If you’re a bass player, this one’s going to make your ears tingle. On Jimmy Kimmel Live, Spinal Tap brought the low end like never before, recruiting none other than Tal Wilkenfeld and Thundercat for a monstrous performance of their 1984 classic Big Bottom.
Yes, you read that right – we’re talking about five basses on one stage. Actually, six if you count Thundercat’s jaw-dropping custom Ibanez BTB double-neck, rocking six strings on top and eight on the bottom. That thing alone deserves a slow clap.
David St. Hubbins opened the show with a breathless “On the bass…” for every single member, setting the tone for a performance that was all about the low end – no guitars hogging the spotlight, just pure, unadulterated bass mayhem.
For the bass geeks among us, the lineup was a dream:
- Tal Wilkenfeld (Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Chick Corea alum) on a classic Fender Precision Bass
- David St. Hubbins on an Epiphone Jack Casady signature
- Derek Smalls on a Schecter Stiletto
- Nigel Tufnel on a Music Man Bongo 4
- Plus Thundercat with his mind-bending double-neck BTB
Every bass had its own personality, and the performance felt more like a showcase than a song – all players bringing their own flair to this iconic track. Thundercat even called his 14-string monster “pretty funky,” which is a serious understatement.
Beyond the stage spectacle, Spinal Tap is back with the sequel to their legendary mockumentary, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, hitting cinemas on September 12. Nigel Tufnel’s been running a cheese shop all these years, but apparently he’s been trading cheese for guitars on the side, so the band’s low-end obsession is in full swing.
And if you’re wondering about the cameos, we’re talking Paul McCartney and Elton John, plus chatter about a custom amp that literally goes to infinity. For bass players, gear heads, and Spinal Tap fans alike, this is a can’t-miss moment.
Check out the performance online, crank up the volume, and remember – sometimes it really is all about the bass.
