Spinal Tap Finds a New Drummer; Listen.com and Rolling Stone Help Band Tap Ohio Toilet Paper Salesman

Business Wire, Sept 7, 2000

Entertainment Editors

SAN FRANCISCO--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Sept. 7, 2000

Family Takes Out Life-Insurance Policy On New Drummer

After a grueling search this summer, heavy metal legends Spinal Tap revealed the identity of their new drummer.

Sam Smales, a 35-year-old toilet paper salesman from Westerville, Ohio, beat out a handful of applicants to win the dubious honor of banging the skins for the legendary rock group.

Smales took his place alongside the rest of the band at the House of Blues in Los Angeles this week to celebrate the re-release of the band's now infamous rockumentary, "This Is Spinal Tap." In addition to his trip to Hollywood for the premiere, Smales also won a drum kit and VHS and DVD copies of the re-mastered movie "This Is Spinal Tap" (to be released September 12).

Listen.com and Rolling Stone hosted and promoted the contest. Contestants were required to submit a 50-word essay on why they should be the new drummer, along with a photo or video of themselves. Spinal Tap bassist Derek Smalls, Rolling Stone editor David Wild and Listen.com editor Jon Pruett judged the entries.

"My names is Smales... not Smalls. Smales/Smalls are derivations of the Welsh name Small, which explains our cucumbers," noted Smales in his winning essay. "You need 'family' in the band, and my great uncle's third cousin's brother's nephew is Derek Smalls. Furthermore, I will be the first toilet paper salesman turned drummer for Spinal Tap."

Smales recently won an award for "excellence in toilet paper sales." The judges unanimously agreed that this experience of sudden-found fame would greatly assist Smales after becoming an overnight rock star.

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