When famed Spinal Tap guitarist Nigel Tufnel famously displayed his amplifier with settings that went to 11 in the film This Is Spinal Tap, he couldn't have guessed that 25-plus years later the world would celebrate Nigel Tufnel Day on 11/11/11.
Local spoof rockers Blasphemous Guitars have stepped up to pay tribute to Spinal Tap, performing in all their satirical splendor as the band they call Twelve.
When a Facebook group began rallying to make the date an official holiday over a year ago, the BGs took note and planned to do a Tap set at the Eleven club..
"Expect the usual blasphemy," says bandleader Adam Gimbel, "but with spandex, cucumbers, mimes, cloaks and, gasp, a keyboardist, Vista School of Rock instructor Jody Bagley. It will simply be the greatest re-creation of a band that never really existed. Ever. Or did they?"
Twelve is just the latest incarnation of Cover Me Badd, which mocks certain genres and bands with painfully faithful "tribute band" performances. Blasphemous Guitars, which spoofs '80s hair metal, was nominated for a 2007 San Diego Music Award as Best Cover, Tribute or Bar Band.
The jokers are headed by longtime Rookie Card frontman Adam Gimbel, who also happens to be an ordained minister. "There have been wedding receptions at the Casbah, but apparently this is the first actual wedding ceremony performed there," says Gimbel. In March 2007, with Lady Dottie and the Diamonds as the wedding band, Gimbel officiated the nuptials for Roger and Sara Morrison at the club.
"I'm not a real rabbi, but the city allows you to have a temporary license to be a deputy marriage commissioner and perform weddings."
Roger plays with Gimbel in Blasphemous Guitars; Sara is with the San Diego Derby Dolls ("Karma Electra").
"Roger and Sara's vows were beautiful," says Gimbel, "and I had to make a mockery by pretending to take a cell-phone call from my mom right as I was about to introduce the newly married couple...a woman who does roller derby and a man who has played in crazy rock-and-roll bands for years wouldn't choose to get married at the Casbah if they didn't want a fun wedding."
Guitarist Greg Vaughn, a 1988 Patrick Henry High School graduate, studied under Scorpions guitarist Uli Jon Roth. Vaughn won the 2005 San Diego edition of Guitar Center’s Guitarmageddon competition and tours as sitarist with music and belly dance troupe Danyavad and the Shimmy Sisters. As of 2011, he also fronts an REM tribute band called Murmer, as well as taking the part of a bat-winged guitar shredder in Blasphemous Guitars.
WARMUP SHOW, Friday, 10-28-11: Twelve at the Ruby Room, 1171 University Avenue, with Ramones tribute Hey Ho Let's Go and '80s metal revivalists Hott Thing.
NIGEL TUFNEL DAY, 11-11-11: Twelve at the Eleven club, 3519 El Cajon Boulevard, with Rolling Stones tribute Rocks Off.
THE END: Thursday 12-15-11 at the Casbah 12 Days Of Christmas show, 2501 Kettner Boulevard.
DECLARE 11/11/11 NIGEL TUFNEL DAY http://www.facebook.com/groups/NigelTufnelDay11.11.11/ (over 16,000 followers)
Spinal Tap clip: "These go up to eleven..." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll7rWiY5obI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGGwY6rPDmw
When famed Spinal Tap guitarist Nigel Tufnel famously displayed his amplifier with settings that went to 11 in the film This Is Spinal Tap, he couldn't have guessed that 25-plus years later the world would celebrate Nigel Tufnel Day on 11/11/11.
Local spoof rockers Blasphemous Guitars have stepped up to pay tribute to Spinal Tap, performing in all their satirical splendor as the band they call Twelve.
When a Facebook group began rallying to make the date an official holiday over a year ago, the BGs took note and planned to do a Tap set at the Eleven club..
"Expect the usual blasphemy," says bandleader Adam Gimbel, "but with spandex, cucumbers, mimes, cloaks and, gasp, a keyboardist, Vista School of Rock instructor Jody Bagley. It will simply be the greatest re-creation of a band that never really existed. Ever. Or did they?"
Twelve is just the latest incarnation of Cover Me Badd, which mocks certain genres and bands with painfully faithful "tribute band" performances. Blasphemous Guitars, which spoofs '80s hair metal, was nominated for a 2007 San Diego Music Award as Best Cover, Tribute or Bar Band.
The jokers are headed by longtime Rookie Card frontman Adam Gimbel, who also happens to be an ordained minister. "There have been wedding receptions at the Casbah, but apparently this is the first actual wedding ceremony performed there," says Gimbel. In March 2007, with Lady Dottie and the Diamonds as the wedding band, Gimbel officiated the nuptials for Roger and Sara Morrison at the club.
"I'm not a real rabbi, but the city allows you to have a temporary license to be a deputy marriage commissioner and perform weddings."
Roger plays with Gimbel in Blasphemous Guitars; Sara is with the San Diego Derby Dolls ("Karma Electra").
"Roger and Sara's vows were beautiful," says Gimbel, "and I had to make a mockery by pretending to take a cell-phone call from my mom right as I was about to introduce the newly married couple...a woman who does roller derby and a man who has played in crazy rock-and-roll bands for years wouldn't choose to get married at the Casbah if they didn't want a fun wedding."
Guitarist Greg Vaughn, a 1988 Patrick Henry High School graduate, studied under Scorpions guitarist Uli Jon Roth. Vaughn won the 2005 San Diego edition of Guitar Center’s Guitarmageddon competition and tours as sitarist with music and belly dance troupe Danyavad and the Shimmy Sisters. As of 2011, he also fronts an REM tribute band called Murmer, as well as taking the part of a bat-winged guitar shredder in Blasphemous Guitars.
WARMUP SHOW, Friday, 10-28-11: Twelve at the Ruby Room, 1171 University Avenue, with Ramones tribute Hey Ho Let's Go and '80s metal revivalists Hott Thing.
NIGEL TUFNEL DAY, 11-11-11: Twelve at the Eleven club, 3519 El Cajon Boulevard, with Rolling Stones tribute Rocks Off.
THE END: Thursday 12-15-11 at the Casbah 12 Days Of Christmas show, 2501 Kettner Boulevard.
DECLARE 11/11/11 NIGEL TUFNEL DAY http://www.facebook.com/groups/NigelTufnelDay11.11.11/ (over 16,000 followers)
Spinal Tap clip: "These go up to eleven..." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll7rWiY5obI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGGwY6rPDmw