Song of the Day 7/15: Mutual of Alameda’s Wild Kingdom, “Big Bottom”

Noted keyboardist and philosopher Viv Savage, best known for his stint with iconic rock band Spinal Tap and his credo, “Have a good time all the time,” supposedly died in 1984. He was visiting the grave of drummer Mick Shrimpton, who exploded on stage, when a methane buildup caused the grave to explode, according to Tap manager Ian Faith.

The truth came out the other day, when David Kaffinetti, the keyboard player for a Bay Area band called Mutual of Alameda’s Wild Kingdom, died in his sleep at age 79. Kaffinetti was Viv Savage, as you can see in this video of a MOAWK gig from a few years back, taking lead vocals on the Tap classic “Big Bottom.”

David Kaffinetti was born in Folkenstone, a seaside town in Kent, England, and shortened his last name to Kaff as a founding member of a prog-rock band called Rare Bird that featured two keyboard players, Kaff on electric piano and Graham Stansfield. They released five LPs between 1969 and 1974; none reached the British charts, but one single, “Sympathy,” reached No. 27 in the UK in 1970.

He was known as Viv Savage when he joined Spinal Tap (after they changed their name from the Thamesmen), and was an integral part of the band during the period when Martin DiBergi was filming “This Is Spinal Tap,” released in 1984. This clip of “Heavy Duty” gives a good idea of Savage’s stage presence.

Savage played in the band’s live concerts after the movie was released, but his last appearance with the band was its SNL appearance late that year. When he left the band they concocted the story about the exploding grave.

Kaffinetti settled in the San Francisco area, where he played with various local bands. His death was announced by the surviving members of Mutual of Alameda’s Wild Kingdom. As Marty DiBergi did in the original film, I’ll give Viv Savage the last word.