SMELL THE GLOVE: AN ART SHOW DEDICATED TO SPINAL TAP

During the filming of the classic 1984 rock documentary This is Spinal Tap, the band split up in the middle of a legendarily disastrous tour that at one point saw them being second-billed to a puppet show at a state fair. Asked if this was really the end for Spinal Tap, lead singer David St. Hubbins was characteristically philosophical.

"Well, I don't really think that the end can be assessed," he said, "as of itself as being the end because what does the end feel like? It's like saying when you try to extrapolate the end of the universe, you say, if the universe is indeed infinite, then how - what does that mean? How far is all the way, and then if it stops, what's stopping it, and what's behind what's stopping it? So, what's the end, you know, is my question to you."

Fortunately the band reunited soon after, and we never had to endure an infinite universe without Spinal Tap in it. In the 25 years since This is Spinal Tap was released, the band has earned their place in the rock pantheon. Now Long Beach's Phone Booth Gallery is honoring Spinal Tap with a fine art show. Is it clever, or stupid? Is it sexist, or sexy? One thing's for sure: this show goes to 11.

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