FAQ

Yes and no. While they are intended as being a parody, and their entire backstory is made up, the three actors, Guest, Shearer and McKean, have performed, in character, as Spinal Tap and made a couple of records together, since the movie was made. As of early 2009, they are planning a tour and another record to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the film.

There are three official Spinal Tap albums (note that the albums shown in the film (Smell the Glove, Shark Sandwich, Rock and Roll Creation) are FICTIONAL and do not actually exist.)

The first release was the This Is Spinal Tap soundtrack, released in 1984 at the same time as the film. The soundtrack is missing some songs from the film (a capella version of "Heartbreak Hotel," "Jazz Odyssey," "All the Way Home," and "Saucy Jack" to name a few) though most of these songs appear in some shape or form on later albums. The album also includes a song entitled "America" that didn't appear in the film. Reissued and remastered versions of the album include two versions of a song entitled "Christmas with the Devil" as bonus tracks - a song that was released as a promo single in 1984.

The second album was Break Like the Wind, released in 1992. The album consisted almost entirely of new songs, many of which were performed at the concert that was turned into A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out (1992). However, it did feature rerecorded versions of "Christmas with the Devil" and "All the Way Home," as well. Many guests appeared on the album, including Slash of fame. Around this time, the band members reprised their roles in the Simpsons episode, The Otto Show (1992) and performed "Break Like the Wind."

The third album was Back from the Dead, released in 2009. Unlike the other albums, this one consists almost entirely of re-recorded songs (for instance, a "funky" version of "Sex Farm" and a reggae version of "Listen to the Flower People.") A few new songs appear as well, and "Jazz Oddyssey" (sic) makes its first appearance on a Spinal Tap album, albeit in three parts.

Sort of.

A concert film, A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out (1992) (later released on video as The Return of Spinal Tap) was broadcast in 1992. It consists almost entirely of a live performance by the band, though with comedy scenes in between some of the songs, showing the band in the present day. It's not a full-blown mock documentary like the original film, so whether or not it could be considered a full-blown new film is debatable at best.

The Simpsons episode "The Otto Show" sees the band members reprising their roles (Harry Shearer is a regular voice actor on the animated sitcom.) The band endures plenty of antics onstage, storms off 20 minutes into the set, and the next day, Otto's reckless driving causes the Spinal Tap tour bus to go over a cliff in flames, presumably killing the band.

Additionally, the band performed at the Live Earth festival.