This Is Spinal Tap is a brilliant movie that was way ahead of its time. Not only was it one of the first films to step back and poke fun at the ridiculous culture of heavy metal (keep in mind, it was released during the heyday of metal in the early 80’s), but it also pioneered the mockumentary genre (director Rob Reiner is credited with having coined the phrase himself). And we all know how popular mockumentaries are nowadays. Over the years, the fictional band Spinal Tap have released actual albums and played real concerts… to the point where they almost can no longer be called fictional. Now it has been announced that the band will break their six year silence and reunite for a concert in London — their first since the 2001 “Back from the Dead Tour”.

The occasion this time around is the Live Earth event at Wembley Stadium, scheduled for July 7th, where the band will help raise awareness for global warming. They’ve penned a new song to help get the message out, entitled “Warmer Than Hell”. Rob Reiner explains: “They’re not that environmentally conscious, but they’ve heard of global warming… Nigel thought it was just because he was wearing too much clothing — that if he just took his jacket off it would be cooler.” Reiner has just completed a new 15 minute short film documenting the band’s reunion that will premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York this week; it finds Nigel raising miniature horses to race, David as a hip-hop producer, and Derek in rehab for Internet addiction. Let’s hope the short finds its way online soon enough!

Around the Web: