%20Reiner%22&c=&n=20&yn=c&c=news&cs=nw), who both directed "This is Spinal Tap" and played the fake documentarian Marty DeBergi in the film, will also be in attendance.
A new 15-minute film directed by Reiner on the band's reunion will also play at the opening night of the Tribeca Film Festival in New York on Wednesday. The slate for the opening gala, to be hosted by Al Gore (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/DailyNews/manual/ap/ap_en_mu/spinal_tap_reunion/22770628/*http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news?fr=news-storylinks&p=%22Al%20Gore%22&c=&n=20&yn=c&c=news&cs=nw), was previously announced, excepting the Reiner short.
The festival is to open with a showing of several global warming-themed short films produced by the SOS (Save Our Selves) campaign. SOS is also putting on the Live Earth concerts, to be held across seven continents.
Reiner spoke to The Associated Press on Tuesday to explain the reunion of Spinal Tap — a band always known more as a parody of rock `n roll excess than environmental awareness.
"They're not that environmentally conscious, but they've heard of global warming," said Reiner, whose other films include "When Harry Met Sally" and "Stand By Me." "Nigel thought it was just because he was wearing too much clothing — that if he just took his jacket off it would be cooler."
Spinal Tap has reunited several times since the film, but hasn't for a number of years. For the band — whose last album was 1992's "Break like the Wind" — the occasion warranted a new single: "Warmer Than Hell."
Reiner provided a sneak peak at the lyrics: "The devil went to Devon, it felt like the fourth degree/ He said, `Is it hot in here, or is it only me?'"
The director said the new short film explains what the band has been doing with their lives lately. Nigel has been raising miniature horses to race, but can't find jockeys small enough to ride them; David is now a hip-hop producer who also runs a colonic clinic; and Derek is in rehab for addiction to the Internet.
Reiner, 60, has for over 20 years worked with the National Resources Defense Council, an environmental action organization. Though the Spinal Tap reunion will be a lot of laughs, he hopes the SOS short films program and the Live Earth concerts have a substantial effect.
"What I think is going to be nice about this whole effort is there will be marching orders for people," said Reiner. "Not only from a personal standpoint of what individuals can do in their lives, but a macro perspective with respect to the public sector and government." ___

[Robert]

Awesome - wish I could be there!

[Tone2TheBone]

That's great. I'm glad peoples of the world are concerned about their future too. We only have one earth.....so far! Rock on Spinal Tap members! :DR

[Jimi75]

God beware.....Spinal Tap.....hope no one is gonna die!

[SuperSwede]

Sweet! I loved the movie!

[Tone2TheBone]

Just saw this today....

http://liveearth.msn.com/?GT1=9280

[Spudman]

That's pretty cool. Little mini jockeys from Tibet.

[Spudman]

Spinal Tap recording new material

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7867181.stm

Spinal Tap played the Royal Albert Hall in 1992
Spinal Tap are recording their first new material in nearly twenty years.
The spoof English heavy metal band is the brainchild of American actors Michael McKean, Harry Shearer and Christopher Guest.
They first featured in the classic 1984 "mockumentary" This Is Spinal Tap and went on to record two albums.
Shearer, who these days voices several Simpsons characters, told BBC 5 Live: "It'll be for download as well as on conventional media later this year."
Spinal Tap recorded their last album, Break Like The Wind, in 1992.
The band briefly reformed two years ago for the Live Earth gig at Wembley Stadium in London.
Shearer, who portrays Tap's bass player Derek Smalls said: "We've never recorded the song we did at Live Earth, Warmer Than Hell, and I think they (Spinal Tap) are trying to revisit their old success.
"Not that they were ever popular, maybe in their own universe.
"We'll do a song called Gimme Some More Money, probably with some dubious results."

[SuperSwede]

Hehe.. cannot wait to hear it!

[R_of_G]

Do you think they'll play Stonehenge? :rotflmao:

[marnold]

Do you think they'll play Stonehenge? :rotflmao:
'Course they're not going to be playing @#$%ing Stonehenge!

[Spudman]

'Course they're not going to be playing @#$%ing Stonehenge!
I don't even think there is any electricity @ Stonehenge. I'll bet they play @ somewhere else.;)

[birv2]

Great to see this amazing band still at it. One of the loudest and most punctual bands ever!

So many great lines... Hello Cleveland!

Bob

[Geraint Jones]

I do hope the new material is in Doubly

[t_ross33]

can't wait... just watched This Is the other night (for the umpteenth time) :bravo:

[Spudman]

I've got their live DVD from years ago and it's quite good. They are actually playing everything themselves and are quite adept. I was surprised.

[birv2]

I do hope they list Spinal Tap above the puppets on the billboard...

[R_of_G]

I've got their live DVD from years ago and it's quite good. They are actually playing everything themselves and are quite adept. I was surprised.

Indeed. I lost the list when my hard drive crashed, but when I made my list of my personal 100 favorite guitar players, Christopher Guest was on it, and not just to see if anyone would get the joke, but because I enjoy the way he plays.

[Spudman]

Indeed. I lost the list when my hard drive crashed, but when I made my list of my personal 100 favorite guitar players, Christopher Guest was on it, and not just to see if anyone would get the joke, but because I enjoy the way he plays.

I'd call him 'classic old school.' His playing reminds me a lot of Alice Cooper's guitarists and that bloke with Bowie on the Spiders album. Certainly an accomplished player.

[Gil Janus]

They have a tour website - Unwigged and Unplugged (http://www.unwigged.com/) - watch out US and Canada - lockup your wallets :thwap:

Tickets go on sale this week :AOK:

Gil :cool:

[R_of_G]

I'd call him 'classic old school.' His playing reminds me a lot of Alice Cooper's guitarists and that bloke with Bowie on the Spiders album. Certainly an accomplished player.

You're right, there is definitely more than a little Mick Ronson in Guest's playing. Perhaps that's why it's always appealed to me as I am a big Bowie fan, particularly the albums with Ronson.

[Pickngrin]

It's such a fine line between stupid... and clever.

I always dug Mick Ronson's playing...now I have to go back and listen to some Tufnel, err, Guest, to hear the comparisons you guys are making....

[Spudman]

A song from the new album is now available here.
Back From the Dead (http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/exclusive-spinal-tap-debuts-song-comes-back-1003971037.story)

The album comes out mid June 2009

[Spudman]

You can download a track from the new album. It is called Saucy Jack (http://spinaltap.com/saucyjack/).


The "Unstopable Tour" has been canceled. :rotflmao: I guess it was stoppable after all.:D
http://spinaltap.com/news.html

[R_of_G]

Nice! They finally got around to doing something with the Saucy Jack concept, David's rock musical based on the life of Jack the Ripper. Looking forward to hearing this. Downloading now. Thanks Spud.