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Elton John joins the band in Spinal Tap 2: The End Continues first look

Elton John joins the band in Spinal Tap 2: The End Continues first look

Yahoo25-07-2025
Rob Reiner recently revealed that the premise of Spinal Tap II: The End Continues is the band having a viral moment of an old song coming back into popularity. In a way that plot is mirrored in the original film, This Is Spinal Tap, doing tidy numbers at the box office when it was re-released earlier this summer. All this to say there's an appetite for more from the band—and to whet that appetite, Wednesday saw the release of some first look photos from the upcoming sequel, featuring a guest appearance from the real life legend Elton John.
'Forty-one years after the release of the groundbreaking mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap, the now estranged bandmates David St. Hubbins, Nigel Tufnel, and Derek Smalls (Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, and Harry Shearer) are forced to reunite for one final concert,' a synopsis for the new film reads. 'Spinal Tap II: The End Continues also marks the resurrection of documentarian Marty Di Bergi (Rob Reiner), who once again tries to capture his favorite metal gods as they contemplate mortality—and the hope that their 12th drummer doesn't join them in The Great Beyond. Joined by music royalty Paul McCartney and Elton John, Spinal Tap wrestles with their checkered past to put on a concert that they hope will solidify their place in the pantheon of rock 'n' roll.'
Spinal Tap II: The End Continues features a number of musical cameos, including Metallica's Lars Ulrich, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Questlove, McCartney, and John. Some of these non-comedians may have found the shoot challenging, given that—like the original film—the movie is entirely improvised without a script. But 'They were all great. Paul McCartney is really funny. I mean, really funny,' Reiner recently told Entertainment Weekly. 'And Elton was spot on. He knew exactly what he wanted to say, and either you can do it or you can't do it. But these guys are used to being asked questions. They've been asked a million questions over their careers by reporters, and so they were totally comfortable, and you'll see what they say. It is good.' Spinal Tap II: The End Continues premieres in theaters September 12; you can check out the new photos below.
Spinal Tap interviewed; Photo: Bleecker Street & Authorized Spinal Tap LLC
Spinal Tap on stage; Photo: Bleecker Street & Authorized Spinal Tap LLC
Elton John performs with Spinal Tap; Photo: Bleecker Street & Authorized Spinal Tap LLC
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A hidden arcade is fueling Richmond's pinball revival
A hidden arcade is fueling Richmond's pinball revival

Axios

timea day ago

  • Axios

A hidden arcade is fueling Richmond's pinball revival

Inside an unassuming storefront off Midlothian Turnpike, pinball is having a renaissance. Why it matters: What began as a nostalgic passion for baby boomers and Gen Xers is now attracting 20- and 30-year-olds at a time when people are seeking connection after years of isolation. State of play: The Richmond Pinball Collective started in 2017 when Clark and Laura Fraley had the idea to pool privately owned machines into a shared location. It's grown into a 2,400-square-foot space with 40+ free-to-play machines (no quarters required) — the largest collection in the Richmond area, per Members have loaned most of them. Though it briefly shut down during the pandemic, the collective has had the greatest boom in membership since then, board member Chris Terrell tells Axios. What they're saying: "Everybody that's been shut up for so long in their houses wants to start doing things," says Terrell, who grew up playing Pac-Man and Asteroids. "They love the competition. They love the camaraderie." Zoom in: The volunteer-run collective now has about 130 members, league nights that regularly draw over 60 players and a bar with craft beer and White Claws. The machines lining the walls date back to the 1970s and they're filled with pop culture references to famous movies, shows and bands like "Demolition Man," "Game of Thrones" and Metallica. Some are worth up to $15,000. The intrigue: Players also span demographics and age groups, Terrell adds, and increasingly include women (pinball has long been a male-dominated hobby). Jeff Allen, a member, told Axios he's surprised at how many young people are into it. But he noted the game can be "almost therapeutic" and a break from screens. Since joining, he's brought in his son and even old friends he played football with 50 years ago. Fun fact: Pinball was once illegal in Virginia and seen as a societal menace until the '60s. In 1946, police arrested 35 people in Henrico in a pinball raid, per the RTD archives. By 1978, Virginia's first state pinball championship was held at the Chesterfield mall. The bottom line: Pinball isn't going anywhere. "If you were to say, 'What was the best day for the Pinball Collective?' I would say yesterday," Terrell says. "And what's going to be the next best day? It'll be tomorrow." If you go: You can find the collective at 9550 Midlothian Turnpike #106. Hours vary.

Howard Stern Takes Surprise Break From Summer Vacation to Talk Ozzy Osbourne Death, Final Concert With Lars Ulrich: ‘Profoundly Sad'
Howard Stern Takes Surprise Break From Summer Vacation to Talk Ozzy Osbourne Death, Final Concert With Lars Ulrich: ‘Profoundly Sad'

Yahoo

time2 days ago

  • Yahoo

Howard Stern Takes Surprise Break From Summer Vacation to Talk Ozzy Osbourne Death, Final Concert With Lars Ulrich: ‘Profoundly Sad'

Howard Stern unexpectedly returned from his long summer break on Wednesday morning (Aug. 5) to pay tribute to one of his favorite musicians, longtime friend of the show Ozzy Osbourne. With Ozzy's 'Mama, I'm Coming Home' playing the background, Stern said he was playing the song because, 'Ozzy's gone and I'm profoundly sad.' Calling him 'one of the fabulous guests' of all time on his SiriusXM show, Stern invited Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich on to discuss Osbourne's passing on July 22 at age 76 of a heart attack and the to describe the vibe at at Osbourne's final concert, the all-star Back to the Beginning gig on July 5 in Birmingham, England. More from Billboard Jack Osbourne Shares Heartbreaking Farewell Message to Dad Ozzy Osbourne: 'My Heart Is Full of So Much Sadness' Paloma Mami Returns Full Force with New Album & Management: 'I Was In A Box For A Long Time' Offset Says He Knew About Cardi B's 'Outside' Before Its Release: 'Everything Be a Timing Thing' Ulrich first recalled the time in 2006 when Metallica inducted Black Sabbath into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and played a few of their songs as Ozzy, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward looked on from the audience. He described the 'generational element of respect and love' he and his bandmates had for their metal forebearers and inspirations, despite, or perhaps because of, Metallica's subsequent success. 'They were the generation that helped shape, and ultimately dictate, what we became' he said of Sabbath and their ilk. That's why when Back to the Beginning musical director Tom Morello called in September asking Metallica if they'd take part in what was being billed as Ozzy's final show the answer was a quick hell yes. 'For him to feel that the journey was coming to a respectful end, that fulfilling end that he needed so the book could be closed… and I knew in my heart that he wanted to do that,' Ulrich said of Osbourne's determination to play one more show for fans despite the many serious health issues that had kept him off the road for seven years. 'Of course we were [like] 'f–k yeah!,'' Ulrich said of Metallica's answer to the invite to honor their musical heroes. Stern reminded Ulrich that he once said that heavy metal should have probably just been called 'Black Sabbath' given how influential the band was to the genre. 'You've always had this complete love for Ozzy,' Stern said to Ulrich, before wondering if Lars had gotten a chance to say a personal goodbye to his friend. 'Did you have a sense he was going to be dead in a few days?' Stern wondered. 'No, no… we hung, we said hello, we hugged,' Ulrich said of the interactions he had with Osbourne over the 3-4 days they were in Birmingham for the show. He described longtime Ozzy photographer Ross Halfin pulling together group shots of Ozzy and his Sabbath bandmates on one of the first rehearsal days, with Ozzy taking his seat on the huge throne he performed from during the gig. 'He was there and the Sabbath guys were there and we all positioned ourselves around [Ozzy] and Ross was directing traffic and he asked me to sit on the armrest of Ozzy's throne next to Ozzy,' Ulrich said during the shoot that he said felt like a 'class reunion.' 'It was such a great moment, because you walk in and it's, 'Oh my God, there's Steven Tyler! Oh my God, there's Chad Smith! Oh my God, there's Sammy Hagar! Oh my God there's Yungblud!,'' Ulrich said before describing sitting on the armrest and hugging it out with Ozzy before asking him what it felt like to be back in his hometown for this final bow. 'He was very eloquent and very sharp in his answer,' Ulrich said of Osbourne, who grew up about a mile or two from the stadium where the show took place. 'We were just sitting doing small talk, but it was so warm and he was very present, coherent. It was just his body that was not in good shape, but his mind… he was eloquent and talking and in the moment.' He and his Metallica mates were also among the few on hand who got to watch Black Sabbath's soundcheck the next day. 'All the rest of us were just losing our f–king minds and then they started playing 'War Pigs' with the lights on and the show and air raid sirens and then we were obviously, as fans — and I don't think I'm speaking out of turn here or being disrespectful — as fans I think there was a sense from all the other musicians and friends of Black Sabbath who were there… we were hoping for the best. We wanted it to be the best. We wanted it to be a grand slam, but we didn't know, because ultimately none of us knew what kind of shape they were in.' As they continued playing 'War Pigs,' Ulrich said everyone realized that Sabbath sounded just as good, if not better than ever. 'Then Ozzy came in singing and sounded great, hit all the notes and the lyrics and the timings and everybody was like, 'this is gonna be fine, they're gonna f–king kill it,'' Ulrich said he thought. There were no final goodbyes, Ulrich said, because nobody felt that this was the definitive end. 'Obviously it was the end of the music and the end of the live experience, but it wasn't like… yes, he wasn't in great shape, but nobody walked away from that three or four day weekend going, 'that's the last time we'll see Ozzy,'' he said. So, when Osbourne passed two weeks later, Ulrich said the shock of the 'surreal' news was 'indescribable.' 'We were all just so stunned,' Ulrich said of the universal reaction among Ozzy's many musical compatriots and friends. 'So sad. But at the same time he got to live, to accomplish that concert and that appearance that had been in him since before COVID. He got up there, he played [five solo songs and four Sabbath songs]…. and I think probably if you're going go play [a] little quarterback/psychiatrist, Monday morning, maybe it was just a load off his shoulders and he got to accomplish what he wanted and maybe he just sort of let go.' Stern praised Osbourne as a great friend, but also a 'great radio guest,' who would always do something wacky on his show, with both men also noting that Ozzy was funny, warm and caring and, as Ulrich said, 'made everybody laugh that was in the room.' Ulrich also said he's spent his time off this summer checking out Oasis on their reunion tour, including a gig at Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday night (Aug. 3). Asked by Stern if he went backstage to 'counsel them' on how to get along — in reference to formerly battling brothers and Oasis co-founders Liam and Noel Gallagher who split for 16 years following a last straw backstage row in 2009 — Ulrich said he could assure Howard that 'the love up on stage and the love in the stadium… they don't need any counseling. They're getting along like a house on fire. It's beautiful.' Metallica famously brought in a therapist in the early 2000s to hash out their toxic intergroup dynamics, but when Ulrich noted that he was also at the first Oasis reunion shows in Cardiff, Wales on July 4, he said there's nothing the Gallaghers need from him. 'As awesome and as next level as it was in Cardiff a month ago, which was the first show in 15 years, it was even better at Wembley a couple days ago. They don't need any counseling or advice from me,' said self-proclaimed 'huge' Oasis fan Ulrich, who has seen the band between 20-30 times over the years. Though they were happy to discuss Ozzy and Oasis, the ostensible reason for the chat was to announce the year-round Maximum Metallica channel on SiriusXM, which will launch on Aug. 29 on channel 42 and the SiriusXM app. To help launch the channel, the band will play a live show at Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett, N.Y. on Aug. 28. 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Howard Stern returns from vacation to host surprise SiriusXM show amid cancellation rumors
Howard Stern returns from vacation to host surprise SiriusXM show amid cancellation rumors

Yahoo

time2 days ago

  • Yahoo

Howard Stern returns from vacation to host surprise SiriusXM show amid cancellation rumors

Metallica's Lars Ulrich joined the longtime radio host. Howard Stern is very much still on the air. A day after a report claimed that his long-running The Howard Stern Show would be cancelled when his contract with SiriusXM ends later this year, he popped up to do an unscheduled show when a repeat would have aired. The timing appeared to be pure coincidence for Stern, who had been on his summer break since June and was expected to resume hosting new episodes of his show next month. He was joined on air by Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich. The two shared their appreciation for late Black Sabbath rocker Ozzy Osbourne and discussed last month's Back to the Beginning tribute show, which had been billed as the "Crazy Train" singer's final performance. Ulrich had performed at the show. Stern said that he was "profoundly sad" about Osbourne's death. Stern's return to the airwaves seemed unrelated to a story in The U.S. Sun published Tuesday that credited unnamed insiders with saying that Stern won't remain at the entertainment company. "Stern's contract is up in the fall, and while Sirius is planning to make him an offer, they don't intend for him to take it," a source told the outlet. "Sirius and Stern are never going to meet on the money he is going to want. It's no longer worth the investment."The 71-year-old signed a five-year contract for $500 million in 2020, according to Forbes. Stern's show, which features buzzy, in-depth interviews with celebrities, has been broadcast by satellite provider SiriusXM since 2006. Before that, it aired on traditional radio stations for decades. Ulrich and Stern also announced SiriusXM's new Maximum Metallica channel (42), set to debut Aug. 29. To celebrate the new channel, the satellite broadcaster and streaming company will host a live performance by Metallica at Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett, N.Y., on Thursday, August 28. The concert will premiere on the channel on Monday, September 1, at noon ET. SiriusXM subscribers and fans can enter for a chance to attend the exclusive concert event. EW has reached out to both Stern and SiriusXM. Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly

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