This Is Spinal Tap

Michael McKean, center, with a Muppet caricature of Derek Smalls, right

The Muppets Mayhem

This Is Spinal Tap is a 1984 film comedy, using the mockumentary format as cameras follow the exploits of rock band Spinal Tap on an ill-fated tour. Rob Reiner directed and played documentarian Marty DiBergi. The band Spinal Tap would later appear in such venues as Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons as well as actual live concerts. A sequel followed in 2025.

The film popularized the phrase "up to 11," referring to guitar amps whose volume knobs are typically marked from zero to ten.

References

• In the "Crichton's Notes" entry for the Aurora Chair on SciFi.com, John Crichton says the chair is "like having every heavy-metal band playing in your head at once, with the amps cranked up way past eleven."

• Michael McKean plays rock star Virgil von Vivaldi in Episode 4234 of Sesame Street (2010). His long hair and occupation reference McKean's Spinal Tap character David St. Hubbins (minus the British accent). His entourage includes an Anything Muppet rocker who is a caricature of fellow Spinal Tap member Derek Smalls.

• In the long music video for "She Drives Me Crazy," Fran Drescher plays an acerbic record executive, referencing her role in This Is Spinal Tap.

• For the "Sesame Street Puppets Live!" show at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con, the Sesame Muppets played a movie quote game with the audience. Count von Count quotes "This one goes to eleven."

• The Electric Mayhem outdoes Spinal Tap in The Muppets Mayhem, as their amplifiers go up to 11.5 in "Eight Days a Week."

Connections

• Paul Benedict played Tucker "Smitty" Brown
• Garth Brooks appeared in Spinal Tap II: The End Continues
• Billy Crystal played Morty the Mime
• Fran Drescher played Bobbi Flekman
• Anjelica Huston played Polly Deutsch
• Elton John appeared in Spinal Tap II: The End Continues
• Michael McKean played David St. Hubbins and co-wrote
• Julie Payne played a mime waitress
• Questlove appeared in Spinal Tap II: The End Continues
• Paul Shaffer played Artie Fufkin
• Harry Shearer played Derek Smalls and co-wrote
• Fred Willard played Lt. Bob Hookstratten
• Trisha Yearwood appeared in Spinal Tap II: The End Continues