This is Spinal Tap was released in 1984 and it
remains one of the best movies ever made about rock and roll. Directed by
Rob Reiner, it was the first in a series of mock documentaries that
Christopher Guest has been associated with (you might also enjoy Waiting
For Guffman, Best of Show, or A Mighty Wind). This Is Spinal
Tap follows a British Heavy Metal group as it tours the US. As the film
progresses, Reiner has many opportunities to poke fun at rock music and
raise several issues associated with it including (but not limited to)
sexism. The most glaring example of sexism in this film concerns Tap's
album cover for Smell the Glove. The cover features a naked woman on all
fours and a gloved hand thrust in front of the woman's face. There is a
hilarious segment in which the groups Artist Representative explains to
their manager how offensive the cover is. Sexism also is prominent in some
of the group's song lyrics including Sex Farm. Finally, when David St.
Huppins girlfriend offers to help manage the group, Ian Faith, makes it
clear he will under no circumstances co-manage the band with her.
There are several interesting parallels between the fictional group in
this movie and actual rock groups. Like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones,
Spinal Tap is lead by two "creative geniuses," guitarist Nigel Tufnall and
singer David St. Huppins. Their black album cover was actually used for a
Metallica album. Like the Beatles, the band is seriously affected by
the female partner of one of the group's members (remember John Lennon and
Yoko Ono?).
Fun is poked at the star mentality of rock musicians, too. The scene
where Nigel complains about the food backstage before a concert comes to
mind. Perhaps funniest are the numerous attempts by the group's
manager to maintain that the band continues to be popular despite several
cancelled shows, the total lack of interest in record promotions, and
the use of much smaller venues than those booked for past tours.
Recently, 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.
