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Spinal Tap Guitar with Al Gore & Snow Globe Up for Auction
3 Jun
Summary
- A Spinal Tap guitar used in 2007 is expected to fetch £12,000.
- The instrument features a working thermometer and Al Gore figurine.
- The guitar was designed and built over 1,200 hours for the owner.
A distinctive guitar, used by the fictional British heavy rock band Spinal Tap at the 2007 Live Earth concert at Wembley Stadium, is now up for auction. The instrument, played and signed by Nigel Tufnel (portrayed by actor Christopher Guest), is anticipated to achieve a price of up to £12,000. The auction is scheduled for June 9 in Corsham, Wiltshire.
Manufactured by US firm Ernie Ball, this rare guitar is notable for its unusual embellishments. These include a functional thermometer, a snow globe containing a figurine of former US Vice President Al Gore, and a laser-engraved image of a burning Earth. The guitar also features pyramid-shaped buttons and ice cube buttons.
Spinal Tap, famously depicted in the 1984 mockumentary film "This is Spinal Tap," has a legacy that includes touring and releasing music, such as the UK single "The Majesty Of Rock." A sequel, "Spinal Tap II: The End Continues," was released in 2025.
The Live Earth event in 2007 was a global initiative involving over 150 musical acts across 12 locations, aimed at raising awareness for climate change. The guitar itself required more than 1,200 hours for its design and construction.
The seller is a private collector looking to fund his passion for international travel to attend concerts, particularly those of his favorite band, Pearl Jam. Auctioneer Luke Hobbs remarked on the guitar's "genuinely unique" nature and its ability to elicit smiles.
