‘This Is Spinal Tap’ has been remixed, remastered in 4K and is set for re-release on August 7… Now turn it up to 11!

By creammagazine, July 9, 2025

If you haven’t heard the news yet, you really ought to know. And if you’ve heard the news, spread it now and turn the volume up to 11!

That classic film – the mockumentary that virtually invented mockumentaries – This Is Spinal Tap, is celebrating its 41st anniversary this year and it’s been remixed, remastered and is being re-released on the big screen for a limited time, starting August 7th.

Conceived by comedy greats Rob Reiner, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Fran Drescher, Paul Shaffer and Harry Shearer, This Is Spinal Tap chronicles one of England’s loudest bands on what proves to be a disastrous U.S. tour.

While the film has been celebrated for over four decades for its brilliant satire of the rock documentary genre – many of us in the music and media industries will tell you, a lot of the characters’ nuances are so close to the real thing, it hurts.

The film’s hilarious portrayal of a fictional heavy metal band includes awkward but awesome band dynamics, and boasts quotable lines, like the famous “these go to eleven” (referring to how loud amps and speakers can get to), and something rather dirty about “smelling the glove”*.

Enjoy the film’s clever capturing of the absurdity of the rock and roll lifestyle when it hits screens again in August. Fans and followers can now enjoy the rock’n’roll antics in glorious 4K. But don’t tell the guys in Spinal Tap that; they’ll probably think it’s some new drug.

A sequel is set to to be released within the year and will allegedly feature several great cameos including drop-ins from Paul McCartney and Elton John.

Antonino Tati

* Note: “Smell the Glove” refers to a fictional album cover that the band Spinal Tap proposes. The cover of the album features a provocative image of a woman on all fours, wearing a dog collar and leash, with a gloved hand reaching out to her. The record company finds the image too offensive and sexist and ultimately rejects it, replacing it with a plain black cover, itself a piss-take of all things minimalist in rock’n’roll for a while there – think The Beatles’ White Album, and AC/DC’s jet black album art.

‘This Is Spinal Tap’ in 4K will hit the big screen from August 7th, 2025. The cinematic release includes a special message from (in-film character) director Marty DiBergi and an exclusive sneak peek at Spinal Tap II: The End Continues. In Perth, the film releases exclusively to Luna Leederville.

See the ‘This Is Spinal Tap’ trailer here: