GLASTONBURY REPORT: METRIC AND SPINAL TAP COSMICALLY TOGETHER AT STONEHENGE
We've been keeping this story to ourselves like a buried treasure but due to mounting pressure from our jealous friends we are finally prepared to reveal it.
As you may know, we just got back from a whirlwind weekend in the UK. We landed in London on Thursday night to news of Michael Jackson's death and all of London was weeping and singing PYT in the streets. On Friday we played Hard Rock Calling in Hyde Park with the Kooks and the Killers. Our show included a vast space jam which doubled as a sonic memorial to Michael. On Saturday we played the Other stage at Glastonbury and stuck around to watch Pete Doherty's set ( he is really sweet + decent in person by the way). Franz Ferdinand headlined on our stage and although we couldn't stay for the show we did get to hang out a bit with Alex. Peter, Bjorn & John played as well and let me tell you those are some good natured Swedes.
The other major attraction for us was Spinal Tap, performing in full regalia. So we checked out a bit of their set before piling into the van and heading back to London.
Here's our pal Vince backstage with his heroes right after their set
Shortly after this standard fan photo was taken, fate intervened and handed us one of the best experiences ever....
Here's our pal Vince backstage with his heroes right after their set
Shortly after this standard fan photo was taken, fate intervened and handed us one of the best experiences ever....
We were all settling in for an uneventful ride when our driver suddenly exploded with excitement. Gesturing madly to the left of the highway and veering dangerously off the main road he shouted "STOOOOONEHEEEEEEENGE", swerved and made a sharp turn onto a bumpy dirt road full of craters. Showering the camped out hippies in dust, he tore down the road toward that famously perplexing collection of rocks. We screeched to a halt at the entrance and piled out like a bunch of fucked up clowns only to discover that Stonehenge was....CLOSED! We were staring at the stones through the fence and halfheartedly watching various generic families wander toward their cars when
Joules said the words we will remember forever: "Um, guys, that's...Spinal Tap!"
Sure enough, Christopher Guest was taking one last look at "The Henge" as the other members of the
fantastic group drifted toward the parking lot. We descended upon them immediately-- Trying not to run! Trying not to scare them! By the time we arrived at the bottom of the hill there was one legendary master of comedy remaining, and he happened to be our favorite: Harry Shearer. Still wearing eyeliner! We heaped praise upon him and he graciously posed with us for this photograph:
Oh! My! God!
The best part is, it was Spinal Tap's first trip to Stonehenge as well. According to Shearer, they were just making their way back to London when they spotted the source of their most memorable joke in the distance and decided, " this would be the time to see the full-scale version".
