This Episode Goes 2 11: A Spinal Tap special with Alexis Petridis

Rock's Backpages

For this special "bonus" episode of the Rock's Backpages podcast — fittingly number 211 (geddit?) — we're joined once again by The Guardian's Alexis Petridis for a discussion of timeless rock mockumentary This is Spinal Tap and its breathlessly-awaited sequel Spinal Tap II: The End Continues...

With reference to A Fine Line Between Stupid and Clever, the newly-published "story of Spinal Tap" told by Rob "Marty DiBergi" Reiner — with help from our good friend David Kamp (an excellent podcast guest back in 2021) – we reflect on what made the original 1984 film so special and what challenges its 2025 sequel faced.

Along the way we celebrate the satirical genius of Michael "David St. Hubbins" McKean, Harry "Derek Smalls" Shearer and Christopher "Nigel Tufnel" Guest (as well as the latter's subsequent masterpieces from Waiting for Guffman to A Mighty Wind) and ponder the wisdom or otherwise of including cameos by Sirs Elton John and Paul McCartney in the new film. Meanwhile our highly-respected guest — who of course ghosted Sir Elton's autobiography Me — recalls his own close encounter with Tap in 2009.

This end does not continue.

Pieces discussed: Spinal Tap's Metal Memories, Spinal Tap: It's an Ill Wind..., Spinal Tap: Wembley Arena, London and Spinal Tap: Still smelling the glove.