History Trivia / ThisIsSpinalTap

** WebVideo/ToddInTheShadows noted the unflattering similarity between the visit to Graceland in this film and the one Music/{{U2}} made in their ''Rattle and Hum'' concert film.

** In the film the band's album ''Shark Sandwich'' is given a two-word review in ''Rolling Stone'': "Shit Sandwich." The same year it was released, Music/QuietRiot's fourth album ''Condition Critical'' was given a similar two-word review in Rolling Stone: "Condition Terminal." Music/HappyMondays' album ''Yes, Please'' similarly received a two-word review: "No thanks." GTR's 1986 self-titled release was infamously panned by J. D. Considine as "SHT".

* ReferencedBy: In the ''Literature/JoelSuzuki'' novel ''Legend of the Loudstone'', Joel thinks that two guards' voices sound just like David St. Hubbins and Nigel Tufnel.

** In the film the band's album ''Shark Sandwich'' is given a two-word review in ''Rolling Stone'': "Shit Sandwich." Same year it was released, Music/QuietRiot's fourth album ''Condition Critical'' was given a similar two-word review in Rolling Stone: "Condition Terminal." Music/HappyMondays' album ''Yes, Please'' similarly received a two-word review: "No thanks."

** And the film's rating on Website/{{IMDB}} (well, for one film, anyway.)

** Members of Music/JethroTull played a prank on their frontman, Ian Anderson, during one of their concerts. They lowered an 18" model of Stonehenge from the ceiling in mid-song, and the roadies danced around it. The same thing was done once at a Music/NineInchNails concert, resulting in [[ActuallyPrettyFunny a good laugh]] by normally stoic frontman Trent Reznor.

** In the film the band's album ''Shark Sandwich'' is given a two-word review in ''Rolling Stone'': "Shit Sandwich." Years later, Music/QuietRiot's fourth album ''Condition Critical'' was given a similar two-word review in Rolling Stone: "Condition Terminal." Music/HappyMondays' album ''Yes, Please'' similarly received a two-word review: "No thanks."

* InspirationForTheWork: Creator/ChristopherGuest was inspired to create the Nigel Tufnel character while waiting for a friend in a hotel lobby and seeing a British band checking in when the bass player realized he'd left his bass at the airport and got in an argument with the manager and fellow band members.

* ChannelHop: A negative example. The film was originally produced by Creator/NormanLear's Embassy Pictures. Over the years, the rights have gone between different companies for home video and everything else; currently, Creator/StudioCanal of France owns the movie, but licenses it and other Embassy titles to Creator/{{MGM}} for home video. https://www.gq.com/story/spinal-tap-vs-hollywood The main cast members have since sued because of the former company]] pulling UsefulNotes/HollywoodAccounting on them to prevent them from getting royalties.

* ChannelHop: A negative example. The film was originally produced by Creator/NormanLear's Embassy Pictures. Over the years, the rights have gone between different companies for home video and everything else; currently, Creator/StudioCanal of France owns the movie, but licenses it and other Embassy titles to Creator/{{MGM}} for home video. https://www.gq.com/story/spinal-tap-vs-hollywood The main cast members have since sued [=StudioCanal=] because of the latter company]] pulling HollywoodAccounting on them to prevent them from getting royalties.

* TropeNamer: Or Former Trope Namer... The film used to be the Trope Namer for UpToEleven, until UpToEleven became a redirect for ExaggeratedTrope.

** Music/{{Heart}}'s Ann Wilson said that she watched it and said, "Oh my God, that's me!"

** A year after a demo reel of the film was produced in 1982, Music/BlackSabbath's Born Again tour featured a Stonehenge set that was ''also'' marked up with the wrong measurements on the schematics (meters instead of feet, resulting in a 50' tall stone instead of a 15' tall stone).

* TropeNamer: Or Former Trope Namer... It used to be the Trope Namer for UpToEleven, until UpToEleven became a redirect for ExaggeratedTrope.

** Re David's comment "''[[RevolvingDoorBand 37 people]]'' have been in this band over the years!"; Music/{{Hawkwind}} has had almost ''50'' total members over the life of the band. And a cursory look at the Hawkwind personnel list shows a disproportionate number of these were drummers. Hawkwind's stage sets and lasers were also so ambitious they blew the fuses at many venues.

** Re David's comment "''[[RevolvingDoorBand 37 people]]'' have been in this band over the years!"; coincidentally, this is about the same number of personnel who have been with space rockers Music/{{Hawkwind}} over the life of the band. And a cursory look at the Hawkwind personnel list shows a disproportionate number of these were drummers. Hawkwind's stage sets and lasers were also so ambitious they blew the fuses at many venues.

* CastTheExpert: Several genuine rock vets played the various other members of the band. David Kaff (Viv Savage) and R.J. Parnell (Mick Shrimpton) had both been in British ProgressiveRock bands (Rare Bird and Atomic Rooster, respectively). Veteran session musicians Danny Kortchmar (Ronnie Pudding) and Russ Kunkel (Eric "Stumpy Joe" Childs) appear in the archival footage.

* InspirationForTheWork: Creator/ChristopherGuest was inspired to create the Nigel Tufnel character while waiting for a friend in a hotel lobby and seeing a British band checking in when the bass player realized he'd left his bass at the airport and get in an argument with the manager and fellow band members.

* CastTheExpert: Several genuine rock vets played the various other members of the band. David Kaff (Viv Savage) and R.J. Parnell (Mick Shrimpton) had both been in British ProgressiveRock bands (Rare Bird and Atomic Rooster, respectively). Legendary session musicians Danny Kortchmar (Ronnie Pudding) and Russ Kunkel (Eric "Stumpy Joe" Childs) appear in the archival footage.

** There are now guitar amplifiers that actually go to 11... and beyond. Marshall released models in the 90s with '11's on the faceplates specifically to replicate the ones in the film. Extends to some audio recording equipment too, with SSL mixers' monitor (speaker) volume settings and PreSonus audio I/O interfaces headphone settings.

** WebVideo/ToddInTheShadows noted the unflattering similarity between the visit to Graceland in this film and the one Music/U2 made in their ''Rattle and Hum'' concert film.