Comment on Harry Shearer turns “Spinal Tap” dispute with Vivendi to 11

By Jef Feeley and Anthony Palazzo, Bloomberg News Comedian Harry Shearer has a message for the company that owns the rights to “This is Spinal Tap:”  “Gimme some money. Gimme some money.” Shearer, a U.S. comedian, accused Vivendi SA of improperly withholding millions in profits from the spoof movie from its creators and cast members. The 72-year-old Shearer, whose career has included providing voices for more than 20 characters on the hit TV show “The Simpsons,” contends Vivendi executives should pay $125 million in damages tied to profits generated by the Spinal Tap movie, a 1984 mockumentary about a fictitious heavy metal band. Vivendi “failed to account honestly for the income actually received from” the movie, which has become a cult classic, Shearer said in a lawsuit filed Monday in federal court in Los Angeles. Related ArticlesMay 14, 2015 “The Simpsons” might be parting ways with Harry Shearer A Vivendi spokesman in Paris declined to comment on the suit Tuesday.