A little trivia via the History Channel:
Only two years removed from a disastrous 1982 world tour that not only failed to turn the album Smell The Glove into a comeback hit, but also led to the group's breakup, Spinal Tap now had to suffer the indignity of seeing the Marty DiBergi-helmed behind-the-scenes film of that tour gain widespread theatrical release. Would the numerous embarrassments catalogued in the hard-hitting rockumentary This Is Spinal Tap provoke public sympathy for and renewed interest in the band that Nigel Tufnel, David St. Hubbins and Derek Smalls began back in 1964 as The Originals? Or would the group behind such familiar classic-rock hits as "Give Me Some Money" and "Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight" be consigned once and for all to obscurity? In this atmosphere of uncertainty, Spinal Tap elected to go back to their roots, kicking off a tour of small American rock clubs with an appearance at New York City's legendary CBGB's on May 6, 1984.
h/t @cbgbandomfug
6 comments:
What I would give to go back in time and see that show! I bet it was even better than when they played the Isle of Lucy!
I was at that gig. It was a full house, certainly, but I don't remember any sense that it was an exclusive event or having any trouble getting in. Mind you, it was still early enough in the Spinal Tap hype that you had to be clued in enough to know it was something worth attending. But still, it was something that you could walk into. That wouldn't be the case with the Tap a few years later.
The other strong memory is that it was honestly the loudest gig I ever saw there. Catchphrases about going all the way to 11 aside, it really was something. On the way out my ears were ringing more than they ever did even on nights when I worked there as a roadie!
(My God, if I'd fathered a child that night in 1984...he or she could now have a child old enough to consider me a tedious old bore. For some reason, that makes me feel old.)
two words...$h!t Sandwich.
Whoa that is the classic Tap lineup that included Viv Savage and Mick Shrimpton, very cool.
God... Harry Shearer just looks hilarious.
I was at this show. Wish I could remember the setlist. It was packed and the guy next to my roommate kept body slamming into him. It was rock legend, Thor.
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