HARRY SHEARER - SHEARER'S BEATLE ENDORSEMENT

Actor HARRY SHEARER knew he'd hit the big time when late former BEATLE GEORGE HARRISON sneaked backstage during a SPINAL TAP show to give him the thumbs up. Shearer, who now provides the voice for THE SIMPSONS' MR BURNS, found fame as bassist DEREK SMALLS with the legendary spoof rockers. And just before a gig at London's Albert Hall in 1992, he was spurred on when he spotted the MY SWEET LORD star at the side of the stage. He says, "I'm gallumphing through the wings, and I see this guy sitting on his haunches, watching the show from the wings. "As I pass him, he gives me the thumbs up. And it's George Harrison. "If I hadn't thought how remarkable this was before that, it kind of caught up with me at that point."