The 'rockumentary' sequel that goes all the way up to ... 11

Tim Robinson on Spinal Tap II: The End Continues

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I was a sixth former back in 1985 when the movie This is Spinal Tap hit the UK.

A well-meaning teacher had taken a group of us to see some worthy arty movie at the cinema, but got the times wrong and we ended up watching Tap instead.

It was well into the film when we started asking "are we in the wrong film?" and more reasonably "what the hell is this?".

It took several years for This is Spinal Tap to get a following precisely because it was so difficult for people to work out if it was real or a joke.

It's an exquisitely crafted parody of all rock music, musicians and the world of showbiz in general, a 'rockumentary' about a fading vainglorious heavy rock band on the road, a complete puncturing of the pomposity of musicians who think they're serious artists.

If you're a rock fan, or just a music fan, you will recognise all your favourite bands in Spinal Tap and their on and offstage antics.

Musicians were at first deeply offended by the film, before, like everyone else, growing to love it.

Sting said he didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but now re-watches it endlessly, crying with laughter.

Black Sabbath initially accused Tap of stealing their planned Stonehenge stage props (a plan they had to quickly abandon).