Spinal Tap’s Derek Smalls: ‘I’d like to collaborate with Mozart. I know chords he’s never used’
The bass player legend, played by Harry Shearer in the film This Is Spinal Tap, talks facial hair, courgettes and how to break out of a cocoon
October 2020
Harry Shearer: 'To say Trump is "beyond satire" is an admission of defeat'
He went from Spinal Tap to The Simpsons. Now, with his album The Many Moods of Donald Trump, the comic takes aim at America’s ‘encyclopedia salesman’ president
June 2020
The Simpsons stops using white actors to voice non-white characters
Move comes amid widespread reckoning for American pop culture following mass protests after George Floyd’s death
November 2019
Spinal Tap creators settle lawsuit with Universal Music over copyright dispute
Settlement not disclosed but 2016 lawsuit claiming ‘fraudulent accounting’ initially sought $125m and was increased to $400m
April 2019
This Is Spinal Tap at 35: the faux-rockers reunite at Tribeca film festival
Director Rob Reiner and the stars of the cult mockumentary came together for a special event reminiscing about their comedy that wasn’t always quite so loved
February 2017
Spinal Tap creators aim to 'go to 11' with $400m lawsuit
Harry Shearer joined by fellow band members and director Rob Reiner in claim Vivendi has not fully shared profits
November 2016
Culture webchats
Harry Shearer webchat – your questions answered on the Simpsons, Spinal Tap and getting political
The actor and podcaster discussed everything from satirising Trump, cucumbers v courgettes, and the day Michael Jackson didn’t sing
October 2016
This is Spinal Tap star sues Vivendi for $125m in profits row
Harry Shearer alleges parent company of Universal Music and StudioCanal withheld millions of dollars in profits owed to creators of rock mockumentary
August 2015
Climate change: too hot to handle
We offer New Orleans leaders (and Harry Shearer) oil-soaked dollar bills - video
Harry Shearer on his Simpsons U-turn: 'All I can say is, it wasn’t a stunt'
July 2015
Mr Burns returns: Harry Shearer 'to stay on The Simpsons for $300,000 a show'
Shearer, who also voices Ned Flanders and Principal Skinner, has reportedly reversed decision to quit and signed deal that will keep core cast together
Harry Shearer as The Simpsons' Mr Burns – archive video
TV and radio blog
Harry Shearer's 10 best Simpsons characters in clips
Harry Shearer, voice of Ned Flanders and Mr Burns, set to leave The Simpsons
June 2014
Observer New Review Q&A
Harry Shearer interview: 'I told them I don't dance – now I prove it nightly'
The Simpsons veteran tells Michael Hogan about his West End debut, playing at Glastonbury – and how all men turn into Mr Burns
February 2014
From Rock's Backpages
Spinal Tap: 'I've had a lot of panties in the mail'
It’s 30 years since the iconic This Is Spinal Tap mockumentary was released. In 1984 NME’s Cynthia Rose caught up with Christopher Guest and Harry Shearer to talk flying pants, fame, fabrications and being funny
January 2014
Harry Shearer: 'Richard Nixon wanted my ass in Vietnam'
If the US president had had his way, the actor, best known for Spinal Tap and The Simpsons, might have had a much shorter, more brutal life. But why has he now decided to play him in TV series Nixon's the One?
April 2012
MediaGuardian
Media Talk Podcast: Harry Shearer on Nixon's The One
Harry Shearer chose Sky for Nixon project as it offered a bigger budget
