Spinal Tap lead singer reacts to the sequel for the first time: ‘I was quite angry’

This post contains spoilers for Spinal Tap II: The End Continues.

Fool David St. Hubbins once, shame on Spinal Tap director Marty DiBergi. Fool him twice…well, that’s still probably on DiBergi. After all, St. Hubbins is famously easy to fool.

However, the lead singer of Spinal Tap (played by Michael McKean) knows he once again made a mistake by trusting the director (played by Rob Reiner) to tell the story of the band’s reconciliation, culminating in a reunion show in New Orleans, in the new documentary, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues. 

In a call with Entertainment Weekly, which McKean conducts in character, St. Hubbins shares his feelings for the first time after seeing the film, admitting he hasn’t slept much since its premiere at the Chinese Theater in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

Among many other embarrassing moments, the film chronicles St. Hubbins’ feud with Sir Paul McCartney, who drew the ire of the Tap singer when he gave some unwanted advice on a song arrangement, as well as the revelation that the band’s bassist, Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer), was having an affair with St. Hubbins’ wife. The latter admission comes at the end of the film, after St. Hubbins has spent the majority of the runtime accusing his lifelong friend and bandmate, Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest), of doing the same. (Tufnel maintains his innocence in this matter.)

Below, St. Hubbins gets candid about his reaction, shares an update on his relationship with McCartney and Tufnel, and comments on the health of the band’s newfound drummer, Didi Crockett, who was last seen choking on some food just before the end credits. (Crockett is the latest of at least 11 drummers who have died during their tenure with the band.)

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: David, thank you for taking the time to speak with me today.

DAVID ST. HUBBINS: I’m sorry, who’s this?

This is Entertainment Weekly.

ST. HUBBINS: Uh, oh, okay. I was expecting a UPS guy. Maybe he was calling, ’cause you can get lost out here in Morro Bay. You know it’s a labyrinthine town. Well, actually, it’s just a plain grid, but everyone’s a bit confused. So it sometimes takes a while to find one’s way.

Well, I’m glad we could get connected. I’m told that since we last spoke, you have had a chance to see the documentary, and I’m curious to hear your take on it.

Let me just say, I haven’t slept a lot. I was a bit thrown. A bit sandbagged. I felt once again that our inner souls were being bared against our will. I mean, that’s gotta be a crime, right? It’s mopery or something. I’m sure it’s on the books, but I was quite angry. We were all angry, and the only trouble is that I’m a forgiving machine.

To me, it’s just one more moment to forgive. And we keep making the same mistake. We keep saying, “Sure, Marty, come along,” because he’s such a nice chap in his own way. A pathetic, nice chap. And I don’t think he’s really got much backbone. But aside from that, there’s a great deal that he has to offer. And now he’s going to offer his absence, and we are going to accept.

I’m sorry to hear you feel let down again. How do you feel you personally come off?

Well, I have to say this: Upon leaving the theater last night, the Chinese Theater — the film was not in Chinese; it’s called the Chinese Theater. It’s in Hollywood. And as I was leaving the screening, people were coming up to me and telling me how much they loved it and how they liked the me, the David St. Hubbins, that they saw on the screen. The implication was that they weren’t that crazy about meeting me in person, but that’s neither here nor there.

I think that I came across as at least honest. I do expose my feelings to a certain extent. I deal with a lot of distress in the course of this show we did in New Orleans, throwing this together at the last minute. Finding a drummer five days out, I mean, it was not an easy time. But I think in the end, it’s the story of surviving. And I think that’s our favorite kind of story. Redemption’s the other one, but we’re not gonna get that. We’re not really sure what we’re being redeemed from or of. 

You had a bit of a clash with Sir Paul McCartney in the film. Now that you’ve seen his side of things in his interviews, has that changed your perspective on your interactions with him?

Well, look, I don’t think it matters. I don’t think we’re gonna have a lot of interactions in the future. I find him a bit of a closed shop, as they say. I mean, he’s had great duets, of course, you know, with Elvis Costello and with Michael Jackson. I mean, he’s a mixer. He is a collaborator. And I admire that. But, to me, it would just feel like someone peeking over my shoulder and saying, “Hmm, here’s what I would do.” So I just don’t think it’s a great mix. Now, bless him, he’s a decent songwriter. I’ll give him that.

Fans will also be curious about your relationship with Nigel. After watching the movie and seeing his side of things, do you now believe him that he didn’t sleep with your wife? 

Yes. I’ve decided that I perhaps went too far. I perhaps followed a red herring or two in my time. And it is beyond forgiving. It’s more like, well, he’s family. 

I’ve been watching The Sopranos. Are you familiar with this show?

I am, yes.

So the important thing is family, right? And he’s family with us, and it’s such an important thing. And of course, you know, Tony Soprano had to bump off his cousin, Tony B. And you’d think, well, that’s got to be difficult. That’s heartbreaking. No, it’s business, but it’s family business, and that’s what’s important. So, since I can’t have him bumped off, I might as well embrace him.

I also wanted to ask about Derek. And, I’m sorry, this could be a difficult question, but as a journalist, I have to ask about his admission at the end of the movie that he was having an affair with your wife. Does the same kind of family forgiveness dynamic apply to him as well?

Well, he’s just a bass player.

And one last question, which also might be a sensitive subject: Can you share a health update on your latest drummer, Didi Crockett? 

When her canceled check comes back, then we’ll know.

Okay, well, thank you for your time, David. I’m sorry you didn’t have a more positive reaction to the film. 

Listen, I’ll get over it.

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Spinal Tap II: The End Continues is in theaters now.