This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
"This Is Spinal Tap" shines a light on the self-contained universe of a metal band struggling to get back on the charts, including everything from its complicated history of ups and downs, gold albums, name changes and undersold concert dates, along with the full host of requisite groupies, promoters, hangers-on and historians, sessions, release events and those special behind-the-scenes moments that keep it all real.
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Added by Hextor · 5 months ago
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🎙️ SYSK Episodes
#081425
Heavy Metal Pt II
"that's very spinal tap"
— Chuck
Referenced when discussing how metal album covers have become so complex that band names are often unreadable, comparing it to the satirical metal band Spinal Tap.
Aug 14, 2025
#072625
Selects: The Tale of the Church of the SubGenius
"I saw Spinal Tap in concert. They actually toured when I was in college. And I was such a fan of the movie and when they played the Fox theater and we all went."
— Josh
Josh compares attending a Church of the Subgenius devival to seeing Spinal Tap in concert, noting the difficulty of knowing how to react to comedy presented as performance.
Jul 26, 2025
#071525
The Great Big Yarn of Mel's Hole
"As Spinal Tap would say, it was none more black."
— Josh
Josh references the famous 'none more black' line from the mockumentary Spinal Tap when describing the black beam from the hole.
Jul 15, 2025
#100721
The Tale of the Church of the SubGenius
"I liken it to when I saw Spinal Tap in concert. They actually toured when I was in college."
— Josh
Comparing the experience of attending a Church of the Subgenius devival to seeing the Spinal Tap movie tour live.
Oct 7, 2021
#042221
How Stamp Collecting Works
"It's up there with spinal tap, as far as comedies that I've seen"
— Josh
Referenced as one of his favorite comedies that he has watched many times.
Apr 22, 2021
#012721
Short Stuff: Vantablack
"Did you ever see Spinal Tap? I think you did, right? Yes."
— Josh
Josh references the famous 'None More Black' joke from the film to introduce the topic of extremely black materials.
Jan 27, 2021
#010221
Selects: How Auto-Tune Works
"You didn't even see Spinal Tap, did you? Yeah. You finally saw it."
— Chuck
Chuck references the movie while discussing Frank Sinatra anecdotes about multiple takes in the studio.
Jan 2, 2021
#092620
SYSK Selects: How Rabies Works
"That was St. Hubbins, actually. It's a spinal tap joke."
— Chuck
Chuck makes a reference to the mockumentary about a fictional rock band, which Josh doesn't initially catch.
Sep 26, 2020
#040220
Student Loans: UGH!
"one of the great spinal tap jokes, is when they talk about canceling a Boston show"
— Josh
Josh referenced a joke from the mockumentary about canceling a Boston show, making a point about college towns.
Apr 2, 2020
#082516
This Custom of Customs
"You still haven't seen Spinal Tap, have you? I have."
— Chuck
Josh asks if Chuck has seen This Is Spinal Tap and references the famous cucumber/tinfoil joke from the film.
Aug 25, 2016
#020916
How Rabies Works
"That's a spinal tap joke. You never get my spinal tap jokes."
— Chuck
Chuck makes a reference to the film while joking about St. Hubbins, a character from the mockumentary.
Feb 9, 2016
#081115
How Auto-Tune Works
"you didn't even see spinal tap, did you?"
— Josh
Josh referenced Spinal Tap in relation to a Frank Sinatra joke about Bruno Kirby being the limo driver.
Aug 11, 2015
#030515
How Stonehenge Works
"You're not a Spinal Tap band? It's spinal tap."
— Chuck
Chuck references the band Spinal Tap and their song 'Stonehenge' which mentions banshees and druids.
Mar 5, 2015
#092012
Why does music provoke emotion?
"D minor, the saddest of all keys, slow tempo. Is that the devil's key? Now it's from spinal tap"
— Josh
Josh referenced a famous quote from Spinal Tap about D minor being the saddest key when discussing how minor keys evoke sadness.
Sep 20, 2012
#011012
Can you vacation in Antarctica?
"I just saw Spinal Tap for the first time the other day"
— Chuck
Chuck mentions watching the mockumentary for the first time and tweeting to one of its stars.
Jan 10, 2012
#121610
How Migraines Work
"Well, not of course not. People have them, but I just, you know, you always laugh at spinal tap because the band and the, the movie"
— Josh
Josh mentioned the movie This Is Spinal Tap when discussing actual medical spinal tap procedures and how people associate the term with the comedy band and film.
Dec 16, 2010
Cast
Christopher Guest
Nigel Tufnel
Michael McKean
David St. Hubbins
Harry Shearer
Derek Smalls
Rob Reiner
Marty DiBergi
June Chadwick
Jeanine Pettibone
Tony Hendra
Ian Faith
Bruno Kirby
Tommy Pischedda
Ed Begley Jr.
John 'Stumpy' Pepys
Paul Benedict
Tucker 'Smitty' Brown
Zane Buzby
Rolling Stone Reporter
Billy Crystal
Morty the Mime
Howard Hesseman
Terry Ladd
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