Few comedies are more universally beloved or endlessly quotable than “This Is Spinal Tap”, the 1984 mockumentary that redefined musical satire. Directed by Rob Reiner, who also appears as fictional documentarian Marty DiBergi, the film follows a hilariously inept British metal band on a disastrous American tour. It’s a film so committed to authenticity that real-life rock stars, from Ozzy Osbourne to Sting, famously thought it was real.
With the 41st anniversary of “This Is Spinal Tap” around the corner, Reiner joined The Discourse to reflect on the film’s origins, legacy, and long-gestating sequel. Additionally, a director-approved 4K UHD and Blu-Ray Special Edition of “This Is Spinal Tap” returns to the Criterion Collection on September 16. “What we did with this film—we tried to be as honest as we could about what really happens on rock and roll tours,” Reiner says. “Every band that we’ve ever run into, every rock star, comes up and says it’s a staple on their tour bus.”
That commitment to truth, even in absurdity, is what gives the film its staying power. “Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers got lost backstage. Van Halen had the crazy rider. We used it all,” Reiner adds. “That’s why I think it works.”
Despite being a comedy classic now enshrined in the Library of Congress and the Oxford English Dictionary, “This Is Spinal Tap” wasn’t always a cultural juggernaut. “It wasn’t until real rockers started quoting lines back to us that I realized it had entered the culture,” Reiner recalls. “Then they played Wembley, Glastonbury, and the Royal Albert Hall. This fake band became real.”
Reiner also revealed new details about “Spinal Tap II,” which picks up 40 years later and 15 years after the band members last spoke to each other. “There was bad blood. They hadn’t even spoken in 15 years,” he says. The sequel starts with Marty DiBergi traveling the globe to track down the estranged bandmates. Nigel lives near the Scottish border, Derek is in London, and David has relocated to Morro Bay, California. “They’re all doing different things and haven’t spoken in years,” Reiner notes. The catalyst for the reunion is a long-forgotten concert contract inherited by the daughter of their late manager Ian Faith. “At first, she doesn’t think it’s worth anything,” Reiner says. “But then a famous musician covers one of their songs at a soundcheck, someone records it, it goes viral on TikTok, and suddenly there’s demand again.” What follows is a reluctant comeback tour that promises a mix of backstage chaos, rock lore, and a few surprises.
And yes, legendary cameos are on the way. “You’ve got Paul McCartney, Lars Ulrich, Questlove, Elton John—they all know what this is and they’re all fans,” Reiner confirms. “They get the joke.”
Of course, no conversation with Reiner is complete without mention of “The Princess Bride”, the timeless fairytale that remains a fan-favorite across generations. “It was one of the great experiences of my life,” he says. “I lived in England for six months. You can’t trade those memories.”
He also shared a hilarious memory of filming the original ending involving a very tipsy André the Giant being lowered onto a horse using guy wires. “He drank 20 bottles of Beaujolais Nouveau that day. Through the mist, he’s waving at me, going, ‘Hello boss.’ And I thought—what is my job exactly?”
The Golden 41st Anniversary 4K restoration of “This Is Spinal Tap” will be in theaters July 5–7 with a special introduction from Rob Reiner and a sneak peek at “Spinal Tap 2.” Get tickets here and listen to the entire conversation below:
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