Spinal Tap Gets Heavy Duty

Thank you, God. After taking away that Ryan Adams gig at Stonehenge (which we're still kinda mad about it, honestly), you've really harnessed those heavenly powers to deliver something that's arguably much better - a Spinal Tap reunion. (Again). Awesome!

The mock-metal band hasn't released an album since 1992's Break Like The Wind (which, technically, was a reunion in and of itself), but Spinal Tap's three parodied rockers (played by Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer) are coming back together to fight global warming. They'll be playing the London installment of Live Earth, where they'll treat the crowd to old favorites ("Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight," "Cups and Cakes") and new offerings (such as the globally-conscious "Warmer than Hell"). Rob Reiner, the director the documentary This Is Spinal Tap, will also be on the scene.

No one seems to know who will be playing drums for the band, although we'd like to nominate Phil Collins (whose reunited Genesis will also be playing the event) for the job. Then again, if playing drums for Spinal Tap is a surefire means of spontaneously combustion, maybe co-headliner James Blunt should do it...

Reiner recently shot a 15-minute film dealing with Spinal Tap's reunion, during which Shearer's character is shown to be in rehab for addiction to the interet. Oh, the perils of post-'80s, modern-day life... The film premiers tonight at the opening of the Tribeca Film Festival. If you can't wait that long to get your fix of Spinal vids, check out Google Video's selection of clips from the band's 1992 reunion. It'll serve as a nice appetizer to the band's July 7th show.