Spinal Tap’s Lasting Impact on Music Industry and Culture

This is Spinal Tap was one of those movies that ended up starting out as a sleeper semi-success that became a cult hit. Released in 1984, the movie followed Spinal Tap, a British heavy metal band who was going on an American tour. All the stars in the movie (Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, and Harry Shearer) played their own instruments, and along with Rob Reiner, all wrote the script.

This is Spinal Tap – the Mövie

David, Nigel, and Derek, along with their rotating drummers were set to embark on a US tour. The movie followed filmmaker Marty (Reiner), who gave periodical interviews and showed the band on tour – with their victories and sometimes frustratingly obnoxious obstacles. Because of the dedication actors McKean, Guest, and Shearer had to their roles, all learned to play their instruments and sing.

Spinal Tap – the Paradöx

The band at the center of the movie fooled some viewers into thinking they were real. As mentioned before, the main actors in the band, learned the songs. They also had talked to numerous musicians, including Black Sabbath, to make this feel more authentic. The result? People thought Spinal Tap was a real band!

Often, in a perfect world, people might think that huge bands have tour buses, sound techs, a whole merchandise team, and great hotel accommodations. Shows go off without a hitch, right? This is Spinal Tap blows that theory away.

Getting lost backstage, sound issues, and disasters with props are just a few of the problems the band encounters. And we haven’t even delved into their drummer drama yet. Or band personalities clashing.

Spinal Tap – the Müsic

“Big Bottom,” “Stonehenge,” “Sex Farm,” “Hell Hole,” and the aptly titled “Tonight I’m Gonna Rock You Tonight” were just a few of their musical creations. Because McKean, Guest, and Shearer played the music, the band was real in every sense. Spinal Tap also performed at concerts over the years, alongside other bands, thus expanding their song repertoire.

Spinal Tap – the Influënce

Mockumentary style of filmmaking didn’t just start with This is Spinal Tap. The movie, however, did make the style more famous. A couple of films prior to Rob Reiner’s flick were The Beatles’ proto-mockumentary, called A Hard Day’s Night, with a look at the renowned band and some behind-the-scenes talks with Ringo, in particular.

Speaking of the Beatles, The Rutles: All You Need is Cash is an attempt to give the Beatles the Monty Python treatment. Eric Idle, Neil Innes, John Halsey, and Ricky Fataar play the members of the band. With songs like “Ouch, Hold My Hand” and “Cheese & Onions,” you can bet on a few laughs from this mockumentary.

Spinal Tap – the Legäcy

So for which films has This is Spinal Tap been a catalyst? One of the first that comes to mind is Almost Famous. This is a semi-autobiographical account of director Cameron Crowe’s attempt to write for Rolling Stone in the 70s. The cast, flanked by Patrick Fugit, Kate Hudson, Jason Lee, and Billy Crudup, put the fictional band Stillwater front and center. Stars Jason Lee and Billy Crudup practiced music religiously for four hours a night, five nights a week for months before filming.

Rock Star with Mark Wahlberg and Jennifer Aniston was another great movie with an “honest” look at rock stardom. The movie, made around the rise of acoustic coffee-shop music performance popularity, ultimately shows its lead, Izzy (Mark Wahlberg) reworking his songs into coffeehouse performances. Observant viewers will see Myles Kennedy at the end of the film as Thor, aspiring to be lead singer for featured band, Steel Dragon.

In Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping Andy Samberg and Jorma Taccone, along with Akiva Schaffer created an entertaining film. It looks back on Conner (Samberg) and his music career with fictitious boy band, The Style Boyz. Conner (also known as Conner4Real) is trying to stay successful as a pop and rap artist. Chock full of cameos from the likes of Adam Levine, Pink, and Usher, this film has a ton of laughs and memorable musical numbers.

A Few Lingering Nötes

While not every music film is presented in the style of a documentary (or mockumentary) This is Spinal Tap has shown a light on making films about bands. Plus, much of the draw was the backstory of the band members.

Although now we have lots of films about music, This is Spinal Tap gave way for documentary/mockumentary style shows like The Office and Parks and Rec. It’s in this style that some movie makers found their true talent – and a genre that delights viewers and filmmakers alike.