San Diego Reader

Adam Gimbel: Guitar (acoustic), Guitar (electric), Vocals | Greg Vaughan: Guitar (acoustic), Guitar (electric) | Tim Peacock: Bass guitar | Roger Morrison: Guitar (acoustic), Guitar (electric)

Genre: Covers | Standards, Metal | Hardcore, Rock

Sound description: Comedy new-wave/hair-metal cover songs.

RIYL: Spinal Tap, Monty Python, National Lampoon's Radio Dinner, National Lampoon's Lemmings, the Rutles, Bad News, Weird Al

Upcoming Local Shows

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Related Links

• Blasphemous Guitars website

• Jam Session: "Spinal Tap Tribute Turns Up to 11 @ Eleven on 11/11/11" · Oct. 17, 2011

• Blurt: "Ten Years of Blasphemy" · Dec. 15, 2010

• Blurt: "Black Naugahyde Chapel" · April 5, 2007

Synoposis

Inception: San Diego, 2005

Current Status: After two years together, the band decided to split in late summer 2007.

Influences: Spinal Tap, El Vez, Big Daddy, Jose Sinatra & the Troy Dante Inferno, the Rutles, the Electric Mayhem, Hair Supply, Starock, Depeche Mode, Bad News

Background:

One of the many incarnations of Cover Me Badd, which mocks certain genres and bands with painfully faithful "tribute band" performances, Blasphemous Guitars spoofs '80s hair metal. The band was nominated for a 2007 San Diego Music Award as "Best Cover, Tribute or Bar Band."

The band is headed by longtime Rookie Card frontman Adam Gimbel, who also happens to be an ordained minister. "There have been wedding receptions at the Casbah [Kettner Boulevard, San Diego], but apparently this is the first actual wedding ceremony performed there," says singer/guitarist Gimbel. In March 2007, with Lady Dottie and the Diamonds as the wedding band, Gimbel officiated the nuptials for Roger and Sara Morrison at the club.

"I'm not a real rabbi, but the city allows you to have a temporary license to be a deputy marriage commissioner and perform weddings."

Roger plays with Gimbel in Blasphemous Guitars; Sara is with the San Diego Derby Dolls ("Karma Electra").

"Roger and Sara's vows were beautiful," says Gimbel, "and I had to make a mockery by pretending to take a cell-phone call from my mom right as I was about to introduce the newly married couple.... A woman who does roller derby and a man who has played in crazy rock-and-roll bands for years wouldn't choose to get married at the Casbah if they didn't want a fun wedding."

Guitarist Greg Vaughn, a 1988 Patrick Henry High School graduate, is known for his instrumental prowess. Having studied under Scorpions guitarist Uli Jon Roth, Vaughn won the 2005 San Diego edition of Guitar Center’s Guitarmageddon competition and tours as sitarist with music and belly dance troupe Danyavad and the Shimmy Sisters. As of 2011, he also fronts an REM tribute band called Murmer, as well as taking the part of a bat-winged guitar shredder in Blasphemous Guitars.