We Talked To Spinal Tap II’s Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer And Co. About Ringo Starr Declining, The Condition Of The Latest Drummer, And So Much More

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Few bands have reached the iconic status of Spinal Tap. Originally appearing on a TV special, they cemented their place in pop culture with the release of the hilarious mockumentary *This Is Spinal Tap*, which documented their adventures during an album release and tour. Guitarists David St. Hubbins and Nigel Tufnel, along with bassist Derek Smalls, are now recognized worldwide as legends, so TopMob was thrilled to recently interview them to coincide with the release of the new sequel, *Spinal Tap II: The End Continues*.

In a recent video, TopMob’s Jeff McCobb spoke with the band members and filmmaker Marty DiBergi about what they’ve been up to. Throughout the conversation, Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer, and Rob Reiner stayed completely in character. They discussed reaching out to Ringo Starr about joining as a drummer, the status of their drummer for the New Orleans reunion show, and how they see their impact on artists like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift.

There Was Outreach To Ringo Starr, But He Wouldn’t Accept Spinal Tap’s Calls

As a huge Spinal Tap fan, it’s well known that the band just can’t seem to keep a drummer! So many skilled musicians have joined to play songs like “Big Bottoms” and “Give Me Some Money,” but it’s seriously spooky how often things go wrong for them – we’re talking everything from choking accidents to, unbelievably, spontaneous combustion. There’s this hilarious scene in *Spinal Tap II: The End Continues* where David, Nigel, and Derek are desperately searching for a new drummer, and it got me thinking… you’d think they’d at least *ask* someone like Ringo Starr, but they never even mention him in the movie!

Paul McCartney, the famous Beatle, makes a special appearance in the upcoming 2025 film. He shows up during a recording session to give the band feedback on their music before their major reunion concert. But did Spinal Tap ever ask his friend, a talented drummer, to work with them? They did… however, the collaboration didn’t go quite as expected.

  • David St. Hubbins: Yeah, we did, we did? Yes. He refused the call. Oh, he said, ‘You must be joking. I’ve come this far.’ And dot dot dot. And that was it.
  • Derek Smalls: And then, you know, he’s on tour all the time. He doesn’t have time for a one off. He didn’t express any interest.

It’s probably a good thing. With only two Beatles still with us, they’ve become incredibly valuable, so it’s wise that one of them didn’t do something as outlandish as join the fictional band Spinal Tap as their drummer.

So What Happened To Spinal Tap’s New Drummer

I was hearing about *Spinal Tap II: The End Continues*, and apparently, getting musicians to even *try* to join the band was tough! They got turned down by some big names – Questlove from The Roots, Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, even Lars Ulrich from Metallica! But things turned around when they found Didi Crockett, played by Valerie Franco. Not only is she an amazing drummer, but she’s actually a fan of Spinal Tap, which is a nice touch, honestly.

The movie ends without revealing what happens to her. The last scene shows Marty DiBergi giving her the Heimlich maneuver, and the image freezes there – leaving viewers wondering if she’s alright. She is still alive, according to DiBergi, but he also mentioned to TopMob that she’s not fully recovered yet.

It’s always risky being a drummer for Spinal Tap. She was aware of the dangers when she took the job.

Perhaps a little insensitive, but the band Spinal Tap has a notorious history with drummers, and she was aware of that reputation when she took the job. The movie suggests she believed she was protected by good fortune, but accepting the position is similar to the premise of the *Final Destination* movies – you might *feel* safe, but danger is inevitable.

With Fran Drescher, John Michael Higgins, Don Lake, Kerry Godliman, and special appearances by music legends like Elton John, Garth Brooks, and Trisha Yearwood, *Spinal Tap II: The End Continues* is now showing in theaters.

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2025-09-19 05:12