This is Spinal Tap: Official Companion

by Karl French (Editor)

The companion to the funniest film ever made about rock bands.

Rob Reiner's hilarious "rockumentary" about an aging British heavy-metal group has reached legendary status since its release in 1984. Largely ad-libbed by lead guitarist Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest), lead singer David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean), and bassist Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer)-as well as a succession of drummers whose careers were cut short by spontaneously combusting, drowning in somebody else's vomit, or other untimely deaths- This Is Spinal Tap chronicles the band's latest American tour in a cunning satire of rock and roll culture.

Now, just in time for the theatrical re-release of This is Spinal Tap , as well as the ensuing video and DVD release, comes The Official Companion ,
Fully illustrated text
A complete transcript of the film (much of the film was ad-libbed, so an ordinary screenplay can lack entire scenes)
Never-before-seen stills from cut footage
A comprehensive A-to-Z Guide featuring everything you've ever wanted to know about This Is Spinal Tap

Don't miss the chance to see behind the scenes of one of the most riotous and memorable satires of our time!

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Comedy, Film, Humor

240 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2000

Reviews

[Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

The full script and bonus content (incl. photographs and additional Spinal Tap lore) from one of the best films ever made. Therefore, this is a good book.

This book is a great keepsake if you are a fan of the film and if you ever feel like looking back on some iconic scenes, rather than reading it cover to cover.

“Hello Cleveland!”

[Bruce Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

A handy, exhaustive, and utterly unnecessary addition to the lore of Spinal Tap. Every fan should have at least one copy to fill a much needed void.

[Jens Stausgaard · Rating 5 out of 5]

It goes to 11!

[Chris Sudall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this because I love The Tap. I discovered them in the 80s when I hit the end credits one evening and I was enthralled as to whether it was real or not. Anyway...I saw it in full soon after and loved it. So much I went to see them live twice.

I don't know what set it off, but I bought this and one other book, just because I found out about them.

I was expecting the full transcript (which I know pretty well), but the outtakes were a bonus. It does feel a bit like some stuff is filler and the A to Z has a fair bit of repetition, but there is some interesting background stuff.

My only criticism is the quoting of lyrics! It feels like the author thinks he knows the lyrics off by heart but actually has them wrong! I mean rhyming flesh tuxedo with flesh torpedo would be awful! It's 'pink torpedo'! It's correct in the lyrics section! But then in the lyrics section it has 'Don't you see my sallow eyes, I I I'm'?!?!?! It should by: 'Don't you see my silo rising, high, high, high, HIGH!!!'

Anyway. I corrected in pencil! Heheh. Well worth a read!

[NumberLord]

WANT!

[Katie Armstrong]

But this goes to 11...

[John Bolton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the film, which is 5 stars.

[Jean-Pierre Vidrine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is indispensable for Spinal Tap fans. It's as informative as it is funny.