Over 40 years since This is Spinal Tap was mistaken for a comedy, its hard-rocking subjects are back in a legally obligated sequel. Our writer heads to smell the glove
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pinal Tap are remembering the old days. It was 1966, and the young beat group from Squatney in east London – still, at that point, the Thamesmen – were honing their act in the tough clubs of the Benelux circuit. A young band from Britain could learn a lot, facing up to riotous crowds of Dutch, Flemings, Walloons and Luxembourgers. What lessons did Tap take from that year?
“If you speak really loudly, it’s all right if you don’t have any of the local language,” says David St Hubbins, Tap’s leonine lead singer.
“The Belgian beer is very good,” offers Nigel Tufnel, the lead guitarist who inspired legions. “And if you’ve had enough of them, you can pretty much speak the language.”
