The 1984 mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap is often considered one of the greatest films of all time. The film follows a fictional 80s hair metal band, the titular Spinal Tap, on a tour through America. It also contained a cast of the greatest comedians of the 80s, including its two leads, Christopher Guest and Michael McKean.
Since its release, This Is Spinal Tap has become a quintessential part of pop culture, for both its comedy and music. The titular band's lack of self-awareness is even used to insult pretentious musical artists in real life. While those artists can appear as unlikable, it's hard to not quote these moments from this iconic rock-umentary. With a sequel finally in the works, it's the perfect time to look back at the lines that make this movie so memorable.
10 The Origin Of David's Name
Michael McKean, known for Saturday Night Live and Better Call Saul, plays the band's lead singer and guitarist, David St. Hubbins. The entire film sees the band being followed on tour by filmmaker Marty Di Bergi, played by director Rob Reiner. Predictably, the band suffers some turmoil during this period.
After a falling-out between David and Spinal Tap's lead guitarist, Nigel Tufnel, the singer is asked by a reporter about the fate of the band. David's response is:
Well, I don't really think the end can be assessed, uh, as of itself as being the end because what does the end feel like? It's like saying when you try to extrapolate the end of the universe, you say, if the universe is indeed infinite, then how – what does that mean? How far is all the way and then if it stops, what's stopping it, and what's behind what's stopping it? So, what's the end, you know, is my question to you.
9 Derek's Role In The Band
Harry Shearer, best known for voicework on The Simpsons, plays Derek Smalls, Spinal Tap's bassist. While David and Nigel are the main force behind the band's creativity, Derek's role is more Ringo Starr-esque. He is mainly a supporting musician for the other two, which he doesn't seem to mind.
During an interview with Rob Reiner's character, Derek confesses how he truly feels about being overshadowed by David and Nigel:
We're very lucky in the sense that we've got two visionaries in the band, you know, David and Nigel are both, like, poets, you know, like Shelley or Byron or people like that. They're two totally distinct types of visionaries, it's like fire and ice, basically, you see in 'em. I feel my role in the band is to be kind of in the middle of that, kind of like lukewarm water.
8 Billy Crystal's Cameo Appearance
This Is Spinal Tap features many cameo appearances from comedy icons of the 1980s. One of them is Billy Crystal, who at the time was known for starring in the sitcom Soap. His role in Spinal Tap, however, finds Crystal as the frustrated boss to several mime waiters.
In one scene, Crystal's character scolds a mime waiter played by Dana Carvey:
Don't talk back, mime is money, come on, move it.
For a film with dialogue that's entirely improvised, that's a line that could only come from the genius brain of Billy Crystal.
7 Nigel Complains About Their Album Cover
Part of the narrative in This Is Spinal Taprevolves around the controversial cover for the band's newest album, Smell The Glove. As a result, their manager, Ian, is forced to think of a solution. The album is manufactured with an entirely black cover, mimicking the Beatles' White Album.
While their manager defends the decision, the band can't hide their frustration over the artwork. Nigel, holding the entirely black cover, tells the rest of the band:
There's something about this that's so black, it's like how much more black could this be? And the answer is none. None more black.
Little do they know this idea would be stolen by Metallica, Kanye West, and Prince.
6 A Gig At An Air Force Base
Another celebrity cameo in This Is Spinal Tap comes in the film's second half. At this point, the struggling group is forced to play at a United States Air Force Base after a gig falls through. They encounter Lt. Bob Hookstratten, played by the incomparably funny Fred Willard, a frequent collaborator of Christopher Guest.
While introducing himself, Hookstratten tries to appeal to the unenthused Spinal Tap:
May I start by saying how thrilled we are to have you here, we are such fans of your music and all of your records. I'm not speaking of yours personally, but the whole genre of rock and roll, and so many exciting things that are happening in music today.
5 The Loss Of Stumpy
An early section of the film recounts the history of Spinal Tap, starting out as the Thamesmen. Later, they achieve their first big success making "flower power" music. The band finally switches over to heavy metal, with more profane and sexual lyrics.
During this time, the band suffers the loss of several drummers. One spontaneously combusts, while another chokes on vomit. Their first drummer, Stumpy Pepys, has a more unusual and comedic fate:
He died in a bizarre gardening accident some years back.
Nigel chimes in with an additional anecdote about Stumpy:
It was one of those things, you know, the authorities said, you know, "Best leave it unsolved."
4 Poor Reviews Damage Spinal Tap's Reputation
Early on, filmmaker Marty Di Bergi confronts the band over their poor reviews. Many critics have been extremely negative about the band's albums, particularly their 1974 release Intravenus de Milo. However, critics had much briefer things to say about their 1980 album, titled Shark Sandwich.
As Marty Di Bergi puts it:
The review you had on Shark Sandwich was merely a two-word review, it just said: "S*** sandwich."
Thankfully, the band is humored by the review, refusing to believe that an actual newspaper printed it.
3 Nigel Takes Inspiration From Classical Music
One scene in the film finds Nigel Tufnel (played by Christopher Guest) delighting Marty Di Bergi with a piano tune. In line with the rest of the film's absurd moments, Nigel's playing is beautiful, unlike anything the band has actually produced. Marty seems impressed by the hidden compositions Nigel is capable of.
When pressed about the piece, Nigel has this to say:
Well, it's part of a trilogy, a musical trilogy that I'm doing in D minor, which I always find is really the saddest of all keys, really, I don't know why. It makes people weep instantly to play ... I'm really influenced by Mozart and Bach, and it's sort of in between those, really. It's like a Mach piece, really.
The kicker comes when Marty asks if the piece has a name, to which Nigel replies:
Well, this piece is called "Lick My Love Pump."
2 David's Way Of Life
While the entirety of This Is Spinal Tap is comedy gold, some of its best quotes come during the credits. As the names of cast and crew scroll across the screen, several unused interview clips of the band play. One of the best quotes to come from th film comes from McKean's David St. Hubbins.
It's unknown what question prompts this response, but David admits this to Di Bergi's film crew:
I believe virtually everything I read, and I think that is what makes me more of a selective human than someone who doesn't believe anything.
This may be one of the film's more subtle jokes, but it's a perfect moment from Michael McKean's brain.
1 Nigel's Modified Amplifiers
There is one quote from This Is Spinal Tap that may be among the most iconic quotes in cinematic history. Here, Nigel shows off his collection of guitars, some he refuses to play or even look at. In addition, he also shows off the band's modified equipment.
After pointing out that Spinal Tap's amplifiers go to 11 instead of 10, Marty wonders why they don't just make their amps louder at full volume. Dumbfounded, Nigel takes a long pause while staring at the amp, before bluntly stating:
These go to eleven.
It's moments like these that prove that Guest's films are unparalleled comedy. The line has been quoted infinite times over the years, to the point that "turning it up to eleven" is a common colloquial phrase almost 40 years after the film's release.