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I'm sending along a photo of the Folksmen on stage at the
Troubadours of Folk Festival, held on the UCLA campus a few years
back. I got a chance to hear truly great folked-up music live
and got the band members to sign an event poster showing them
next to Mary Chapin Carpenter and Arlo Guthrie. I also had an
interesting run-in with Viv Savage. He was visiting a friend
of mine, Tequila Mockingbird, in Hollywood and sold me a bag
of killer pot. This was about five years ago. We shared a few
Tap stories. Since I had seen the Seattle show, we talked about
that. They were supposed to have "blown up" the devil's
head that perched behind the group but they didn't. Also, while
Tap played Gimme Some Money, the audience pelted the stage with
coins, forcing the boys to play with their backs to the seats.
BOB BLACKWOOD
Westwood One Radio Networks
I have been a fan of Tap since the early Seventies and it's a
good thing that somebody invented the computer or I might have
missed your site. I managed to catch Tap during their 1992 tour
at the Beacon Theater in New York. After waiting for an hour
at the stage door, I met David and Derek as they exited. I had
them sign my writing notebook, and Derek was even cool enough
to shake my hand. (David must have gone for a trim after his
facial since his hair was a lot shorter in person.) My only regret
was not getting to meet Nigel. I even managed to record a bad
bootleg of the show.
JEFFREY VARGON
Bronx, New York
In the early Eighties Sting, Branford Marsalis and Ken Kurlin
were putting together the Blue Turtles band and I was invited
to go with them to Barbados. This is Spinal Tap had come out
and I kept urging Sting to see it. We rented it from the one
video store in town. Sting watched it every night for the next
two weeks. He fell in love with it, just like many rock stars.
We would speak in Spinal Tapese. For Tap fans who watch carefully
in Bring on the Night, when Sting debuted Fortress Around Your
Heart in Paris, they constructed a tiny fortage and lowered it
on to the stage next to him. He didn't actually see it but you
can see it on video if you look carefully. It's Spinal Tap size.
A couple of weeks ago I was at Sting's house in England. It's
a late Tudor mansion, warm and friendly, with the River Avon
running through the backyard. He said, 'Come on, I'll show you
the neighborhood and you can meet the neighbors.' So we get on
horses and were romping through the English morning mist along
the river. Sting is excellent horsemen, but I was sort of holding
on. So we get about two or three miles down valley. I'm wanting
to go back, but Sting says, 'C'mon, I really want you to meet
the neighbors.' Everything is covered in this romantic mist as
we approach the edge of this ridge and Sting starts singing aloud.
'In ancient times, hundreds of years before the dawn of history...'
with this whole accent. Every word of it was perfect, straight
from the movie. And then the mist clears and about 700 yards
away in the morning dawn is Stonehenge. He keeps singing the
whole Stonehenge song as we gallop around it. Then we went back
and he finished working on Mercury Falling.
VIC GARBARINI
Rock Critic
I work at an amphitheatre which was graced with the date on the
1992 tour during which topless dancers appeared on stage during
the Big Bottom encore. I have some great photos. I am also in
possession of the Stonehenge monument used on the tour. It's
in a small box somewhere.
MIKE NILAND
Mansfield, Massachusetts
Thirteen years after I first saw This is Spinal Tap in theaters,
I come across your Web page. I'm curious now as to who else is
worshiping this absurdly clever movie. People either get it or
they don't. I'm glad I got it.
J. MAHAN
San Francisco
For 12+ years, when asked what my favorite movie is, I've immediately
named This is Spinal Tap. The inquisitor will typically then
pitch his jaw slightly forward, roll his cabeza to the left,
squint fiercely, and say "Huh?" I thought I was the
only person on earth who fully appreciated Tap. Then a week or
so ago I was dragged into the 20th century by my lovely wife
and began to explore the Internet. My first search (after "Gertz,
Jami," "McCartney, Linda" and "cantaloupes,
ripe") was Spinal Pap. I quickly realized my typo, and,
Viola! (Frank, Am. baseball player, 1958-), I found your outstanding
site. You've got a great gig, but, tell me, what'r the hours?
JOHN ZELEN
Just read your Tap info and it put everything into perspective
— too much fucking perspective. I hope you put somewhere
on your site: "Chip Rowe on the keyboard... He wrote this!"
Great work. Yours is a feat on par with the deciphering of the
Rosetta Stone. Well, I'd love to sit and chat, but I have to
go to the lobby and wait for the limo.
JASON S.
New York
 A full
and wonderful site, but nary a mention of the first U.S. appearance
of Mr. Tufnel. Yes, "once a Squigtone, always a Squigtone."
I just wish Nigel would have stuck with the clarinet. He had
quite a knack for it. P.S. Despite the rumors, I was not the
one who "played the organ" on that first record.
JERRY ALDINI
"the 12th Squigtone"
Christmas with the Devil is not the best song to do door-to-door
caroling. Especially if you are by yourself and staggering drunk.
Maybe I should try Big Bottom at a Weight Watchers convention.
Spinal Tap wrote the soundtrack for dysfunctional lives. How
big a Taphead am I? I was born in 1970 and I have been a fan
since '68. I have to go check out some feet fetish websites and
have a cup of hot chocolate. Tap Forever.
JEFFREY BAKER
I had one of the original Spinal Tap shirts, all black with
the logo small on the front right breast and big on the back,
with the tour dates — it had a left breast pocket, very
useful. Sadly it was cheaply made, and I wore it out. Wonder
what it'd fetch on eBay? For those wanting a Tap shirt today
let me recommend Kinko's. They can make iron-on transfers or
just print whatever you've got on a shirt for a few bucks —
depends on whether you want the back and sleeves done, or just
the front. I had the original TIST album too, with the title
sticker on it. The sticker was on the shrink wrap but something
told me to retain it. That's gone now too.
JIM KELLEY
Spinal tap is the greatest rock 'n' roll band in the world
Spinal Tap rules
Spinal tap are the true kings of metal
VASTRA NYLANDS FOLKHOGSKOLA
Finland
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