Reality TV and fly-on-the-wall documentaries seem to be the scourge of modern times. In fact, they’re not a new phenomenon. This is the story of legendary rock band Spinal Tap. A documentary – or ‘rockumentary’ if you will – of their ill-fated US tour in 1984…
‘This Is Spinal Tap’ is a typical cult film. Quite well known-of I think, but perhaps not as widely watched. The band involved (the eponymous Spinal Tap) can only really be called ‘mostly fictional’ – they played the songs from this film, which were released as a soundtrack, and another album.
Director Marti DiBergi is hired to follow Spinal Tap – who despite a few hits are clearly past it and commercially unsuccessful – on a US tour. It being like a tour diary, there’s not so much of a clear plot, but the film traces their dealings with an unsupportive record company, drugs, groupies, the singer’s girlfriend who wants to manage the band and creative rivalries between the band’s main men Nigel Tufnel and David St Hubbins.
This isn’t a genuine tour diary, as might have been produced by the likes of Iron Maiden or Whitesnake. Nevertheless, it’s much like what could have occurred, only taken one step further (up to eleven in fact – see later). In its spoof fly-on-the-wall
documentary style, caricaturing both such reporting and the clichéd events described, it’s a bit like The Office (only a rock band’s US tour is probably less familiar to most people than the office environment).
Some of the other reviews here have suggested the film is too much of an ‘in joke’ or even a product of it’s time that can’t really be appreciated today. I’d concede that it is a ‘cult film’, whose main appeal is perhaps to a limited fanatical fanbase, but I don’t think this is particularly insular. Let me give some idea of the range of bands (possibly) parodied: Rolling Stones, Beatles, Iron Maiden, KISS, Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Saxon, Eric Clapton, Aerosmith. Led Zeppelin, The Who, Judas Priest, The Scorpions, Queen, Uriah Heep, Def Leppard.
Throughout the 1970s and ‘80s big hair metal/glam-rock ruled the roost. I don’t think you particularly had to live through the period to appreciate this film though, as long as you have some vague knowledge of music history. My friends and I are in our early 20s (born 1981) and I know many others who like this film.
If you know, for example, that Jimmy Page played a guitar solo with a violin bow, then Nigel using a violin to play his guitar will be all the more amusing, but if you don’t it’s still funny just for being hilariously over-the-top. For anyone interested, there’s a lengthy discussion on IMDb discussing the sources of jokes. Often there’s not actually much agreement. The ‘Stonehenge’ set could be inspired by Sabbath or Maiden. ‘Lost backstage’ could have been just about anyone…
This only underlines my point you don’t need a detailed knowledge of these bands to appreciate the film. They’re not drawing on one or two particular bands, but the whole scene. Much of the film reminded me of Motley Crue and Guns n Roses – who didn’t even come until later. The band decide to release their album in a plain black sleeve – a reference to AC/DC’s ‘Back in Black’, but in 1990 Metallica released their own ‘Black Album’. These clichés are still being acted out. Last year The Hellacopters released a tour DVD ‘Goodnight Cleveland’ that reminded me so much of this film while another bunch of tongue-in-cheek ’70s rockers, The Darkness, enjoyed popular success (not to mention ‘School of Rock’ hitting the big screens).
Not all the jokes rely on any knowledge, anyway, much of the humour comes simply from the band’s stupidity. We get to see all kinds of things on the tour go wrong, and enjoy their idiotic conversations (such as Nigel trying to explain to Marty how they’d re-numbered their amps to go up to 11 because it’s one louder). And whether you like this genre or not, you can’t help but laugh at their ridiculous songs. My favourites are ‘Stonehenge’ (for the prop disaster) and ‘Big Bottom’:
“My baby fits me like a flesh tuxedo I like to sink her with my pink torpedo… Big bottom Drive me out of my mind How could I leave this behind?”
Pure lyrical genius…
The acting I thought was very good, because you hardly notice it. It doesn’t look like the people are acting, but for the most part you could believe this was a genuine 80s tour diary (albeit somewhat exaggerated). Perhaps it’s technologically a little dated, but this is also in keeping with authenticity, so again not a noticeable drawback. As far as effects go, it’s mainly the band’s spectacular sets – which are supposed to go wrong anyway!
Overall, it’s a cult film, so has a loyal band of devotees whatever its failings. No doubt it’ll hold most appeal to those with at least a vague interest in old-fashioned rock n roll, but I hope I’ve convinced it’s not so exclusive. It’s very funny, and well worth watching.
Duration: 82 minutes Rated: 15 (some rock n roll excess including nudity and swearing, but all mild enough – I’d say 12)
Pictures of This Is Spinal Tap (DVD)
Break Like The Wind (album cover)
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
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Brilliant review of a classic film.....I like the way you picked out the bands from the 70s....yes it could well be based on a mix from them.....I saw most of them live and when I first saw Spinal Tap I could not stop laughing at the irony of it......nice one...Roy
bagoproverbial 04.12.2004 14:50
I enjoyed reading the review, and the film was very good- not everyone will get the jokes, but if you know the scene then you'll probably love it.
Aug 22nd, 2004
exceptional by (1%):
very helpful by (99%):
