Backstage Pass

The highlight of the London show so far came from an aging and fictional rock band, Spinal Tap. Introduced by director Marti DiBergi (actually Rob Reiner), the mock rockers pleased the crowd with the old favorite "Stonehenge," complete with dwarves dancing around a couple of fake stone pillars. Singer David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean) rudely placed a cell phone call during a mandolin solo by Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest), and bassist Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer) gleefully revealed the cucumber hidden in his pants. A version of "Big Bottom" included a virtual army of bassists borrowed from other bands, including James Hetfield of Metallica and Adam Yauch of Beastie Boys. Spinal Tap is also one of the few bands at Live Earth (including Madonna) that wrote a special song for the occasion, this one titled "Warmer Than Hell."