Music Flashback: Spinal Tap

Spinal Tap is a British Heavy Metal Band that has built a long legacy as one of the most prolific music groups in Music History.

The group was formed in the 1960′s by childhood friends David St. Hubbins (Vocals, Guitar)and Nigel Tufnel (Vocals, Lead Guitar). They originally called themselves “The Originals” but later had to change their name to the “The New Originals” when it was found another band was already using the name.

They later changed their name to “The Thamesman” before finally settling on “Spinal Tap” after deciding they needed a name with a “harder edge”. Their first hit single as “Spinal Tap” was the 1960′s Flower Power Rock Anthem “Listen to the Flower People” in 1968.

The group was then joined by Bassist Derek Smalls, Keyboardist Viv Savage, and a long series of Drummers, most of whom died under mysterious circumstances while with the band. One drummer died in a freak gardening accident, one dying after choking on the vomit of an unknown person (you can’t dust for vomit), one drummer who died under such mysterious circumstances that Police reports actually indicated that it was a “mystery best left unsolved”, and one who actually died of spontaneous combustion while on stage during a concert.

In the subsequent career of the band, St. Hubbins, Tufnel, and Smalls would be the faces and creative forces behind the phenomenal success the band would enjoy.

Both St. Hubbins and Tufnel are accomplished songwriters and composers and are responsible for all the many hits the group has charted over the years.

The men are much more than just drugged-out Heavy Metal Gods as evidenced by the other types of music they like to dabble in.

As an example, Tufnel recently composed a somber piece of classical music for the piano entitled “Lick my Love Pump“. He is currently circulating the composition in hopes of maybe turning the piece into a Rock Opera or Broadway Musical.

The group enjoyed a great deal of success throughout the 1970′s and enjoyed a long succession of successful albums, hit singles, and sold-out concert tours.

At one point in the 1970′s, David St. Hubbins caught the eye of casting directors in Hollywood and he ended up auditioning for the role of “Lenny” of “Lenny and Squiggy” fame on the popular sitcom “Laverne and Shirley“. He did not win the part as actor Michael McKean was instead chosen for the role.

Wanting to be the “loudest group on the planet”, Tufnel invented an amplifier that has a Max Setting of “11” whereas most mortal amplifiers go up to “10“.

Their many classic metal hits have included:

Big Bottoms
Stonehenge
Hell Hole
Cups and Cakes
Sex Farm
Gimme Some Money
The Sun Never Sweats
Stinkin Up the Great Outdoors
Break Like the Wind

And countless other classics

By the early 80′s, with the advent of the younger, hipper, American Hair Bands, the group began to lose popularity. Album sales and concert ticket sales started to drop and the band that had once packed the largest arenas and stadiums in the world, now found themselves playing smaller venues and clubs.

A 1982 US Tour to promote the Album “Smell the Glove” was plagued by dissension within the band and a large number of cancelled shows due to anemic ticket sales.

In the midst of the tour, Nigel Tufnel abruptly left the band. The future of the group was very much cast into doubt.

The remaining band members contemplated venturing into Musical Theater for an updated musical version of Jack The Ripper, but during the last show of the “Smell the Glove” tour, Nigel Tufnel returned to the band. His return was tragically overshadowed by the sudden death of yet another drummer, Mick Shrimpton, who literally exploded onstage during the final concert.

The group broke up in 1983 before reuniting in the early 1990′s in order to record new material and head back out on the road for another series of successful tours.

Though they are much older, have much less hair, two have prosthetic hips, and despite having 13 grandchildren between them, St. Hubbins, Tufnel, and Smalls are still out on the road, still living and breathing the Heavy Metal Lifestyle, and are still bringing joy to millions of aging Spinal Tap fans. They are also looking for yet another drummer as their latest band mate was tragically eaten by his own pet Python.