Spinal Tap unwittingly paid tribute to Nigel Tufnel with an impressive guitar solo performance featuring Beck, Satriani, Lukather, and Slash, yet Tufnel appeared less than enthusiastic.
In 1992, British heavy metal band Spinal Tap, known for their humorous take on the genre, released their reunion album, "Break Like the Wind." The title track, a proggy epic, featured a surprising addition - four guest guitar solos from Jeff Beck, Joe Satriani, Steve Lukather, and Slash.
This "dream team" of six-string virtuosos was brought in as a tribute to Nigel Tufnel, the band's own lead guitarist and "tone-master." However, the prominence given to these guest solos caused controversy within the band. Nigel Tufnel himself reportedly felt a bit miffed by having such headline-grabbing lead guitar spots from outside stars intruding on the song's creative flow and his role.
During an interview, David St. Hubbins, the band's guitarist, defended the collaborations, stating that they were meant as a nice tribute. However, Nigel Tufnel felt that the guitar solos were a surprise and a potential send-up. Tufnel's modesty prevented him from acknowledging the respect shown by the guest musicians.
There was some bickering between St. Hubbins and Tufnel regarding the collaborations and their intended meaning. Derek Smalls, the band's bassist, mentioned that it's not possible to just call the musicians' union and get Jeff Beck's number.
Despite the controversy, the album showcased Spinal Tap's signature style of humorous, hooky brash heavy rock, with a blend of old and new elements, including the proto-Tap skiffle tune "All the Way Home" and the flower-power throwback "Rainy Day Sun."
In a surprising turn of events, Nigel Tufnel later shared the stage with Joe Satriani, impressing the virtuoso with his own skills, particularly when it came to volume. Spinal Tap would later perform with Joe Satriani as well.
The inclusion of these guest guitar solos on "Break Like the Wind" remains a topic of discussion among Spinal Tap fans, highlighting the band's unique blend of humour, controversy, and exceptional music.
- Nigel Tufnel, the lead guitarist and "tone-master" of Spinal Tap, was reportedly miffed by the guest guitar solos on their reunion album, "Break Like the Wind," from Jeff Beck, Joe Satriani, Steve Lukather, and Slash.
- Derek Smalls, the band's bassist, pointed out that it's not possible to just call the musicians' union and get Jeff Beck's number.
- In a surprising turn of events, Nigel Tufnel later shared the stage with Joe Satriani, impressing the virtuoso with his own skills, particularly when it came to volume.
- The inclusion of these guest guitar solos on "Break Like the Wind" was a blend of old (Fender, Les Paul, Gibson guitars) and new (Ibanez, amp) elements, showcasing Spinal Tap's unique brand of humor, controversy, and exceptional music in the realm of entertainment and music.
