On this day March 2 1984 the mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap premiered in theaters. Directed by Rob Reiner the film followed the fictional British rock band Spinal Tap parodying the excesses and absurdities of the rock and roll lifestyle.
The movie satirized the over the top antics of rock bands in the 1970s and 1980s from onstage disasters to record label troubles. The band members played by Christopher Guest Michael McKean and Harry Shearer improvised much of the dialogue making the film feel like a real documentary.
Many real rock stars related to the film’s humor. Ozzy Osbourne and others commented on how accurate the portrayal was with some bands experiencing similar absurd moments in their careers. Over time the film became a cult classic influencing future mockumentaries and comedy films.
80s insight: The term turning it up to eleven became a pop culture reference thanks to the famous scene where Nigel Tufnel explains his special amplifier that goes beyond the standard ten.
The movie satirized the over the top antics of rock bands in the 1970s and 1980s from onstage disasters to record label troubles. The band members played by Christopher Guest Michael McKean and Harry Shearer improvised much of the dialogue making the film feel like a real documentary.
Many real rock stars related to the film’s humor. Ozzy Osbourne and others commented on how accurate the portrayal was with some bands experiencing similar absurd moments in their careers. Over time the film became a cult classic influencing future mockumentaries and comedy films.
80s insight: The term turning it up to eleven became a pop culture reference thanks to the famous scene where Nigel Tufnel explains his special amplifier that goes beyond the standard ten.
