Just caught this movie on Netflix. I really liked it but felt that some of the references went over my head. Like the black album cover and Nigel not being able to get up during the concert.
Were they trying to make fun of any rock band(s)? Or was it just a general spoof of all rock bands?
I know Judas Priest had a different drummer on many on their albums.
shareYes, "Nigel Tufnel" is joke on Eric Clapton.
shareI think the biggest thing they're making fun of are bands that reinvent themselves to play to the current hottest trends in music. That's something a lot of bands have done, Aerosmith in particular.
shareI think the black album cover is (mostly) a Beatles reference, a counterpoint to the "White Album" the Beatles released in the fall of 1968. Also, the girlfriend butting into the band was clearly a reference to Yoko Ono and the whole "Fifth Beatle" controversy. I'm sure there are probably more than a few very oblique references in the film to other bands and incidents/anecdotes that have occurred on tour or in the studio to any number of rock bands over the years.
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6533152/1/Payback
<<Also, the girlfriend butting into the band was clearly a reference to Yoko Ono and the whole "Fifth Beatle" controversy. >>
And her taking over the band's affairs perhaps a reference to both Ronnie James Dio and Ozzy Osbourne, both managed by their respective wives.
<< I'm sure there are probably more than a few very oblique references in the film to other bands and incidents/anecdotes that have occurred on tour or in the studio to any number of rock bands over the years. >>
There's all kinds of things. The argument in the recording studio, I think was a take on the infamous tape of The Troggs arguing in the studio, which was recorded in secret by the engineer on the session, who then passed it around.
Another slightly obscure one would be the discussion about Duke Fame's album cover, where the band questions why Duke Fame could be tied up and tortured on his album cover, but the Smell The got censored. The explanation, being it's ok if the artist is the one being tied up or tortured or humiliated, etc, but if it's just a random model, that's not ok.
I think that may have been allusion to the Rolling Stones Black & Blue billboard debacle. When the Black & Blue album came out, a billboard was erected on Sunset Blvd, advertising the album, showing a woman tied up and made up to look like she had been beaten, with the tag line "I'm Black And Blue by The Rolling Stones and I love it". Needless to say, in the women's lib era, this stirred up a lot of controversy from feminist types. One commentator (I forget hime name) suggested that if it had been Mick on the billboard, tied up and looking like he had been beaten, it would have been fine, but putting a woman on the billboard in that situation was crossing the line.
Hi scubadivergeek,
I'm actually watching "This is Spinal Tap" RIGHT NOW!!! while working around the house. i.e., in the background as I do my construction project. I just love this movie. So much, that I have 2 DVD's of it. One I keep, and the other I loan out to people who say they have never heard of it when I ask them.
The question is whether or not this movie is making fun of any particular rock band? And I just popped out laughing just now as I was clicking on this page. To discuss Nigel Tufnel's "invention shop" video which is soooooooo hilarious!!!
CLICK IT!!! Nigel's Invention Studio: http://youtu.be/E5MoHhTBXZg
But, I will say that my eyes went to this name "Mick Shrimpton" and then I came to this thread. Do you think the name is coincidental with Mick Jagger? When that name popped out on the screen, I thought that they may be making fun of how skinny and meek Mick Jagger is. I think they are making fun of Mick and calling him a "shrimp." The title fits if you ask me. I have noted how "shrimpy" Mick seems to be. Very very funny.
I just absolutely ADORE everything about this absolutely hilarious film.
Have a great day!!!
Lena
"Lena is high and mighty" IMDB-- posters 10/13
<<But, I will say that my eyes went to this name "Mick Shrimpton" and then I came to this thread. Do you think the name is coincidental with Mick Jagger? When that name popped out on the screen, I thought that they may be making fun of how skinny and meek Mick Jagger is. I think they are making fun of Mick and calling him a "shrimp." The title fits if you ask me. I have noted how "shrimpy" Mick seems to be. Very very funny. >>
I never thought about that, but it's you should draw a connection between Mick Jagger and Mick Shrimpton, because Jagger's girlfriend during the mid 60's was named Chrisse Shrimpton. I think it was their split up that inspired songs like Stupid Girl, Just Go Home, Yesterday's Papers, and Under My Thumb.
Wow! That's too funny!! I think we may be on to something. I had no idea that his girlfriend was named that. I'm watching it again. Sex Farm Woman is on right now. The lyrics are hilarious. Ronnie Pudding. Ross Mclochness. The names are great. Thanks for the info.
And the part about them getting lost behind the stage? Everyone wonders why the bands are constantly late. Such a funny explanation for that.
Now at the "Saucy Jack" rock opera idea about Jack The Ripper. Every scene packs a comedic punch. And Jeanine's evil look at David as he is talking about how she loves Nigel and they are alike.
Thanks for the info again.
Lena
"Lena is high and mighty" IMDB-- posters 10/13
LenAFoster
But, I will say that my eyes went to this name "Mick Shrimpton" and then I came to this thread. Do you think the name is coincidental with Mick Jagger? When that name popped out on the screen, I thought that they may be making fun of how skinny and meek Mick Jagger is. I think they are making fun of Mick and calling him a "shrimp." The title fits if you ask me. I have noted how "shrimpy" Mick seems to be. Very very funny.
Squatney. I didn't notice that. LOL. You've given me yet ANOTHER reason to watch this movie again. The writing in this movie is superb. Taking advantage of EVERY minute of screen time. And how about not only the name Ronnie Pudding but the nonchalant matter of fact delivery of the name by David St Hubbins? Brilliant!
And did you notice the comment where IAN calls Jeanine an Australian's worst nightmare? I think a clear slam at Olivia Newton John...If you Google her "let's get physical" video the joke becomes more apparent and funny.
And I am convinced Viv Savage is a play on "Sid Vicious" of the Sex Pistols.
I am soooooooo watching again and looking for the Squatney reference. You DO have a good eye for detail! Thanks for the tip!!! Much appreciated.
Lena
"Lena is high and mighty" IMDB-- posters 10/13
I forgot...Derek Smalls. You are soooooooooo right. And he's also the one that the give a new groupie to in every scene. As a play on his need to prove his manhood. You are very astute and have a great eye for nuances and detail.
Awesome!!!!
I'm gonna have to go back and look at the scenery to see if I've missed something hidden in the background. Besides Squatney....
Lena
"Lena is high and mighty" IMDB-- posters 10/13
IRON MAIDEN has Lena's vote. I read that they got a lot of heat in 1982? For Run For The Hills,?? Religious themes... and their songs address history. They were heavy into that. Montsegur about the Cathar massacre wasn't until later but they were singing about Vikings and sh//t around the time Spinal Tap hit the streets right? And weren't they the biggest heavy metal band around that time?
Just throwing that into the ring with my vote attached.
Lena
But what was Jethro Tull's Aqualung about? That song reminds me of the medieval music as the dwarfs are leveling Stonehenge.
"Lena is high and mighty" IMDB-- posters 10/13
This movie was out in March 1984, right?
Iron Maiden had songs about sex, loneliness, longing, family memories, violence, nightmares, history, literature, tv shows, and so on, until 1984. They had only one song about vikings, and guess what, it was never played live (Montsegur was released 20 years after the movie, and it's far from being important in Maiden's discography and don't really belong here). There were tons of other metal bands which songs mostly were about warriors and obscure stuff like that. Hardly Maiden sing about only one theme - and if you're talking about the song The Number of the Beast as the religious theme, that's because of typical American hysteria back in those days (the song is about a nightmare after the bassist had seen horror movies, and one particular story he learned while at school, persecutions in the forest and such lol - if you watch the Number of the beast video, it's obvious Maiden is taking the song as a joke - apparently no one understood it back then).
Yes, the viking song was released in Maiden's best selling album until March 1984, and that album gave Maiden a lot of exposure. However, in 1982, Maiden was not still full headliners: they opened for Priest, Scorpions, Rainbow, UFO, 38 Special and Foreigner. They did about 50 shows in the US in 1982 but they were just trying to break it in North America. Iron Maiden WAS NOT the biggest heavy metal band in the world, in 1982, by any means. Kiss was for sure, in 1980\81, a massive worlwide band. Black Sabbath was reemerging again, though it didn't last long for both bands. That only means that there where new spots for other bands.
The very first full headliner world tour of Maiden was "Piece on Tour" in 1983, between May and December. Yes, they were successfull. But Maiden was only in the top of the metal world by August 1984, with their Slavery Tour - they played for more than one million in the North America only. Then, yes, they were huge.
I don't know when the Spinal Tap movie was filmed (the short version was around in what, 1981? 1982?) but hardly it was based only on Maiden. They were just climbing the ladder, not yet on top of it.
E.g. - When they are discussing about the album cover being sexist, it's not related to Maiden at all. That doesn't mean Maiden was not referenced in Spinal Tap, but the movie is not making fun of only one rock band.
Really informative there. I had not known that. I found a Metallica documentary at a pawn shop and watched it with my friend and that was very interesting. The guys were very different than the music. LOL... so your insight is interesting.
Soooooooooo...did you like Spinal Tap or not? ī¹
Lena
*Free speech opinion w/ pseudonym internet moniker w/o malice for debate and discussionš
Just noticed towards the beginning they sing a song called "Big Bottom." Clear reference to Queen (Fat Bottomed Girls). The bassist was even dressed in leather and straps.
---
Idiots
Also spoofed The Beatles heavily.
shareDefinitely some parody of The Who and their The Kids Are Alright documentary.
shareSnook_ocreed, not only does Nigel Tufnel look like Jeff Beck, he sounds like him, too.
Dig Beck in this YARDBIRDS docu.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1Wic5feQxo (14.00 in)
Poets are made by fools like me, but only God can make STD.