April 18, 2001 – Spinal Tap, the veteran English hard rock group, make their Carnegie Hall debut June 4 as headliners of the 9th Annual Toyota Comedy Festival. The show – part of the band's "Back From the Dead Tour" – is the only East Coast date on their itinerary.

"This just goes to show that everybody who's ever said the only way to perform in Carnegie Hall is to practice your instrument can go stuff it," say the members of Spinal Tap.

Surely the loudest band ever to grace the hallowed hall, Spinal Tap's special night will now take its place in the Carnegie pantheon alongside decade-defining concerts by the likes of Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Edith Piaf, Judy Garland, Vladimir Horowitz, Bob Dylan and many others.

The Tap, as they are affectionately known to fans and friends, have wowed admirers and others from Cleveland to Seattle. Widely recognized via Marty DiBergi's famed 1984 tour documentary "This is Spinal Tap," which captured for the big screen the sights, sounds and smells of Tap's "Smell The Glove" tour, Spinal Tap's "Back from the Dead" is eagerly awaited, and the questions have already begun: Will Marty return with film crew in tow? Who will play drums? Who or what are the mysterious "special surprise guests?" Will the plaster fall down? Will Carnegie Hall chairman Isaac Stern take an ax to the power cables during the first set (and if so will Toyota Comedy Festival co-producer George Wein help)? Will the bootleg album 'Live at Carnegie Hall' ever see the light of day?

While some middle-aged Festival organizers are proud of this intimate evening with Spinal Tap, according to Toyota Comedy Festival co-producer Alan King "It makes absolutely no sense to me to present this group as the centerpiece event of our festival. Previously we've headlined Jon Stewart, Don Rickles, Ray Romano, Carol Burnett and Bob Newhart. Who the hell is Nigel Tufnel?"

This is Spinal Tap was recently issued as a DVD by MGM Home Video.

The Tap's three-decade-plus career has seen several high points. While the majority of their nearly 20 albums remain out of print, two classics – 1984's Spinal Tap: The Original Soundtrack Recording from the Motion Picture This Is Spinal Tap and 1992's Break Like the Wind – are available to the public. Most recently – like Michael Jackson, Cher, Kiss, Britney Spears and others before them – Spinal Tap were honored with a series of lifelike 12" action figures, which come complete with many accessories (Sideshow Toys).

Spinal Tap are:
Nigel Tufnel - lead guitar
David St. Hubbins - guitar/vocals
Derek Smalls - bass

Spinal Tap at Carnegie Hall as part of the Toyota Comedy Festival is sponsored by Comedy Central.

Spinal Tap and Special Guests
Carnegie Hall debut as part of Toyota Comedy Festival
Carnegie Hall, 152 W. 57th at 7th Ave.
Monday, June 4, 8:00pm
Tickets $50, $60 & $75. Available via CarnegieCharge, 212.247.7800.

Confirmed Itinerary for Spinal Tap "Back From The Dead" Tour

June 1	Los Angeles	Greek Theatre
June 4	New York,	Carnegie Hall
June 6	Anaheim, CA	Sun Theatre
June 8	Las Vegas	House Of Blues
June 10	San Francisco, CA	Warfield Theatre
June 12	San Diego, CA	Humphrey's