In 1984, "This is Spinal Tap" brought the mockumentary format into the mainstream. Finally, 41 years later, we have the long-awaiting sequel. To promote the film, the stars and creators of the film conducted interviews entirely in character.

In a recent interview, members of the fictional band Spinal Tap addressed the long-running joke about their drummers dying under mysterious circumstances, including spontaneous combustion. The discussion was prompted by Mark St. Edson, a documentary filmmaker whose father, inspired by Spinal Tap, became a drummer and allegedly combusted during a wedding performance.

The band members emphasized that the deaths of their drummers are part of their comedic narrative and not something for which they can be held responsible. They likened the frequent drummer changes to a cycle of life and maintained that the band's legacy is one of resilience and humor. The interview also touched on the band's upcoming film, Spinal Tap 2.

Spinal Tap is not responsible for your spontaneous combustion

Who was your drummer? He also died in mysterious circumstances. He exploded on stage. My father spontaneously combusted. We can't be held responsible. Hi, I'm Mark... I'm Mark St. Edson, documentary filmmaker, CPA, and flautist. And I have set out to make the documentary about my father, Phil St. Edson, who saw the greatest documentary about the greatest band to ever live, Spinal Tap. He was so inspired by the music of Spinal Tap, he immediately quit his job at the mill and started drumming, knowing full well how many of Spinal Tap's drummers died mysteriously. To date, exactly around 12. He became the backup drummer for the unofficial Spinal Tap wedding cover band, Bridal Tap. And that's when tragedy struck. When my parents came out to do their first dance to the Spinal Tap classic, Big Bottom, my father spontaneously combusted. So I set off to make this documentary. And finally, through a junket for their new film, Spinal Tap 2, was I able to get access to finally ask them these questions. Do they know, are they aware of these Spinal Tap drummers and their families and how we've all been affected? And do they care? Your band has been such a major influence in my household. Big Bottom was my parents' wedding song. Oh, that's lovely. Really? Does your mother have a large derriere? Oh, they must have been so much in love, sweetie. Yeah. They were until they got to the part of the, I love to sink her with my pink torpedo. Oh, yeah. And my father spontaneously combusted. Oh, no, no, this didn't happen. I think you're speaking in metaphors now. Oh, no, no, no. Quite literally. I mean, it was a shotgun wedding. Oh, I see. It was a shotgun wedding. Yes, it depends on what culture, I suppose. Right, that's right. So that must have been a very depressing honeymoon for your mother. That's the rough thing about being a Spinal Tap drummer. You are taking your life into your own hands. You think he might fill the bill? I don't want to die. We've only lost 11 or 12. You've had about 12 drummers associated with your band die. Some spontaneously combusting, some mysterious circumstances. Do the memories ever haunt you? We do miss, we miss the individuals. Yeah, in theory, in theory, in practice, no. No. All the stuff we do is fairly easy to learn. So they are module. They're replaceable. They're like light bulbs. And they have been. So another one comes along. You remember them briefly, you know. Right. The first one or two, you miss. Yeah. And then you get used to the fact that there's always going to be another one. Right, right. Yeah. So like buses, you miss one. Another one comes along. And look, it's life, isn't it? It's a cycle. It's death. It's like a life cycle. Yeah. Yes. That's beautiful. It's actually a wonderful way to look at it. You know, drummers in general have a hard time staying alive. But I think Spinal Tap's average is a little worse than most bands. But, you know, it's just it's just the, you know, it's the business. It's the cost of doing business. It's just bad luck. Have any of the families ever tried to make guys and get money? Although Stumpy Joe's mom used to call us every couple of weeks just saying, any sign of him? And we said, no, he's passed on. She didn't believe it. She kept calling up, you know, and then finally we just had to change our phone number. But it's part of the contract that they signed that they ensure themselves. Non-disclosure. Yes. We can't be held responsible anyway. Yeah. And they know that going in. Yeah, absolutely. You got to do that. I mean, it's a business after all. But Derek, you have described yourself as the glue of the band. I'm in a band. It constantly is breaking apart and coming back together. David and Nigel, what substance or element would you say you are in this band? I'm a lubricant. Interesting. Yeah, I think I'm a solid. Well, no, I mean, as opposed to liquid. Oh, yeah, just sort of thing. It could be some kind of stone, some sort of semi-precious stone rock, something like that. That's how I look at it, yeah. Lava? No, not, except for lava. Something igneous. Lava's moving. Well, yeah, but it's still rock based. Molten, I guess it's because they're not together. Molten rock, yeah, good. Molten golden. So do I resent the band? No, because my father went the way he wanted to go as part of the Spinal Tap legacy of drummers, combusting spontaneously. What do you feel is the band's most lasting legacy? Loud. I think that we are resilient, that we come back again and again and again. A bit of a boomerang in that sense. You can throw us out, and people do, but we'll come back eventually. We'll find out. I think that's the main feature. It's the cycle of life. So true. Exactly. Well. Baby lion when you say that. Very effective. Yeah. This has been an absolute dream getting to interview all three of you, and I can't wait for this film to come out. I think it's going to explode.

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Breakdown