OFF: Spinal Tap - Lemmy connection

K Henderson henderson.120 at OSU.EDU
Tue Nov 28 13:43:07 EST 2000


Hi Folks...

I was browsing in a Borders store the other day in Chicago, and noticed an
interview/article about Spinal Tap in the most recent issue of Mojo (I think
it was).  Surprisingly, between the three principals and Meathead, they
pretty much give away all the inspirations for the majority of peculiarities
of the band as it is documented in the original movie.  Including Derek
Smalls' facial hair being directly copied from Lemmy (there's a photo of the
Lemster there for the clueless to compare).

It appears that if there was one single band that was to be considered the
model to which Spinal Tap was most closely designed, that band is Saxon!
(Which is interesting given that they didn't go through *that* many drummers
- three? - and that they didn't have a history that goes back to the flower
power era.)  But it's mentioned that one of them (I think it was Lenny, aka
McKean) actually toured with them as a roadie and learned about some of
their strange stories, like the cucumber incident.  But then a bunch of
other things came from completely separate stories from all sorts of other
artists.  I think it said that Ozzy inspired the 'can't find the stage'
incident.

Anyway, I found it an interesting read, and almost wonder if the interview
itself (which seems completely believable) is actually a ruse to mislead us,
as this is the first time I recall them ever speaking of the characters
without actually *being* in character.

Grakkl (FAA)

ObCD: Danger Kitty - Love Rocket



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