Spinal Tap to unleash official book, A Fine Line Between Stupid and Clever
Celebrating their fabled career
Spinal Tap’s epoch-defining music career is the subject of a new official book called A Fine Line Between Stupid and Clever: The Story of Spinal Tap.
Written by Spinal Tap director Rob Reiner and co-creators/actors Christopher Guest (Nigel Tufnel), Michael McKean (David St. Hubbins) and Harry Shearer (Derek Smalls), the book will offer an unparalleled glimpse into the making of the fabled 1984 mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap and its upcoming sequel, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues.
Spinal Tap’s book A Fine Line Between Stupid and Clever will be released via Simon & Schuster in the UK on Tuesday 9th September 2025, three days before Spinal Tap II: The End Continues hits cinemas worldwide. You can order the book here.
A description of the book reads: ‘Reiner, Guest, McKean and 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.’
The creators will also ‘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 theatres.’
As if that wasn’t enough to tempt Spinal Tap aficionados, the book also comes with the bonus memoir by Reiner's directorial alter ego, Marty DiBergi.
Filming on Spinal Tap II: The End Continues started in New Orleans, Louisiana in February 2024, and it finished last summer.
Guest, McKean, Reiner, and Shearer all conceived the sequel, which after a 15-year hiatus, has England’s loudest and most punctual band, reuniting for one final concert.
Big name cameos in Spinal Tap II include Paul McCartney, Elton John, Metallica's Lars Ulrich, Garth Brooks, and Red Hot Chili Peppers' Chad Smith.
Alongside the movie, Spinal Tap will be unleashing a soundtrack album.
26 rock bands named after movies:
Toto
Members of Toto have revealed in interviews that they took the band moniker from Dorothy's sidekick Toto the dog in The Wizard of Oz. Former bassist David Hungate said that it also reflected the Latin words "in toto" translated to "all-encompassing."
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Toto the Dog with Dorothy (Judy Garland) in 1939's The Wizard of Oz
Black Sabbath
Previously called Earth (and prior to that The Polka Tulk Blues Band), Black Sabbath named themselves after their own song 'Black Sabbath', which took its moniker from the 1963 horror anthology film of the same name starring the legendary Boris Karloff.
Black Sabbath (1963)
A poster for the 1963 Black Sabbath movie starring Boris Karloff.
Them
Northern Irish rockers Them, whose timeless anthem 'Gloria' launched Van Morrison's musical career, named themselves after the 1954 science fiction monster movie Them!
Them! (1954)
A poster for the 1954 horror movie Them!
White Zombie
In 1985, the then 20-year-old Rob Zombie – born Robert Cummings – named his band after the 1932 horror movie White Zombie starring Bela Lugosi. The highly influential movie is widely considered the first feature length zombie film, and it even inspired Cummings' stage name.
White Zombie (1932)
Bela Lugosi and a zombie in 1932's White Zombie.
Five Finger Death Punch
After watching Quentin Tarantino's 2004 martial arts classic Kill Bill: Volume 2, the Las Vegas metallers toyed with calling themselves Five Point Palm Exploding Heart Technique in homage to the character Pai Mei's fearsome killing technique. Although fascinated with the concept, former drummer Jeremy Spencer told Michigan Live in 2013: "That didn't sound cool. So, we changed it to Five Finger Death Punch."
Kill Bill 2 (2004)
Uma Thurman (The Bride / Beatrix Kiddo) and Gordon Liu (Pai Mei) in 2004's Kill Bill 2.
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden bassist and founder Steve Harris came up with the band's name after watching the 1939 movie The Man in the Iron Mask, which featured an iron maiden torture device.
The Man in the Iron Mask (1939)
A still from the 1939 movie The Man in the Iron Mask.
Gojira
The French heavy metallers take their name from Gojira, the original Japanese name for Godzilla. The 1954 Japanese kaiju film directed by Ishirō Honda is widely regarded as a classic of cinema.
Gojira (1954)
A poster for the 1954 movie Gojira – aka Godzilla.
My Bloody Valentine
It's widely reported that the influential Irish shoegaze band are named after the 1981 Canadian slasher film My Bloody Valentine. However, MBV vocalist and guitarist Kevin Shields claims that it was only a few years after they formed that they discovered they shared their moniker with a "really crap terrible Canadian film."
My Bloody Valentine (1981)
A still from the 1981 horror movie My Bloody Valentine.
Misfits
Glenn Danzig named his highly influential horror punk band after Marilyn Monroe's final movie, 1961's The Misfits.
The Misfits (1961)
Marilyn Monroe in 1961's The Misfits.
Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Canadian purveyors of apocalyptic post-rock, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, are named after the 1976 Japanese documentary film God Speed You! Black Emperor, directed by Mitsuo Yanagimachi. The film follows a group of motorcyclists called the Black Emperors.
God Speed You! Black Emperor (1976)
God Speed You! Black Emperor the movie (1976)
The Searchers
The Merseybeat group took their name from the epic Western film The Searchers, starring John Wayne and directed by John Ford.
The Searchers (1956)
John Wayne in 1956's The Searchers.
Mogwai
Scottish post rockers Mogwai are named after the ultra-cute little furry creatures in classic 1984 movie Gremlins, who turn into monstrous gremlins if you feed them past midnight.
Gremlins (1984)
The cute lead Mogwai called Gizmo in Gremlins.
Mudhoney
The first of three consecutive acts named after Russ Meyer movies, Seattle grunge pioneers Mudhoney took their moniker from Meyer's 1965 movie Mudhoney.
Mudhoney (1965)
A still from Russ Meyer's 1965 movie Mudhoney
Faster Pussycat
In 1985, a good three years before Mudhoney formed, Los Angeles hard rockers derived their name from the Russ Meyer's movie Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! about three go-go dancers who embark on a kidnapping and murder spree in the California desert.
Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1965)
A still from Russ Meyer's 1965 movie Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!
Motorpsycho
With Mudhoney and Faster Pussycat having already taking their monikers from Russ Meyer flicks, Norwegian psych-rockers Motorpyscho named themselves in homage to Meyer's ultra-violent 1965 film Motorpsycho.
Motorpsycho (1965)
A still from Russ Meyer's 1965 movie Motorpsycho
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
San Francisco alt-rockers Black Rebel Motorcycle Club are named after Marlon Brando's motorcycle club in the 1953 film The Wild One.
The Wild One (1953)
Marlon Brando and his Black Rebels Motorcycle Club in The Wild One (1953)
Atreyu
American metalcore band are named after the character Atreyu in Michael Ende's fantasy book The NeverEnding Story and its 1984 movie adaptation.
The NeverEnding Story (1984)
Atreyu in The NeverEnding Story (1984)
Bring Me The Horizon
Although not directly named after a movie or character, Bring Me The Horizon took their memorable moniker from a line spoken by Captain Jack Sparrow in the 2003 movie Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Sparrow, played by Johnny Depp, says: "Now, bring me that horizon!"
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) in the 2003 movie Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.
Billy Talent
Canadian rockers Billy Talent took inspiration for their band name from the character Billy Talent, played by Callum Keith Rennie, in the 1996 mockumentary Hard Core Logo.
Hard Core Logo (1996)
Callum Keith Rennie (Billy Talent) in Hard Core Logo.
They Might Be Giants
Brooklyn alt-rockers They Might Be Giants are named after the 1971 comedy mystery film of the same name starring George C. Scott and Joanne Woodward.
They Might Be Giants (1971)
The poster for 1971 movie They Might Be Giants.
Eppu Normaali
One of Finland's most popular rock bands, Eppu Normaali is a Finnish translation of "Abby Normal" from Mel Brooks' 1974 comedy horror movie Young Frankenstein.
Young Frankenstein (1974)
In Mel Brooks' 1974 comedy horror movie Young Frankenstein, the character Igor (pictured) confesses he took the monster's brain from someone called "Abby Normal."
The Damned
Although the gothic rockers haven't confirmed or denied it, it's reported that guitarist Brian James named the group after the 1969 historical drama movie The Damned.
The Damned movie (1969)
A still from 1969 movie The Damned.
Fine Young Cannibals
The Birmingham pop rockers, who scored chart hits with 'She Drives Me Crazy' and 'Suspicious Minds', are named after the 1960 film All the Fine Young Cannibals starring Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood.
All the Fine Young Cannibals (1960)
Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood in All the Fine Young Cannibals (1960).
Duran Duran
Admittedly they're NOT rock (despite being 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees) but Duran Duran are named after Dr. Durand Durand, Irish actor Milo O'Shea's character from the 1968 sci-fi movie Barbarella.
Barbarella (1968)
Dr. Durand Durand in Barbarella (1968).
The Fratellis
Scottish indie-rockers The Fratellis, best known for their 2007 hit 'Chelsea Dagger', took their name from the villains in The Goonies, the criminal family Mama, Francis and Jake Fratelli.
The Goonies (1985)
Mama Fratelli (Anne Ramsey) flanked by her sons Francis (Joe Pantoliano) and Jake (Robert Davi) in 1985 movie The Goonies.
Close Enemies
In the wake of Aerosmith retiring from touring, bassist Tom Hamilton unveiled his new band Close Enemies in September 2024. He revealed the band's moniker was inspired by a Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) quote in seminal 1974 movie The Godfather Part II. "Coming up with a name for a band is a comedy of creativity," Hamilton laughed. "Every time someone had a good idea, we went on Spotify or Google and found other people who had already used it. It went on and on like this for a while. Then one day, Peter and his wife, Lynn, were watching The Godfather (Part II) and there's a line that goes: 'Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.' Lynn suggested using Close Enemies for a band name and we all went for it."
The Godfather: Part II (1974)
Al Pacino as Mafia boss Michael Corleone in 1974's The Godfather: Part II.