Possibly the best group never to have actually existed Spinal Tap are due to play this summer’s Glastonbury festival.
Spinal Tap formed after appearing on an American comedy special. The writers and actors involved loved appearing as the band so much, they set about working on a script for a dull length movie.
The resulting mockumentary ‘This Is Spinal Tap’ was a loving pastiche of 70s rock greats. Viewers watch the group begin as a Beat combo, before becoming loved up psychedelic warriors.
Finally, Spinal Tap emerge as full fledged rockers. Drummers depart (two by spontaneous human combustion) before the film finds them promoting their new album. Disaster strikes the band, as Spinal Tap are consumed by in-fighting before finding salvation with Japanese audiences.
Now 25 years old, ‘This Is Spinal Tap’ contains many of the music industry’s most beloved in-jokes. Just ask a tour manager about the Stonehenge sketch, or a sound engineer about amplifiers that go up to eleven.
The band are set to re-unite this summer to celebrate their anniversary. Spinal Tap have recorded a new album ‘Back From The Dead’ which features new versions of classic material alongside some brand new Spinal Tap sounds.
Spinal Tap had planned a full scale tour to coincide with the release, but this idea was eventually scrapped. “To be honest, we couldn’t get that together,” actor Christopher Guest, aka guitarist Nigel Tufnel, told Philadelphia Daily News. “But we will do a couple of ‘Tap shows in Britain, at Wembley Arena and the Glastonbury festival.”
Spinal Tap have already confirmed an appearance at the Wembley Arena in London on June 30th.
Spinal Tap are set to play Glastonbury this summer. The Somerset festival takes place between June 28th – 30th.
