Spinal Tap:
The Majesties of Rock



In 1954 in Squatney, East London, two young boys named Nigel Tufnel and David St. Hubbins met near two flats. They enjoyed playing skiffle music. Tufnel was in a band called the Lovely Lads while David was in a band called the Creatures.

With their love of skiffle, the two recorded their first composition entitled "All the Way Home". It was the forging of a songwriting partnership unparalleled except perhaps by Lennon/McCartney, Page/Plant, Brooker/Reid or Rodgers/Hammerstein.

In 1964, the year of the British invasion, guitarists Tufnel and St. Hubbins joined bassist Ronnie Pudding, 16 year-old Dutch keyboard master Jan van der Kvelk, and drummer John "Stumpy" Pepys to form the Thamesmen.

The following year, the Thamesmen released the succesful (mildly) single "Gimme Some Money/Cups and Cakes", which would become a hit on both sides of the Atlantic although only charting in Memphis, Statewise.

During the 1965-66 period, they would go through 4 keyboardists, 2 female vocalists, and roughly 15 band name changes. They finally settled on the name Spinal Tap in 1966 and grouped with Denny Upham as their official keyboardist.

In late 1966, a man named Marty DiBergi saw Tap play at the now legendary Electric Banana in New York. He was amazed by the band's energy. Donovan had played the same venue a week earlier but failed to impress him.

When the group recorded tracks that would later surface on "Listen To The Flower People And Other Favorites" album, Pepys was temporarily replaced by session drummer Eric "Stumpy Joe" Childs (formerly with Wool Cave). One of these songs would become the biggest hit in their entire career, "(Listen to the) Flower People." After the success of the single, Ronnie Pudding would leave due to a messy breakup with backup singer Lhasa Apso. Without Pudding, the group embarked on the World And Elsewhere tour.

"Spinal Tap Sings (Listen to the) Flower People and Other Favorites" for the US and was given an A+ by Entertainment Weekly. The album's sequel "We Are All Flower People" unfortunately flopped and was re-released the following year as "The Incredible Flight of Icarus P. Anybody" with the title track of the previous version removed. The re-release flopped as well. Meanwhile, Ronnie Pudding had formed his own band, the Pudding People. Derek Smalls, who had previously been in an all-white ska group named Skaface, had since taken over on bass for Tap.

By 1969, the band had progressed from 'silent' to 'deadly'. They had become 'heavier' with their dual guitar parts and solos. Their first live album "Silent but Deadly" showed their musical transition. Recorded at the Electric Zoo in Wimpton, this album features the groundbreaking 20 minute guitar solo by Nigel entitled "Short 'n Easy". Shortly after SBD's release, Pepys repotedly died in a bizarre gardening accident. Session drummer Eric "Stumpy Joe" Childs would permanently join the group.

From 1970's "Brainhammer" to 1975's "The Sun Never Sweats", Tap "stumbled through a sea of retarded sexuality" according to big oaf Marty DiBergi. "Big Bottom", a track from "Brainhammer", was written after David started dating Lhasa Apso. Pudding's heart may have been broken when he left in 1967, but when David started dating her, the rest was history.

In 1974, Childs would die from choking on vomit. A strangely similar death would occur with Led Zeppelin's drummer John Bonham 6 years later. The casually dressed Peter "James" Bond would come aboard.

After 6 years without a keyboardist, Ross MacLochness (formerly with the Kilt Kids) would join. About a year later, he would leave to pursue missionary deeds in Namibia.

At the 1977 Isle of Lucy Jazz-Blues Festival, Peter James Bond spontaneously combusted and apparently turned into molten goo.

Three years later, "Shark Sandwich" was released to a positive Entertainment Weekly. The song "Sex Farm" would chart in Japan 2 years later. Shark Sandwich was their first record on Polymer.

1982 brought forth the controversial album "Smell the Glove". Spinal Tap would have their first tour in the U.S. since 1977. Marty DiBergi would begin filming his propagandic documentary "This is Spinal Tap". Mick Shrimpton died onstage and was caught on film. Towards the end of filming, Tap hired portly drummer Joe "Mama" Besser; he would disappear on unknown circumstances but has been rumored to have gone to playing jazz.

In 1984, "This is Spinal Tap" was released and Tap was not happy. They felt portrayed and betrayed by DiBergi; he would earn the nickname "The Butcher". As if Spinal tap were really as stupid as they were made to look in the film.

After their 1984 single, "Christmas With the Devil", Spinal Tap would disappear into obscurity for 8 years.

In 1992, "Break Like the Wind" marked their comeback, it contained both new songs like the criticized "Bitch School" and old classics such as "Rainy Day Sun" (featuring Nicky Hopkins and the London Panharmonic Orchestra), "The Sun Never Sweats" (the title track from the 1975 album of the same name), and the 1961 demo of "All the Way Home".

2000 would be a fruitful year for Tap. "This is Spinal Tap" was re-released in theaters; it's re-release on video came with deleted scenes, some the band wish would have stayed in the film. The film's soundtrack and "Break Like the Wind" were also re-released. The soundtrack came with 2 bonus tracks, "Christmas With the Devil" and "Christmas with the Devil" (scratch mix).

Tap would venture into a file-sharing service "Tapster" which would include a brand new song called "Back From the Dead"; the service would unfortunately be gone by 2002.

Spinal Tap has been the most influental band since 1964. Countless artists have tried to imitate them and even steal their ideas, but no one has ever rocked harder, nor had better smelling armsweat than Spinal Tap!

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