Look To The Stars News: Spinal Tap

Spinal Tap Help Hospitals and Classrooms Go To 11

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:00:00 -0000

Legendary semi-fictional rockers Spinal Tap have recently been supporting a non-profit in Los Angeles that is bringing music tuition to under-served children in the area.

Working with local schools and hospitals, the Hollywood Rock Academy Foundation teaches children who would otherwise not have access to music instruction how to read music, and how to write, record and perform their own original music.

Comic actors Michael McKean, Christopher Guest and Harry Shearer have performed in Spinal Tap since inventing the band (“one of England’s loudest bands”) for a 1978 TV comedy special, and the band gave a trademark tongue-in-cheek heavy metal performance at a fundraiser for the Foundation in mid-October.

Bid Now For Rock 'N' Roll History

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 15:41:18 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Just hours remain in a charity auction that offers an item for connoisseurs of Rock and arbiters of Roll. The guitar played by Nigel Tufnel (AKA Christopher Guest) of Spinal Tap at the London leg of Live Earth is up for sale in a once-in-a-lifetime event.

The guitar was custom-made for Guest by Ernie Ball Music Man, designers of quality guitars.

“Chris has been a loyal fan of Music Man instruments for years, so when he called me up looking for something to play before billions of people on 7-7-07, we started brainstorming the global warming concept immediately,” said Sterling Ball of the Ernie Ball Company. “Incredibly enough, most of those initial ideas made it onto the guitar, which turned out to be absolutely beautiful.”

The guitar is a true masterpiece to behold, with incredibly detailed designs and features. The top is finished with laser engraved maple, and the knobs are in the shape of an ice cube and an Egyptian pyramid. The three pick-up switches are in the shape of the Eiffel Tower, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and the Empire State Building, and there is a working thermometer that runs up the fret board.

But the pièce de résistance is the snow globe built into the body of the guitar, which includes a figurine of Al Gore standing surrounded by a miniture snow storm. At his feet sits a “presidential” seal – an endangered Canadian Harp Seal.

“Everyone was so astounded by the guitar – it’s truly a masterpiece, and it plays great, too, of course,” said Guest. “Thanks to everyone at Music Man for their support and ingenuity.”

All proceeds from the auction will go to the Casey Lee Ball Foundation for pediatric kidney research at the UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital. The Foundation was established by Sterling Ball in 1995, and is now one of the largest pediatric foundations in the world. Ball’s son, Casey Lee, was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease at the age of two, and the father and son decided to start the foundation when Casey Lee turned five. To date, the foundation has raised over $8 million for the advancement of pediatric kidney disease research.

Buyers interested in the guitar had better be quick: the auction literally ends in a few hours, and can be found at eBay.

Live Earth Rocks the Planet

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 13:16:25 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

They came, they rocked, they conquered. 07/07/07 saw the Live Earth concerts take place on 7 continents, and the event will go down in history and in people’s hearts as one of the greatest spectacles ever staged.

The nine concerts held around the globe attracted hundreds of thousands of music lovers, and another 9 million internet streams – a world record internet audience. Many more are expected to watch replays over the next few weeks. Concert-goers partied for a total of 22 hours at the events organized by Al Gore to raise awareness of climate change and environmental issues.

“You are Live Earth,” Gore told the crowd in New Jersey, on a stage made from recycled tires. “Today 2 billion of us have come together in over 130 countries… Times like these demand action.”

Despite the rain and low temperatures, 30,000 fans in Hamburg enjoyed stunning and energetic performances by Yusuf – formerly known as Cat Stevens – Shakira, Snoop Dogg, Enrique Iglesias, and former Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell. German comedian Elton joked about the inclement conditions with the comment “We’re here to fight against global warming in such c—p weather.”

It was also a cold affair in Antarctica, where a previously unknown band Nunatak – made up of polar researchers – played for 17 fellow scientists, allowing Gore to keep his promise to hold concerts in all seven continents.

45,000 people turned out in warmer circumstances in Sydney, where they were treated to performances by Jack Johnson, Toni Collette’s band The Finish, and a newly reformed Crowded House. Sydney was the first of the concerts to open, and was followed by Japan, where thousands rocked to performances by Linkin Park, Rihanna, and a host of local acts.

Johannesburg, experiencing its first snow in ten years, swayed to the rhythms of some of their best known local acts, as well as an intense performance by Joss Stone.

It was a smaller and quieter affair in Washington, where a subdued crowd was entertained by a few lesser known blues and hip hop acts.

The most popular concerts were held in London and New York. The newly refurbished Wembley Stadium was rocking under the weight of 70,000 concert-goers, all enthralled by stellar performances from the Beastie Boys, Kasabian, Metallica, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. 1980’s comedy rock act Spinal Tap reformed for the event to perform their new single, “Warmer Than Hell”, and there was also a touching performance by singer/songwriter Terra Naomi. Naomi wrote the track “Say It’s Possible” after seeing An Inconvenient Truth, and was asked personally by Al Gore to perform it at Live Earth.

The finale of the Wembley show was a set by Madonna, which included “Hey You”, the song she wrote especially for Live Earth. She also thanked Gore “for giving the world the wake-up call it so badly needs, and for starting the avalanche of awareness that we are running out of time.”

Over 50,000 people crammed Giants Stadium in New Jersey to join Al Gore, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz, and Kevin Bacon for a night to remember. Cool rhythms from Alicia Keys and the Dave Matthews Band gave way to rockier beats later in the evening from Kelly Clarkson, Melissa Etheridge, and Jon Bon Jovi. The show ended with Sting and The Police performing a duet of their hit, “Message In A Bottle”, with rapper Kanye West . The free show in Rio De Janeiro, almost cancelled over security concerns, drew a crowd of 600,000 to listen to sun-drenched performances by Lenny Kravitz and Macy Gray, and the show in Shanghai was also a success.

The Chinese crowd were made aware of the International Energy Agency warning that China could become the top emitter of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, by later this year.

The Live Earth concerts were a great day’s entertainment for those who witnessed them, and only time will tell if they achieved their goals.

“Thank you for coming to Live Earth,” said Al Gore as the concerts ended. “Harness the energy in your hearts and help us solve the climate crisis.”

Live Earth Offers An Evening With Spinal Tap

Wed, 04 Jul 2007 07:44:28 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A dinner with a difference is for sale on Ebay. The organisers of Live Earth are auctioning a special meal with members of rock group Spinal Tap, as part of their lead-up to the Live Earth concerts on July 7.

The spoof heavy metal band has reformed to perform their new single, “Warmer Than Hell”, at the Live Earth event in London, and one lucky bidder and their guest will have the chance to accompany band members Nigel Tufnel, David St Hubbins, and Derek Smalls (the alter egos of comedians Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer) to an evening of culinary delights, fine wine… and interesting conversation.

Also attending the dinner will be film director Rob Reiner, creator of the 1984 “mockumentary” This Is Spinal Tap. “They’re not that environmentally conscious,” joked Reiner about the band. “But they’ve heard of global warming. Nigel thought it was just because he was wearing too much clothing, and if he took his jacket off it would be cooler.”

Bidding for the once in a lifetime dining extravaganza started at $2000, and is expected to eventually sell for over $5000. Proceeds from the auction will support the Alliance For Climate Protection, who hope to auction off other Live Earth memorabilia after the concerts. They have already confirmed that Derek Small’s Spinal Tap bass guitar will be up for sale on Ebay on July 12.

The Live Earth concert is a big step for the band, who are not used to performing at “real” charity gigs. In the past, Spinal Tap has been linked to fictitious organizations such as “Save The Ferret”, whose mission is to provide Ceaser salads to underprivileged ferrets, and “On Your Toes”, a foundation for those who suffer from misshapen feet.

Also as part of the Live Earth events, Rob Reiner has directed a new short film chronicling the trials of reuniting Spinal Tap for the first time since 2001’s “Back From The Dead” tour. The film shows the band rehearsing for the upcoming concert, and explains what the band members have been doing since their bitter breakup. It reveals that Nigel has been raising miniature horses to race, but cannot 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 internet addiction.

The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York, and is being shown in connection with various Live Earth events. It can also be viewed on the Live Earth website.

The Spinal Tap dinner auction runs until July 9, and can be viewed at www.ebay.com/liveearth.

Spinal Tap Reunite for Live Earth

Fri, 04 May 2007 21:33:04 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Spinal Tap will reunite onstage this July at the Live Earth event in Wembley Stadium, London.

The legendary spoof heavy metal band, led by comedians Harry Shearer, Christopher Guest and Michael McKean, gained a following through their ‘mockumentary’ This is Spinal Tap, and have teamed up once again with director Rob Reiner to support the music extravaganza by creating a Live Earth-related short film.

The short film features characters Nigel Tufnel, David St. Hubbins and Derek Smalls talking about their “charity” work, such as raising funds to help underprivileged ferrets, as well as updating fans on the career paths the musicians have taken.

To view the film online, learn more about the Live Earth or purchase concert tickets, visit the Live Earth website.

Look To The Stars News: Spinal Tap

Spinal Tap Help Hospitals and Classrooms Go To 11

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Bid Now For Rock 'N' Roll History

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