One of the running jokes in the 1984 spoof documentary movieThis is Spinal Tapfocuses on the band’s inability to keep a steady drummer, with most of them dying in unusual circumstances.
Fast forward to 1992, andSpinal Tap– frontman David St. Hubbins (played by Michael McKean), guitarist Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest) and bassist Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer) – decided to hold auditions in Los Angeles for a new percussionist as they prepared to release the new albumBreak Like the Wind. The advertisement read: “Drummer died, need new one. Must have no immediate family.”
