more fun, tried to workaround this by disabling contrib/sb-rotate-byte (and things that depend on it, sb-md5 and sb-cover), then see another failure later,

; compiling file "/builddir/build/BUILD/sbcl-1.0.35/src/code/gc.lisp" (written 20 NOV 2009 09:30:06 PM):
; compiling (IN-PACKAGE "SB!KERNEL")
; compiling (DECLAIM (INLINE CURRENT-DYNAMIC-SPACE-START))
; compiling (DEF-C-VAR-FUN CURRENT-DYNAMIC-SPACE-START ...)
; compiling (DECLAIM (INLINE DYNAMIC-USAGE))
; compiling (DEFUN DYNAMIC-USAGE ...)
; compiling (DEFUN STATIC-SPACE-USAGE ...)
; compiling (DEFUN READ-ONLY-SPACE-USAGE ...)
; compiling (DEFUN CONTROL-STACK-USAGE ...)
; compiling (DEFUN BINDING-STACK-USAGE ...)
; compiling (DEFUN ROOM-MINIMAL-INFO ...)
; compiling (DEFUN ROOM-INTERMEDIATE-INFO ...)
; compiling (DEFUN ROOM-MAXIMAL-INFO ...)
; compiling (DEFUN ROOM ...)
; compiling (DECLAIM (TYPE UNSIGNED-BYTE ...))
; compiling (DEFVAR *N-BYTES-FREED-OR-PURIFIED* ...)
; compiling (DEFUN GC-REINIT ...)
; compiling (DECLAIM (FTYPE # ...))
; compiling (DEFUN GET-BYTES-CONSED ...)
; compiling (DEFVAR *AFTER-GC-HOOKS* ...)
; compiling (DEFINE-ALIEN-ROUTINE COLLECT-GARBAGE ...)
; compiling (DEFUN GC-STOP-THE-WORLD ...)
; compiling (DEFUN GC-START-THE-WORLD ...)
; compiling (DEFVAR *ALREADY-IN-GC* ...)
; compiling (DECLAIM (TYPE CONS ...))
; compiling (DEFVAR *GC-EPOCH* ...)
; compiling (DEFUN SUB-GC ...)
; compiling (DEFUN POST-GC ...)
; compiling (DEFUN GC ...)
; compiling (DEFINE-ALIEN-ROUTINE SCRUB-CONTROL-STACK ...)
; compiling (DEFUN UNSAFE-CLEAR-ROOTS ...)
; compiling (DEFUN BYTES-CONSED-BETWEEN-GCS ...)
; compiling (DEFUN (SETF BYTES-CONSED-BETWEEN-GCS) ...)
; compiling (DECLAIM (INLINE MAYBE-HANDLE-PENDING-GC))
; compiling (DEFUN MAYBE-HANDLE-PENDING-GC ...)
; file: /builddir/build/BUILD/sbcl-1.0.35/src/code/gc.lisp
; in:
;      MACROLET ((DEF (SLOT DOC &OPTIONAL SETFP) (DECLARE (IGNORABLE DOC))
;             (SB!IMPL::BACKQ-LIST* 'PROGN
;                                   (SB!IMPL::BACKQ-LIST 'DEFUN # '# DOC ...)
;                                   (WHEN SETFP #))))
;     (MACROLET ((SB!KERNEL::DEF
;                    (SB!ALIEN:SLOT SB!KERNEL::DOC &OPTIONAL SB!KERNEL::SETFP)
;                  (DECLARE (IGNORABLE SB!KERNEL::DOC))
;                  (SB!IMPL::BACKQ-LIST* 'PROGN
;                                        (SB!IMPL::BACKQ-LIST 'DEFUN # '#
;                                                             SB!KERNEL::DOC '# '#
;                                                             #)
;                                        (WHEN SB!KERNEL::SETFP #))))
;       (SB!KERNEL::DEF SB!EXT:BYTES-CONSED-BETWEEN-GCS
;        "Number of bytes that can be allocated to GENERATION before that
;   generation is considered for garbage collection. This value is meaningless for
;   generation 0 (the nursery): see BYTES-CONSED-BETWEEN-GCS instead. Default is
;   20Mb. Can be assigned to using SETF. Available on GENCGC platforms only.
;   
;   Experimental: interface subject to change."
;        T)
;       (SB!KERNEL::DEF SB!KERNEL::MINIMUM-AGE-BEFORE-GC
;        "Minimum average age of objects allocated to GENERATION before that
;   generation is may be garbage collected. Default is 0.75. See also
;   GENERATION-AVERAGE-AGE. Can be assigned to using SETF. Available on GENCGC
;   platforms only.
;   
;   Experimental: interface subject to change."
;        T)
;       (SB!KERNEL::DEF SB!KERNEL::NUMBER-OF-GCS-BEFORE-PROMOTION
;        "Number of times garbage collection is done on GENERATION before
;   automatic promotion to the next generation is triggered. Can be assigned to
;   using SETF. Available on GENCGC platforms only.
;   
;   Experimental: interface subject to change."
;        T)
;       (SB!KERNEL::DEF SB!KERNEL::BYTES-ALLOCATED
;        "Number of bytes allocated to GENERATION currently. Available on GENCGC
; compiling (DEF BYTES-CONSED-BETWEEN-GCS ...)
; compiling (DEF MINIMUM-AGE-BEFORE-GC ...)
; compiling (DEF NUMBER-OF-GCS-BEFORE-PROMOTION ...);   platforms only.
;   
;   Experimental: interface subject to change.")
;       (SB!KERNEL::DEF SB!KERNEL::NUMBER-OF-GCS
;        "Number of times garbage collection has been done on GENERATION without
;   promotion. Available on GENCGC platforms only.
;   
;   Experimental: interface subject to change."))
; 
; caught WARNING:
;   undefined variable: NAME
; file: /builddir/build/BUILD/sbcl-1.0.35/src/code/gc.lisp
; in: DEF BYTES-CONSED-BETWEEN-GCS
;     (SB!KERNEL::DEF SB!EXT:BYTES-CONSED-BETWEEN-GCS
;      "Number of bytes that can be allocated to GENERATION before that
;   generation is considered for garbage collection. This value is meaningless for
;   generation 0 (the nursery): see BYTES-CONSED-BETWEEN-GCS instead. Default is
;   20Mb. Can be assigned to using SETF. Available on GENCGC platforms only.
;   
;   Experimental: interface subject to change."
;      T)
; 
; caught ERROR:
;   (during macroexpansion of (DEF BYTES-CONSED-BETWEEN-GCS ...))
;   The variable NAME is unbound.
; file: /builddir/build/BUILD/sbcl-1.0.35/src/code/gc.lisp
; in: DEF MINIMUM-AGE-BEFORE-GC
;     (SB!KERNEL::DEF SB!KERNEL::MINIMUM-AGE-BEFORE-GC
;      "Minimum average age of objects allocated to GENERATION before that
;   generation is may be garbage collected. Default is 0.75. See also
;   GENERATION-AVERAGE-AGE. Can be assigned to using SETF. Available on GENCGC
;   platforms only.
;   
;   Experimental: interface subject to change."
;      T)
; 
; caught ERROR:
;   (during macroexpansion of (DEF MINIMUM-AGE-BEFORE-GC ...))
;   The variable NAME is unbound.
; file: /builddir/build/BUILD/sbcl-1.0.35/src/code/gc.lisp
; in: DEF NUMBER-OF-GCS-BEFORE-PROMOTION
;     (SB!KERNEL::DEF SB!KERNEL::NUMBER-OF-GCS-BEFORE-PROMOTION
;      "Number of times garbage collection is done on GENERATION before
;   automatic promotion to the next generation is triggered. Can be assigned to
;   using SETF. Available on GENCGC platforms only.
;   
;   Experimental: interface subject to change."
;      T)
; 
; caught ERROR:
;   (during macroexpansion of (DEF NUMBER-OF-GCS-BEFORE-PROMOTION ...))
;   The variable NAME is unbound.
; compiling (DEF BYTES-ALLOCATED ...)
; compiling (DEF NUMBER-OF-GCS ...)
; compiling (DEFUN GENERATION-AVERAGE-AGE ...)
; file: /builddir/build/BUILD/sbcl-1.0.35/src/code/gc.lisp
; in: DEF BYTES-ALLOCATED
;     (SB!KERNEL::DEF SB!KERNEL::BYTES-ALLOCATED
;      "Number of bytes allocated to GENERATION currently. Available on GENCGC
;   platforms only.
;   
;   Experimental: interface subject to change.")
; 
; caught ERROR:
;   (during macroexpansion of (DEF BYTES-ALLOCATED ...))
;   The variable NAME is unbound.
; file: /builddir/build/BUILD/sbcl-1.0.35/src/code/gc.lisp
; in: DEF NUMBER-OF-GCS
;     (SB!KERNEL::DEF SB!KERNEL::NUMBER-OF-GCS
;      "Number of times garbage collection has been done on GENERATION without
;   promotion. Available on GENCGC platforms only.
;   
;   Experimental: interface subject to change.")
; 
; caught ERROR:
;   (during macroexpansion of (DEF NUMBER-OF-GCS ...))
;   The variable NAME is unbound.
; file: /builddir/build/BUILD/sbcl-1.0.35/src/code/gc.lisp
; in: DEFUN GENERATION-AVERAGE-AGE
;     (SB!KERNEL::GENERATION-INDEX SB!KERNEL::GENERATION)
; 
; caught WARNING:
;   unrecognized declaration (GENERATION-INDEX GENERATION)
; /builddir/build/BUILD/sbcl-1.0.35/obj/from-xc/src/code/gc.lisp-obj-tmp written
; compilation finished in 0:00:01.675
; in: DEFUN BINDING-STACK-USAGE
;     (SB!DI::DESCRIPTOR-SAP SB!VM:*BINDING-STACK-START*)
; 
; caught STYLE-WARNING:
;   undefined function: SB!DI::DESCRIPTOR-SAP
; in: DEFUN CONTROL-STACK-USAGE
;     (SB!DI::DESCRIPTOR-SAP SB!VM:*CONTROL-STACK-START*)
; 
; caught STYLE-WARNING:
;   undefined function: SB!DI::DESCRIPTOR-SAP
; 
; compilation unit finished
;   Undefined function:
;     SB!DI::DESCRIPTOR-SAP
;   caught 5 ERROR conditions
;   caught 2 WARNING conditions
;   caught 2 STYLE-WARNING conditions
unhandled SIMPLE-ERROR:
  FAILURE-P was set when creating "obj/from-xc/src/code/gc.lisp-obj".
0: (SB-DEBUG::MAP-BACKTRACE #<CLOSURE (LAMBDA #) {40BD335D}>)[:EXTERNAL]
1: (SB-DEBUG:BACKTRACE 128 #<SYNONYM-STREAM :SYMBOL SB-SYS:*STDERR* {28041909}>)
2: (SB-DEBUG::DEBUGGER-DISABLED-HOOK
    #<SIMPLE-ERROR {40BCF0F1}>
    #<unavailable argument>)
3: (INVOKE-DEBUGGER #<SIMPLE-ERROR {40BCF0F1}>)
4: (ERROR #<SIMPLE-ERROR {40BCF0F1}>)[:EXTERNAL]
5: (COMPILE-STEM "src/code/gc" (:NOT-HOST) :TARGET-COMPILE)
6: (IN-TARGET-CROSS-COMPILATION-MODE #<CLOSURE (LAMBDA #) {400019C5}>)
7: ((LAMBDA ()))
8: (SB-INT:SIMPLE-EVAL-IN-LEXENV
    (LET ((REVERSED-TARGET-OBJECT-FILE-NAMES NIL))
      (DO-STEMS-AND-FLAGS (STEM FLAGS)
                          (UNLESS (POSITION :NOT-TARGET FLAGS)
                            (PUSH # REVERSED-TARGET-OBJECT-FILE-NAMES)))
      (SETF *TARGET-OBJECT-FILE-NAMES*
              (NREVERSE REVERSED-TARGET-OBJECT-FILE-NAMES)))
    #<NULL-LEXENV>)
9: (SB-FASL::LOAD-AS-SOURCE
    #<SB-SYS:FD-STREAM for "file /builddir/build/BUILD/sbcl-1.0.35/src/cold/compile-cold-sbcl.lisp" {40000A59}>
    NIL
    NIL)
10: ((FLET SB-FASL::LOAD-STREAM)
     #<SB-SYS:FD-STREAM for "file /builddir/build/BUILD/sbcl-1.0.35/src/cold/compile-cold-sbcl.lisp" {40000A59}>)
11: (LOAD "src/cold/compile-cold-sbcl.lisp")[:EXTERNAL]
12: (SB-INT:SIMPLE-EVAL-IN-LEXENV
     (LOAD "src/cold/compile-cold-sbcl.lisp")
     #<NULL-LEXENV>)
13: (SB-EXT:INTERACTIVE-EVAL (LOAD "src/cold/compile-cold-sbcl.lisp"))[:EXTERNAL]
14: (SB-IMPL::REPL-FUN NIL)
15: ((LAMBDA ()))
16: (SB-IMPL::%WITH-REBOUND-IO-SYNTAX #<CLOSURE (LAMBDA #) {127235D5}>)
17: (SB-IMPL::TOPLEVEL-REPL NIL)
18: (SB-IMPL::TOPLEVEL-INIT)
19: ((LABELS SB-IMPL::RESTART-LISP))
deleted #P"/builddir/build/BUILD/sbcl-1.0.35/obj/from-xc/src/code/gc.lisp-obj-tmp"
RPM build errors:
unhandled condition in --disable-debugger mode, quitting
error: Bad exit status from /var/tmp/rpm-tmp.8LdgLg (%build)
    Bad exit status from /var/tmp/rpm-tmp.8LdgLg (%build)
Child returncode was: 1
EXCEPTION: Command failed. See logs for output.
 # ['bash', '--login', '-c', 'rpmbuild -bb --target sparcv9 --nodeps builddir/build/SPECS/sbcl.spec']
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/mock/trace_decorator.py", line 70, in trace
    result = func(*args, **kw)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/mock/util.py", line 335, in do
    raise mock.exception.Error, ("Command failed. See logs for output.\n # %s" % (command,), child.returncode)
Error: Command failed. See logs for output.
 # ['bash', '--login', '-c', 'rpmbuild -bb --target sparcv9 --nodeps builddir/build/SPECS/sbcl.spec']
LEAVE do --> EXCEPTION RAISED