The Origins of Spinal Tap

Open Culture ^ | January 7, 2015 | Jonathan Crow

[Squawk 8888]

When This is Spinal Tap came out over 30 years ago, it went over a lot of people’s heads. “Everybody thought it was a real band,” recalled director Rob Reiner. “Everyone said, ‘Why would you make a movie about a band that no one has heard of?’”

It’s hard to believe that lines like “You can’t dust for vomit” failed to come off as anything but a joke. But, to be fair, Hollywood comedies were generally straight-forward affairs in the ‘80s. Think Blues Brothers or Fletch. Fake documentaries weren’t a thing. And This is Spinal Tap looks and feels exactly like a rock documentary– the hagiographic voiceover, the shaky camera, the awkward interviews. The movie was just as unscripted as rock docs like Don’t Look Back, The Song Remains the Same and The Kids Are All Right. The film is not only a parody of the generally overblown silliness of rock and roll, it is also, as Newsweek’s David Ansen notes, “a satire of the documentary form itself, complete with perfectly faded clips from old TV shows of the band in its mod and flower-child incarnations.”

[INVAR]

This thread is in danger of being crushed by a dwarf, which will understate the hugeness of the thread….

What’s wrong with being sexy?

[sargon]

"The problem was that we had a Stonehenge monument that was in danger of being crushed— by a dwarf. That tends to understate the enormity of the object."

This Is Spinal Tap is still one of my all-time favorite comedies.

[lefty-lie-spy]

Awesome. All the spinal albums and movies and short films are fantastic. I believe they are the only band that has ever opened up for themselves. Be sure to check out “A Mighty Wind”, which is a Spinal Tap knockoff with The Folksmen, all played by the members of Spinal Tap.

[Zeneta]

I need some chicken.

[DAC21]

“Personally I thought A Mighty Wind was a hoot”

Yep

[null and void]

[shibumi]

Without a doubt
Their Best Effort

[Slyfox]

"It's one louder."

I don't know how they didn't bust up every minute making that movie.

[DPMD]

I completely lost it at the lyrics, “My baby fits me like a meat tuxedo. I’d like to sink her with my meat torpedo.”

I wished they were a real band.

[Nevadan]

re: Some real life Spinal Tap moments

Thanks for posting the link. I am big fan of the movie but didn’t know any of that.

[Neidermeyer]

My fave Rutles song was “The Fool on The Pill”.

[skeeter]

Its not your job to be as confused as Nigel.

[Yardstick]

Heh — true.

[DAC21]

“I wished they were a real band”

Actually they were to a degree. I’m sure 10 years or so ago they did a Nightclub Tour.

[Disambiguator]

I’ve seen all the other similar movies by the same bunch, except for “Waiting for Guffman.” I liked “Best in Show” the best, as it were.

[bleach]

Eugene Levy as Mitch is classic. Catherine O’Hara is one of the best in any scene she’s in.

[bleach]

Ditto on the ping.

thanks

[dfwgator]

Catherine O’Hara is one of the best in any scene she’s in.

I had the hots for her when she was on SCTV.

[Mercat]

No... has to be Waiting for Guffman.

[bleach]

The scene where they are discussing the various record labels and end up on the budget label so cheap, you have to drill the spindle hole, is brilliant improv.