Adam writes… It’s Saturday morning here in London Town and welcome to The London Music Tours Film Festival. In this series, I’ll recommend a music movie for your weekend viewing. In the post I’ll add a location map, a soundtrack/soundtrack highlights playlist and (where possible) any bits of trivia that might enhance your viewing pleasure.
These posts were curated in conjunction with members of The Monday Night Music History Club who recommended some of their favourite music films.
This is Spinal Tap
Director: Rob Reiner
Year: 1984
Starring: Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, Rob Reiner
Awards: None. Great reviews, though. From the Chicago Sun Times: “It is so well done, in fact, that unless you are clued in beforehand, it might take you a while to realize that the rock group under dissection in This Is Spinal Tap does not really exist.”
Many thousands of words have been expended on this movie. A million pub bores repeat the lines over and over. What’s left to say about the Heavy Metal parody movie This Is Spinal Tap?
How about this? It’s a very silly film… but it’s full of heart.
And its influence is wide ranging. If you’ve ever wanted to “turn it up to 11”, you are quoting from this movie. Ever watched a Rockumentary? The word was coined as a joke for this movie. Without this movie, there’s no The Office, Parks and Recreation or Modern Family.
And there’s not a bad performance here.
But, hey! Enough o’ my yakkin’. Here’s the trailer…
Trailer
Soundtrack
Trivia
The football strip worn by Derek Smlls (Harry Shearer) in the famous cucumber scene is that of Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Location… Squatney
I would dearly love to point you toward the birthplace of Nigel Tufnell and David St Hubbins, but the East London Borough of Squatney may well have been done away with during the Local Government Act of April 1965*. So instead, let me point you toward The Cart & Horses, birthplace of Iron Maiden…
(*There is not, nor ever has been, a part of East London called Squatney.)
London Music Tours
First time visitor to this site? Hello! My name’s Adam and I am an award-winning, qualified tour guide. I specialise in music-themed guided tours here in London. I’ve been a tour guide for 20+ years and I offer a regular schedule of walking tours throughout the year. For the full, up-to-date calendar click HERE.
Private tours are always available, too. Use the form at the bottom of this post to get in touch to book a private tour.
I’m qualified as a Westminster Guide (with distinction), a former visiting lecturer in tour guiding at the University of Westminster and an ex-national newspaper arts journalist . In my spare time I play guitar and sing and buy too many records. Drop me a line anytime using the form below.
To join one of my non-music-themed walking tours, visit the London Walks website HERE.
