Soundgarden have paid tribute to late actor-director Rob Reiner by showcasing Spinal Tap’s impact on the band and the grunge scene.
Reiner famously directed the classic mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap, and Soundgarden had the pleasure of playing on the same bill as the band Spinal Tap at a 1991 concert celebrating RIP magazine’s fifth anniversary. Years earlier, Spinal Tap left behind a giant prop when they played Seattle, and it was later used as a set piece by Soundgarden.
The band shared the following story along with a sideshow of relevant images via Instagram (see below):
“Soundgarden are saddened by the unexpected and tragic deaths of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner.
As a filmmaker, Reiner created many unforgettable pictures. Perhaps his most impactful work, certainly to rock music culture and to popular culture in general, was the mockumentary This is Spinal Tap (1984). Reiner directed, co-wrote, and acted in this classic, in a story that held a funhouse mirror up to the recording industry and its touring rock bands.
Soundgarden, like most bands, loved This Is Spinal Tap. They covered Spinal Tap’s song, “Big Bottom”, which was released in 1990 on Soundgarden’s Louder Than Live VHS home video and promotional LP. The track was later included on their 2014 B-sides & rarities collection, Echo of Miles: Scattered Tracks Across the Path. Link in bio.
Soundgarden had the pleasure of being billed with the very real Spinal Tap along with Alice In Chains and Pearl Jam, with special appearances by Temple of the Dog and Joe Satriani. This was in L.A. at the Hollywood Palladium on October 6th, 1991 for the RIP magazine 5th anniversary party. Here’s the photo session with Soundgarden, Spinal Tap and Joe Satriani (Slide 1)!
This year, Rob Reiner followed up on Tap’s story with the film, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, and a book, A Fine Line Between Stupid and Clever: the Story of Spinal Tap (Slide 3-4). Now, pause here for a moment, and read this brief passage from pp. 133-134 of Reiner’s book (Slide 5). When you’re finished, take a look at the next image (Slide 6)!
The famous Spinal Tap skull, did go on tour with the Tap in 1984 and it did end up being left in Seattle after their last show at the Bumbershoot Festival. Pearl Jam’s Jeff Ament accessed the prop, repaired it, and provided it to Soundgarden for their show at the Seattle Bumbershoot Festival of 1990! Here they’re pictured meeting the skull in Jeff’s friends’ garage!
Did Spinal Tap invent grunge? Well, Rob Reiner did warm our hearts and make us laugh with his stories and characters. Their charm, wit and insight certainly gave inspiration to the genre and to generations that followed. Thank you, Rob and Michele with affectionate wishes for your peace. XOSG”
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The passage that is referenced from the book reads:
“The final show of the tour took place in Seattle, as part of that city’s Bumbershoot festival. Seattle also became the final resting place for Tap’s original horned skull. It had been shipped up from L.A. but mysteriously never came back… recalls Michael [McKean]… ‘About seven years later, Seattle became a flash point for a new wave of heavy rock: Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Mudhoney, Screaming Trees. I rest my case. Spinal Tap invented grunge.’”
Sadly, Reiner and his wife Michele were recently slain at their home in Brentwood, California, with their son Nick Reiner detained as the prime suspect.
