A Fine Line Between Stupid and Clever

The Story of Spinal Tap

De: Rob Reiner, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer

Narrado por: Rob Reiner, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

For the first time, director Rob Reiner and cocreators Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer provide the full behind-the-scenes story of the making of the groundbreaking mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap and its upcoming sequel.

Since its original release in 1984, This Is Spinal Tap has evolved from a beloved cult film into a cinematic landmark: an all-time comedy classic that pioneered an entire genre, the mockumentary. Now, director Rob Reiner and his cowriters and costars, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer, tell the complete story of the movie and its fictitious band—how they met, how Spinal Tap came to be, and how their low-budget indie film took on a life of its own. Years after the movie first came out, the Library of Congress selected This Is Spinal Tap for inclusion in the National Film Registry and Tap went on to play The Royal Albert Hall, Wembley Stadium, and to over 100,000 fans at the Glastonbury Festival in England.

Reiner, Guest, McKean, and Shearer provide the backstories to the movie’s famous lines—among them “Hello, Cleveland!,” “None more black,” “You can’t dust for vomit,” and “These go to eleven”—and to such Tap anthems as “Big Bottom” and “Stonehenge.” Featuring never-before-seen photographs, band memorabilia, and personal reminiscences of their enduring creative partnership, A Fine Line Between Stupid and Clever will delight Tap-heads of all ages—just as the long-awaited Spinal Tap sequel is hitting theaters.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE! A Fine Line Between Stupid and Clever also comes with a bonus memoir by Reiner’s directorial alter ego, Marty DiBergi, in which he interviews Tap band members Nigel Tufnel, David St. Hubbins, and Derek Smalls about their musical journey and their drummers who paid the ultimate sacrifice to the rock gods.

The cleverness

I loved everything about this book. I’m a huge fan of Spinal Tap, and all the actors. What makes this book even more special is that it continues the legacy started by Rob, David, Chris and Harry in a perfect way! Rob Reiner will be dearly missed.

Origin stories

Loved the backstory! The tale of how they all came together is intriguing . It’s almost Forest Gump-ian. #RIPSquiggy

Tap tap tap

More Tap is always better. Great performances, and an extra hour+ of Schnadeling. Priceless. The SPINAL TAP in character bits are fun and give a window into the creativity. So fun. No mention of Nigel and Joe Satriani?! Sacrilege.

Just what you’d expect—a good thing?

If you live Spinal Tap the idea you’ll love this. The same reciprocal applies for like, dislike, hate, or whatever. The backstory here is as great or awful as the front story was all those years ago at the movies or a couple lost weekends ago in the basement home theater.

The cat’s meow

For Tap fans, this is a fun departure back to that mystic land.

Tap is iconic! So, I was glad to listen to the backstory. First, I listened to this audiobook. Then, I re-watched the first film, which I had first seen with friends on VHS in college. My youngest son attends the same school, as a music production major, so I knew he would appreciate watching Spinal Tap with me over T-giving break. The next night, we watched “The End Continues” and it was fun to go back in time once again—and this time with my son.

Well done.
P.s. I figured it must be Smalls who did the dirty with David’s wife; it’s the quiet ones you have to watch…