Spinal Tap
Spinal Tap is a satirical Rob Reiner film starring actors Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, and Harry Shearer.
On March 2, 1984, marks the release of one of history’s most acclaimed documentaries , “rockumentaries,” This Is Spinal Tap, which told the story of one of England’s most powerful, exuberant and punctual fake rock bands: Spinal Tap.
Spinal Tap is a improv comedy with a documentary style. The group unwittingly made an enormous contribution to the folklore of popular music.
Stereo Review’s Steve Simels spoke for many when he called This is Spinal Tap “possibly the funniest movie ever made about rock-and-roll.”
In 2002, Spinal Tap was selected for preservation by the National Film Registry because it is a film that is
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considered “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the Library of Congress. The difference a documentary and a mockumentary? *A mockumentary is a fake documentary. *It is a fictional film with documentary film elements. *Most often a mockumentary exaggerates real life. *It pretends to mimic real life situations. *It purposely films reaction shots, interviews and embarrassing conversations that normal would be left on the on editing cutting floor. *It is a film genre that pokes fun at real life. Spinal Tap kick-started the mockumentary genre in 1984. Before Spinal Tap In 1978, Rob Reiner, son of comedy titan Carl Reiner (director of The Jerk, Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid and The Man With Two Brains) put together a special titled The TV Show, which attempted to spoof a day's network scheduling on one hour-long programme. One of the satiric targets was a programme called The Midnight Special, an American Top of the Pops-styled show presented by legendary DJ Wolfman Jack. Christopher Guest wrote for The TV Show, along with his old friend Michael McKean and together they cooked up the idea of "a pea-brained English rock band." Reiner, Guest, McKean and the show's producer, Harry Shearer wrote a song, a typically overwrought combination of retarded lyrics and masturbatory guitar solos called Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare and performed it on the show, complete with poodle perm wigs and skin hugging spandex. They settled on Spynal Tap for the name, eventually becoming Spinal Tap. The real story behind Spinal Tap This Is Spinal Tap one of the funniest movies ever made, is about a lot of things, but one of them is the way the real story is not in the questions or in the answers, but at the edge of the frame. There are two stories told in the film: the story of what the rock band Spinal Tap thinks, hopes, believes or fears is happening, and the story of what is really happening. The reason we feel such affection for its members is because they are so touching in their innocence and optimism. Intoxicated by the sheer fun of being rock stars, they perform long after their sell-by date, to smaller and smaller audiences, for less and less money, still seeking the roar of the crowd. The Many faces of Spinal Tap The film traces the stages of its career, from early imitation-Beatle days to a psychedelic period to the unfortunate present. Their American tour reveals them to be approaching their final stylistic incarnation, which involves screamingly loud solos, tight spandex pants and the use of a giant horned skull on stage. Good friends David St. Hubbins (played by Michael McKean) and Nigel Tufnel (played by Christopher Guest) of Great Britain joined forces in 1964 after seeing their similar musical tastes, forming the Originals. After finding out that there was already a group of that title, they would go through a series of name changes until finally becoming the Thamesmen. They released two minor hit singles, "Gimme Some Money" and "Cups and Cakes," songs that established them as a unique and noticeable band. Tour after tour the United Kingdom band seemed to change its name until the settled on Spinal Tap when they hired keyboardist Denny Upham. Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer) replaces Denny Upham when left to form the group Pudding People. A brief history of Spinal Tap This film follows the band's disastrous attempts to promote its 1982 album Smell The Glove with a US tour. It chronicle the many set malfunctions, unattended signings of their new album called entirely and ultimately to an amusement park where they are reduced to performing an improvised jazz-fusion set. But against all the odds, Smell The Glove is a huge hit in Japan, and the film ends with a triumphant performance at a sold-out Japanese gig. The band grants DiBergi’s cameras unparalleled access into their tight-knit universe: backstage, in hotel suites and in upscale diners. All while candidly reminiscing on their remarkable evolution from ‘60s beat combo the Thamesmen, through the psychedelic era, and even touching on the traumatizing, occasionally mysterious, deaths of talented drummers like Peter “James” Bond and Eric “Stumpy Joe” Childs. Memorable Lines Spinal Tap has lines that are intrenched into popular culture. "He died in a bizarre gardening accident." "These go to 11." "There's a fine line between stupid and clever." "Shit sandwich." "Money talks and bullshit walks." “Their appeal is becoming more selective.” Inspiration behind Spinal Tap Legend has it that the initial creative spark for This is Spinal Tap was generated from a serendipitous moment at the Chateau Marmont in 1974, when Christopher Guest overheard the following dialogue between the bassist for a rock band and his manager: Manager: All right, well, we’ll take our instruments up to the room. Bassist: Don’t know where my bass is. Manager: I beg your pardon. Bassist: I don’t know where the bass is. Manager: Where is it? Bassist: I think it’s at the airport. Manager: You have to get back there, don’t you? Bassist: I don’t know, do I? Manager: I think you better. Bassist: Where’s my bass? Manager: It’s at the airport. Biggest Laugh In the first half, the biggest laugh comes from when Guitarist Nigel Tufnel tries to explain to documentary filmmaker Marty DiBergi that his amplifier goes to 11, where most amplifier only go up to ten. Marty DiBergi realizes he's dealing with a matter of guitar theology, not logic. Nigel has few ideas, but they are clearly defined and defiantly defended. DiBergi, a rational filmmaker, is helpless in the face of Nigel's rapture. This how Spinal Tap became the loudest band in England. The biggest laugh in the second half of the film is assembled lovingly, over time, out of many small elements. It involves an assignment to set designer Polly Deutsch (Anjelica Huston) to build a replica of one of the elements of Stonehenge, which will descend onto the stage during a big production number. Bad communication causes an error in scale. Curse of the drumsticks The drummer is the frequent object of sacrifice, whose death is represented in a cartoonishly painful manner. The band's "success" came to a halt when John "Stumpy" Pepys died in a bizarre gardening accident in 1969. Eric "Stumpy Joe" Childs in 1974 choked to death on an unknown offender's vomit that same year, and was replaced with Peter James Bond for the 1975 release The Sun Never Sweats. After signing with Polymer, drummer Peter James Bond spontaneously combusted on-stage in 1976. Bonds successor, Mick Shrimpton, also died the same way in 1983. In 1983, Drummer Joe “Mamma” Bessemer avoids the curse of the drumsticks by going into hiding after many of the group’s props were reported stolen. To this day, he is nowhere to be found. Examples of Fiction VS Reality The scene where Nigel complains about the food backstage before a concert. Footage of the band manager to interest the band in record promotions and to motivate them during many show cancelations came upon deaf ears. There are parallels between the fictional group in this movie and actual rock groups.
Spinal Tap is lead by two "creative geniuses," guitarist Nigel Tufnall and singer David St. Huppins. Their black album cover was used for a Metallica album. Like the Beatles, the band is seriously affected by the female partner of one of the group's members.
It made Tom Waits and the Edge to cry. Tom Waits once said that when he watched the film for the first time, he cried because of its realism.
The Edge shared a similar sentiment in 2005, when U2 was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: “It's so hard to keep things fresh, and not to become a parody of yourself,” the legendary guitarist told the crowd of onlookers. “And if you've ever seen that movie Spinal Tap, you will know how easy it is to parody what we all do. The first time I ever saw it, I didn't laugh. I wept. I wept because I recognized so much and so many of those scenes.”
A film was released about the Canadian band Anvil which bears striking parallels to Spinal Tap but this is a real band! You must see this 2008 documentary to believe it: Anvil, The Story of Anvil.
Reaction of Spinal
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Tap The film was released in March 1984. The critics love-bombed it and so did the public. Eventually, word of mouth meant the film was a modest financial success, but it wasn't until the VHS release that its cult started to balloon. When This Is Spinal Tap was released, people truly thought it was a documentary about a real band. People would even come up to director Rob Reiner, telling him that he made a great documentary, but should have filmed a better-known band. But make no mistake, while Spinal Tap is a tragic failure of a band, this film is top quality humor In 2011, Time Out London named Spinal Tap the Best Comedy of All Time, noting that “It’s sublimely funny and sharp—a comedy built for the long haul which matures with each viewing.” Entertainment Weekly, Empire, The New York Times, and the American Film Institute have all singled the film out in similar lists.
Other facts about Spinal Tap
Ad lib or not?
Rob Reiner and the three main actors are credited as the writers of the movie, based on the fact that much of the dialogue was ad libbed by them.
Many Cameos Appearances
Fran Drescher as Bobby Flekman
Paul Shaffer as Artie Fufkin
Fred Willard as Lt. Hookstratten
Status of bronze
Intravenus de Milo, which was the group's seventh record and released in 1974, is still known to be the first album to ever reach the status of bronze, which a band can only attain if one million copies of an album are returned.
32 Years in the making
In the years since, all of them have been proud of Spinal Tap. The three often bring the wigs and spandex out again for the odd gig, advert and mini film. Guest, who was made a Baron in 1996, due to the death of his British father, Anthony Haden-Guest, virtually reshot This is Spinal Tap as a faux folk mockumentary in 2003's A Mighty Wind, alongside Shearer and McKean.
The members of this fake band is happy to do live concerts but they will never revisit the media of film again. Spinal Tap is a fine example of doing it once and getting it right. No need for spinoffs, remakes or sequels. What does that tell you about the integrity of the creatures of Spinal
Tap?
The band is composed of six musicians, and has been in the music industry for over twenty years. The main singer is the director and is the oldest member of the band, he has been there since
album contains an amazing combination of poetic lyrics and edgy music that make it an
Another of his quotes from the DVD commentary accurately sums up the film as a whole: "On the surface it's kind of funny, but you're only laughing because you want to cry."
Swenson, John.” The Story of a Band”. Billboard. 5 Dec. 1998. General Onefile.Web. 16 Apr.2014
Bernie Mac’s second Def Comedy Jam special, “I Ain’t Scared of You Motherfuckers” is a comedic work that has always made me laugh uncontrollably. Even when I was too young to fully understand most of the jokes in that particular standup routine, his physical motions, use of curses and taboo sex phrases, as well as his urban Chicago colloquialisms were enough to have tears dripping from my eyes and a boisterous sound of laughter coming from my mouth, loud enough that it would cause my mother to come into my room and investigate what all the fuss was about. Despite the obvious comedic subject matter of works of comedy done by comedians such as Bernie Mac, there are numerous underlying reasons that attribute to the humor that is expressed through our laugher and enjoyment. Through his lively stage presences and sociological motifs, Bernie Mac was able to enlighten the world on the various cultural aspects of urban life by his use of social and psychological cues that capture our attention, giving us directions on how to react, providing us with an increased social awareness though satirical methods, and making light of taboo topics regarding the themes of sex and gender roles.
For example, the comedy shows The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon expresses satirical humor concerning politics. His show also demonstrates political satire by telling jokes and even impersonating political figures for the audience. He creates humor through sarcasm that focuses on real issues. His sarcastic humor causes others to feel more confident in their criticism toward politicians. For example, “Jimmy Fallon expresses his humor about Donald Trump, impersonating his appearance and imitating his voice while talking about politics. He uses his humor by impersonating Donald Trump and his sweeping generalizations with Madea (Rogo).” Jimmy Fallon shows people his views through humor and it creates a sense of community to express their agreeable and disagreeable views. As we discussed some ideas about satirical humor that affects political changes, it was important to reveal their feelings about changes in life and drove them to look upon their society or government more
This Is Spinal Tap is a Mockumentary that simultaneously depicts and parodies the life of rock stars, by capturing performances (both on and off stage) of the made-for-film rock band, Spinal Tap. The fabricated band is an exaggerated attempt to recreate a generic hard rock band that would generally fit somewhere from the 70’s through to the 80’s, and it happens to do it very well. Leaders of the group have distinct snobbish/dimwitted personalities like most bands that took themselves way too seriously at the time. The members look and act like rock stars, and stumble upon problems that artists alike may encounter. Throughout the film, entire songs, costumes, and set designs are generated to make the band appear all the more real. This Is Spinal Tap covers the band touring across the states, and depicts them as any rock documentary would. Interviews and concert shows are spliced in a mostly linear fashion throughout the band’s back stage discussions and preparations. Everything about this artificial world is meant to seem real; because the humor in spoofing something can be observed mostly in it’s tragic accuracy.
The band consist of 8 members, Nathan East bassist/vocals, Andy Fairweather-Low, lead guitar/vocals, Steve Ferrone- drums, Chuck Leavell-key boardist, Ray Cooper- tambourines, Katie Kissoon and Tessa Niles- vocals, and Eric Clapton- composer, rock n roll guitarist, lead vocalist. The band members dressed in casual attire. The band members were professionals, they knew exactly how to orchestrate every chord, they collaborated with the lead singer and each other in ways that wasn’t so noticeable to the audience but they knew which chords to use for every song, the band was a top notch team. The tempo of the songs were a mixture of fast, slow, to a medium style beat. The texture of the songs was homophonic and well put together lyrics. The style of the music was from the 1960s-1970s which genres were rock, blues rock, psychedelic rock, hard rock, jazz and blues.
Large numbers of comedians began adopting the styles that Carlin is said to have pioneered, from his political rants shadowed by Lewis Black, his observational comedy and word play used by Jerry Seinfeld. Seinfeld in a posthumous article said "You could certainly say that George downright invented modern American stand-up comedy in many ways. Every comedian does a little George." Seinfeld goes onto say while chatting with other comedians about joke ideas they would say “Carlin does it.” or “Carlin already did it,” and “Carlin did it eight years ago.” Another disciple in the University of Carlin's is Louis Székely known to us as Louis C.K. Louis honored George in a post-obit tribute in 2010 at the New York Public Library by saying that Carlin had a far-reaching effect on his career when at the time C.K. has been in place where he felt his comedy was going nowhere. C.K. said in a moment where he felt like nothing was going right he heard a George Carlin interview and that Carlin mentioned his method of starting every year with a blank slate and that it caused him to become more introspective. C.K. then took that concept and ran with it and is now one of the most popular and revered standup comedians of today. "Anything that happens to me that is good is due to this guy(Carlin), I can tell you because I do what he
I feel like if I was able to tell people what the jest of the jokes were while watching people would appreciate the play a bit more than if they didn’t know anything about it. Overall though this is a great Broadway adaption from nothing pretty much, and Will Ferrell really solidifies his role as one of the world’s funniest actors and comedians at the same time. Looking back, America was a good place and we were pretty safe after 9/11, it was great looking back on those eight years of his presidency, and we can only hope the next president can deliver something special
...leased on DVD as “Live at Donington”. A year later, AC/DC recorded "Big Gun" for the soundtrack of the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie “Last Action Hero”, and was released as a single reaching No.1 on the US Mainstream Rock chart, the band's first No.1 single on that chart. The band is currently in the making of a new album, supposedly. It is still the same lineup and their most recent tour “Black Ice” sold out shows wherever they went. The band claims that they are still together and are planning another tour, which just goes to show how much of a powerhouse AC/DC really is.
The hit musical "Singin' in the Rain" may possibly be one of if not the greatest musicals of all time. With it's tale of the film world of the mid 1920's and its creative underlining love story between Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly) and Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds), it provokes the interest of someone who would not generally be attracted to a musical. It is a classic masterpiece that set the standards that musical films of today will be judged by. It is a classic performance by the great Gene Kelly and displays outstanding performances by Debbie Reynolds and Donald O'Connor. As well as starring in this brilliant movie, Gene Kelly teams up with Stanley Donen to make their mark in film history.
To some, December 6, 1969 may not hold any particular significance. To Rolling Stones front man Mick Jagger, however, it’s remembered as the day the sixties suffered a tragic death. Irrational bikers and terrified fans were not a part of Jagger’s vision when him and his bandmates organized a free concert at California’s Altamont Speedway. Despite incessant warnings that a concert of such a large magnitude was not the best idea, the Stones went ahead with it in light of criticism they’d received regarding their ticket prices being too high. They’d performed for overflow audiences without incident in major cities before, but this crowd of 300,000 was different. A total of four births and four deaths were the result of that evening, one of which was a homicide. The stabbing of Meredith Hunter by Hell’s Angel Alan Passaro happened to be captured on film, and is now the climax of the legendary rock n’ roll documentary Gimme Shelter. Larger cultural discourses shape the way non-fiction narratives are told, and the only entity larger than the notion of disaster within the film is the notion of Jagger as a celebrity. In the words of Amanda Howell, “Jagger's ‘double self’ literally takes center stage in Gimme Shelter. On the one hand, Jagger embodies the freedom, expressivity and hedonism of the countercultural movement, while on the other he appears adept in his relation to "straight" society.” In addition to this “double self,” Jagger can also be described as a commodity in the eyes of his adoring fans. What happened at Altamont was, in a sense, an explosion of tensions that had built up over the sixties; an explosion which Gimme Shelter depicts Mick Jagger to have been shielded from as a result of his three façades.
A crew includes a screenwriter, whose job it is to provide the written blueprint version of the entire film. This is basically the starting point for any movie. Next there is the producer. There are many types of producers; executive producers, co-producers, assistant producers and line producers. They all do very different things. Some are the producers are responsible for raising the funds for the movie while others are responsible for the production that goes on during the filming of the movie and still other producers are in charge of what physically goes on the set. Then it is time for the director. The director is in charge of the actors. The director works with the actors to visually bring to life what was written on the screenplay (Fortunato, Who Does What on a Film). Now the idea needs to come together. The idea of writing, “what you know” is not always true and writing, “what you come to know” is in fact a more accurate way to write. Other good ways to formulate ideas are to use existing plays, novels, short stories, life stories, new articles, or even past TV shows and film. When using existing work a person needs to make sure that one secures the copyrights before starting write. Securing the copyrights does not mean one is finished yet. Now a person needs...
The nature of comedy has always left it somewhat resistant to critical analysis, and to some extent the same can be said for comedic actors. The class-clowns of Hollywood like Will Ferrell are often times constructed as being nothing more than amusing, so they seem like a simple case study.... ... middle of paper ... ...