# Which real life band most resembles Spinal Tap? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 10, 2013, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-real-life-band-most-resembles-spinal-tap/660643 "2013-06-10T18:13:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-real-life-band-most-resembles-spinal-tap/660643/1 "2013-06-10T18:13:31Z")
I happened to be reading up on the chequered history of the rock band Uriah Heep, and it occurred to me that they could be one of the inspirations for Spinal Tap. Let’s consider the similarities: English heavy rock? Check. Band members have mundane names like “Mick” and “Ken”? Check. Ridiculous forays into prog rock? Check. Freak gardening accidents? None. (The drummer from Abba did actually die in his garden, following a freak accident. But in other respects Abba were not at all like Spinal Tap.) (I know that some of the Spinal Tap guys have subsequently performed as an actual band, so no smart-arse points available there.) ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-real-life-band-most-resembles-spinal-tap/660643/2 "2013-06-10T18:18:59Z")
All I know is the Ramones are the reverse Spinal Tap – everyone is dead except all of their drummers. ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-real-life-band-most-resembles-spinal-tap/660643/3 "2013-06-10T18:31:27Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > All I know is the Ramones are the reverse Spinal Tap – everyone is dead except all of their drummers. Not quite. Replacement bassist CJ is still with us. But yeah, the drummers and the final rhythm section is all that remains. I saw a preview screening of “This Is Spinal Tap” at UCLA, and Harry Shearer spoke afterwards. He mentioned that the three of them briefly accompanied [Saxon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saxon_%28band%29) on tour to get ideas for the script, at least the metal years portion. At the time Saxon was supposed to be the next big British metal band along with Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, but for some reason, they never broke through and made it big in America. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-real-life-band-most-resembles-spinal-tap/660643/4 "2013-06-10T18:32:35Z")
Status Quo fits pretty well - bunch of drummers, lots of former names for the band, dabbed in psychadelia, stuck around way past their prime… I hope this isn’t threadshitting, but one of the great things about Spinal Tap is that it felt like \*every \*60’s British band. They fulfilled every stereotype of bad self-important prog/metal bands, including many sacred cows. All the stage props reminded me of Pink Floyd and David Bowie, loudness was the Who and Black Sabbath, the progression from “I’m Gonna Cry, Cry, Cry all the Way Home” to “Gimme Some Money” to “Listen (What the Flower People Say)” was the Beatles, Small Faces, Rolling Stones, Gerry and the Pacemakers. The Kinks were the relationship between Nigel and David. Dead drummers is the Who and Led Zeppelin. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-real-life-band-most-resembles-spinal-tap/660643/5 "2013-06-10T19:52:13Z")
Doesn’t Deep Purple have no original members? I guess that doesn’t fit, but it is weird. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-real-life-band-most-resembles-spinal-tap/660643/6 "2013-06-10T20:03:47Z")
I thought it was generally understood that Nigel Tufnel was based on Jeff Beck. I’ve always assumed that otherwise they sampled a bit from a number of bands… ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-real-life-band-most-resembles-spinal-tap/660643/7 "2013-06-10T20:34:35Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Doesn’t Deep Purple have no original members? I guess that doesn’t fit, but it is weird. Vocals, bass and drums are all from their heyday. Maybe not from day one but certainly the lineup that most know them for. Ritchie Blackmore ran off the the Renfair and Jon Lord died this year after battling cancer. They are more intact than most bands from that era. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-real-life-band-most-resembles-spinal-tap/660643/8 "2013-06-10T20:54:52Z")
> [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](#): > > I saw a preview screening of “This Is Spinal Tap” at UCLA, and Harry Shearer spoke afterwards. He mentioned that the three of them briefly accompanied [Saxon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saxon_%28band%29) on tour to get ideas for the script, at least the metal years portion. A link from a link from your link led me to this: [ > [@allmusic](#): > > This Is Spinal Tap’s wicked sendup of rock clichés brought [former Saxon bassist] Dawson’s image into the pop-cultural arena, since he’s acknowledged as inspiring the character of hapless, diminutive bassist Derek Smalls ]([Steve Dawson Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & Mor... | AllMusic](http://www.allmusic.com/artist/steve-dawson-mn0000028072)) ---
**Author:** ![sco3tt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@sco3tt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sco3tt)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-real-life-band-most-resembles-spinal-tap/660643/9 "2013-06-10T23:12:06Z")
> [@Ximenean](#): > > Freak gardening accidents? None. > (The drummer from Abba did actually die in his garden, following a freak accident. But in other respects Abba were not at all like Spinal Tap.) That wasn’t really a freak gardening accident so much as an [accident that happened to leave him dead in the garden](http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/03/17/abba.drummer/) though. For true Tap-esque misadventures, it’s hard to beat Toto drummer [Jeff Porcaro’s demise](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Porcaro#Death): [QUOTE=wikipedia] Porcaro died on August 5, 1992 at the age of 38. The rock star fell ill after spraying insecticide in the yard of his Hidden Hills home and died that evening at Humana Hospital-West Hills. [/QUOTE] Neither of these incidents can be cited as inspiration since they each happened years after the film’s release. I prefer to believe that Spinal Tap inspired them instead. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-real-life-band-most-resembles-spinal-tap/660643/10 "2013-06-10T23:18:13Z")
There’s a Canadian band called Anvil that’s had a documentary made about them, and they resemble Spinal Tap more than any band I can think of. One of the band members is even named Robb Reiner. As for drummers and bizarre gardening accidents, R.E.M. had to cancel some shows in the late 1980s because their drummer emeritus, Bill Berry, got really sick. I had initially heard that he had Legionnaire’s disease but it turned out to be Rocky Mountain spotted fever, contracted a few days earlier when he got a tick bite while doing some yard work at his house! :eek: The main symptoms (and you Tap fans will definitely get it)? Dangerous high fever and persistent vomiting. In other words, the drummer almost died in a bizarre gardening accident. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-real-life-band-most-resembles-spinal-tap/660643/11 "2013-06-11T03:39:05Z")
Ronnie James Dio was injured in a [bizarre gardening accident](http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=26743). However, he did survive, and his fingers were successfully reattached. Still searching for an instance of a musician who choked on someone else’s vomit… ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-real-life-band-most-resembles-spinal-tap/660643/12 "2013-06-11T04:30:55Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Doesn’t Deep Purple have no original members? Drummer Ian Paice is a founding member, and is the only person who has been in every Deep Purple lineup. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-real-life-band-most-resembles-spinal-tap/660643/13 "2013-06-11T06:08:30Z")
I can’t remember where, but many years ago I read that Aerosmith was watching **This Is Spinal Tap** (during their heavy drug and alcohol days) and realized some of the scenes hit a little too close to home. I did find this quote: “Things were getting more like Sid and Nancy than Spinal Tap. It wasn’t funny anymore.” --Brad Whitford ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-real-life-band-most-resembles-spinal-tap/660643/14 "2013-06-11T06:23:34Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > There’s a Canadian band called Anvil that’s had a documentary made about them, and they resemble Spinal Tap more than any band I can think of. One of the band members is even named Robb Reiner. _[Anvil: The Story of Anvil](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1157605/reference)_ is such an amazing film. Like _[American Movie](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0181288/reference)_, it couldn’t be any more over the top if it had been fictional. [QUOTE=ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness] I saw a preview screening of “This Is Spinal Tap” at UCLA, and Harry Shearer spoke afterwards. He mentioned that the three of them briefly accompanied Saxon on tour to get ideas for the script, at least the metal years portion. At the time Saxon was supposed to be the next big British metal band along with Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, but for some reason, they never broke through and made it big in America. [/QUOTE] I saw it at a preview screening in Kansas City, and the thing that made it extra special was that most of the audience was _unaware that it was a satire_. They just thought it was a film about a hard rock band that they thought they knew. I was seated in the front row, and at one point I had to walk out to the lobby because I was laughing so hard I was in danger of passing out. ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-real-life-band-most-resembles-spinal-tap/660643/15 "2013-06-11T07:17:21Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > I thought it was generally understood that Nigel Tufnel was based on Jeff Beck. I’ve always assumed that otherwise they sampled a bit from a number of bands… [Nigel Tufnel shows off his guitars.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7-5io1muSQ) (1984) [Jeff Beck shows off his guitars.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YB9EX7YpFk) (2011) ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-real-life-band-most-resembles-spinal-tap/660643/16 "2013-06-11T07:59:26Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > _[Anvil: The Story of Anvil](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1157605/reference)_ is such an amazing film. Like _[American Movie](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0181288/reference)_, it couldn’t be any more over the top if it had been fictional. I’ve always had doubts about the authenticity of **American Movie**. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-real-life-band-most-resembles-spinal-tap/660643/17 "2013-06-11T12:12:35Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > Still searching for an instance of a musician who choked on someone else’s vomit… To be fair, they still are not sure whose vomit it was… ---
**Author:** ![Tequila\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a6a055/32.png) [@Tequila\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tequila_Party)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-real-life-band-most-resembles-spinal-tap/660643/18 "2013-06-11T12:35:10Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > I can’t remember where, but many years ago I read that Aerosmith was watching **This Is Spinal Tap** (during their heavy drug and alcohol days) and realized some of the scenes hit a little too close to home. > I did find this quote: > “Things were getting more like Sid and Nancy than Spinal Tap. It wasn’t funny anymore.” --Brad Whitford I’d heard this too, especially the part where they got lost backstage. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-real-life-band-most-resembles-spinal-tap/660643/19 "2013-06-11T13:13:49Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > _[Anvil: The Story of Anvil](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1157605/reference)_ is such an amazing film. Oh, man, the first quote shown. ‘I can answer that in one word - two words. Three words: We didn’t have good management.’ Straight out of the Tap… ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2013, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-real-life-band-most-resembles-spinal-tap/660643/20 "2013-06-11T13:20:15Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > To be fair, they still are not sure whose vomit it was… You can’t really dust for vomit. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-real-life-band-most-resembles-spinal-tap/660643.md?page=2)