It has been 25 years since the initial release of the heavy metal mockumentary This is Spinal Tap, and I am happy to say that although this movie is just a bit older than I am, it is on my top ten—err...eleven...favorite movies of all time, well of all my time that is. I can remember watching it for the first time, then the 37 times after, basically forcing many of my friends to watch with me as to share the glory of this film with as many people as I could. You got to see all the funny memorable moments and also somehow picked up on something you hadn’t before. This movie just gets better every time you watch it.
I’ll say one of my favorite scenes is when Nigel (Christopher Guest) is backstage at one of Spinal Taps’ gigs explaining to their manager, Ian, his confusion with the catering. They have given him miniature toast but full size cuts of meat. He just can’t seem to figure it out. Folds the meat, but feels he should also fold the bread—breaking it to even smaller pieces. Some of the olives are pitted, some of the have “little guys” in them. “It’s a complete catastrophe,” he grumbles. What a gem. Working at a concert venue you hear stories and get first-hand glimpses of artists being a bit more than particular, which makes this satirical movie that much funnier.
Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer also known as Nigel Tufnel, David St. Hubbins and Derek Smalls, respectively, are taking to the road once again as friends to relive some of the greatest songs, skits and characters of their careers. They will embark on the Unwigged & Unplugged Tour, quite obviously without their notable wigs and electric instruments.
For this very special tour, Guest, McKean and Shearer will be performing music from Spinal Tap, A Mighty Wind (their 2003 mockumentary of a 1960s folk trio) as well as toss some surprises and rarities into the mix. The three have said that this tour is not about funny costumes or characters, but it is about being themselves and jamming as friends like they were in their own living room. Except they will be in ours.
If you’ve caught wind (all puns intended) of these three and the work they have done over the past few decades, you will find this show one that is hard to miss. It is quite unlike anything across the circuit right now, so you must jump on this chance. The Unwigged & Unplugged Tour takes to the Florida Theatre stage this Monday, May 4 at 8 pm.
And just as a little teaser, here are a few fun facts and the oh-so-quotable quotes from these memorable three and their awesome work:
· The Library of Congress added the film to the National Film Registry’s list of 25 American cinematic works selected for historical preservation calling the film a ‘culturally significant’ work.
· In an early '90s, and again in the early 2000's, Spinal Tap tour, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer and Christopher Guest opened for themselves as The Folksmen and were booed during the first act, as people did not know or cared that the two bands had the same musicians.
· “You're on ten here, all the way up, all the way up, all the way up, you're on ten on your guitar. Where can you go from there? Where?...Eleven. Exactly. One louder.” Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest, This is Spinal Tap)
· Entertainment Weekly recently awarded This is Spinal Tap eleventh place (of course) in their “cult film” list.
· “I do not, for one, think that the problem was that the band was down. I think that the problem may have been that there was a Stonehenge monument on the stage that was in danger of being crushed by a dwarf. Alright? That tended to understate the hugeness of the object.” David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean, This is Spinal Tap)
· “To do then now would be retro. To do then then was very now-tro, if you will.” Mark Shubb (Harry Shearer, A Mighty Wind)
· And the music of Spinal Tap is as popular today as it ever was – their song “Tonight I’m Gonna Rock You Tonight” has been featured everywhere from the bestselling video game Guitar Hero 2 to a Hallmark musical greeting card.
kat.berry.