'Spinal Tap II' Teases Huge Rock Star Cameos
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors
"Spinal Tap II: The End Continues" hits theaters in September, and writer-director Rob Reiner recently talked about the relevance of two of the biggest rock stars in the world making cameos in the sequel: Paul McCartney and Elton John.
Speaking to AARP Movies for Grownups, Reiner was asked if the inclusion of McCartney and John was meant to be a statement about reinvention.
"It basically says: No matter how old you are, if you can still do it and still enjoy doing it, then do it," Reiner answered.
Read More: 'The Naked Gun' Reboot Popcorn Bucket References Original Classic Gag
Reiner continued, "I asked Paul McCartney about this. I said, 'There's you, Mick Jagger, Elton John, and you still like to perform. What is it about you guys? Is it that you just love the music? And you love performing?' And he says, 'Yeah. And the drugs.'" That last part was a joke from the new movie.
"The point is, these guys just love doing it," Reiner said. "If they're given an opportunity, they'll get in front of an audience and play."
Embassy Pictures
The cameos from McCartney and John were confirmed as far back as 2023, and they're not the only big names in music appearing in "Spinal Tap II."
Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith will make appearances in the mockumentary. Also set to appear are Questlove, Garth Brooks, and Trisha Yearwood.
Of course the most important musicians are the members of Spinal Tap itself. Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer will all return to reprise their roles as members of the heavy metal band reuniting for one final show.
"This Is Spinal Tap" released in 1984 at a time before your average moviegoer knew what a mockumentary was. In fact, speaking with AARP, Reiner recalled having to explain to people seeing the movie that Spinal Tap wasn't a real band and that the film itself was satire.
The film has remained a cult classic for decades, in both film and music circles.
While the dialogue in "This Is Spinal Tap" and the upcoming sequel was improvised, the music isn't. Guest, McKean, and Shearer write and perform all the music of the band themselves.
"Spinal Tap II: The End Continues" releases in theaters on September 12.
More Movies:
'Road House 2' Loses Fan-Favorite Director
'Night at the Museum' Reboot On The Way
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
4 hours ago
- Newsweek
Victoria Beckham Shares Husband David's 'Terrible' DIY Haircut
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Last year, a clip from the Beckhams' Netflix documentary went viral after David Beckham was filmed chiding his wife Victoria to "be honest" after she claimed her family was working class despite her dad driving a Rolls-Royce. Now it appears she has gotten her own payback. On Sunday, the former Spice Girl, 51, shared a video on Instagram of David holding his head in his hands. "What have you done?" she asked, off-screen, while the former England football captain looked decidedly sheepish. David Beckham shares terrible accidental haircut in a clip on Instagram, as wife Victoria giggles in the background. David Beckham shares terrible accidental haircut in a clip on Instagram, as wife Victoria giggles in the background. Instagram "The thing of the clippers fell off my head," he responded. Victoria then repeats her question, while already beginning to laugh. "You tried to give yourself a haircut. What have you done?" she asks. The 50-year-old former football reluctantly peeled his hand away from his head revealing a sizeable iron-shaped bald spot. "It's not funny," David protested, shaking his head as Victoria burst out laughing. "It does not look good," she added, before reminding her husband what he has told her about being "honest" in the past. "I'm going to always be honest with you, it looks terrible," she said. Proving he has a good sense of humor about his wife's ribbing, David later shared the clip on his own Instagram page, with a caption directed at Victoria. "You don't always need to BE THAT HONEST." David Beckham shares terrible accidental haircut in a clip on Instagram, as wife Victoria giggles in the background. David Beckham shares terrible accidental haircut in a clip on Instagram, as wife Victoria giggles in the background. Instagram The Beckhams' documentary, titled, Beckham, went on to win an Emmy for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series in 2024. The director, Fisher Stevens, later said in an interview that he was "p***ed" with David for interrupting his interview with Victoria in that now-viral moment. Beckham editor Michael Harte agreed, saying what happened "totally flipped the scene on its head," but that it was "one of the most honest scenes" in the four-part special. "You get a true insight into their relationship and the way they interact," Harte said, but suggested the biggest challenge was where to include the "incredible" interaction. David previously spoke about the incident that became a viral meme to The Hollywood Reporter, confirming Stevens was "very angry with me over that."
Newsweek
5 hours ago
- Newsweek
Top 10 Medical TV Shows to Stream in 2025
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors Looking for the best medical TV shows to steam now? You're in the right place. In this feature we're running down the ten best dramas and reality series set in and around hospitals, from classics of the genre like "Grey's Anatomy" to fresh arrivals on the scene like "The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call". Just to make things easier, all of the below offerings can be found on Netflix. That means if you have a Netflix subscription, you can start streaming every single entry on this list. So scroll down to see the top medical TV shows to stream in 2025. Ellen Pompeo stars in Grey's Anatomy Season 21 Ellen Pompeo stars in Grey's Anatomy Season 21 Netflix Top 10 Medical TV Shows to Stream in 2025 Emergency: NYC Netflix synopsis: "This documentary series follows New York City's frontline medical professionals as they balance the intensity of their work with their personal lives." Grey's Anatomy Netflix synopsis: "Intern (and eventual resident) Meredith Grey finds herself caught up in personal and professional passions with fellow doctors at a Seattle hospital." The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call Netflix synopsis: "To create a top-tier trauma center, a war-seasoned doctor arrives — bringing his blunt but skilled ways to transform his team into life-saving mavericks." Doctor Slump Netflix synopsis: "Once rivals in school, two brilliant doctors reunite by chance — each facing life's worst slump and unexpectedly finding solace in each other." Call the Midwife Netflix synopsis: "In impoverished East London in the '50s and '60s, a group of midwives — some of whom are also nuns — find joy and heartbreak in and outside their work." Pulse Netflix synopsis: "While the staff of Miami's busiest Level 1 Trauma Center navigate medical emergencies, young ER doctor Danny Simms is unexpectedly promoted to Chief Resident amidst the fallout of her own provocative romantic relationship." Breathless Netflix synopsis: "The arrival of a prestigious patient at Joaquín Sorolla Hospital highlights the complicated public health situation and lights the fuse of what will be a drastic, unprecedented strike." Virgin River Netflix synopsis: "Seeking a fresh start, a nurse practitioner moves from Los Angeles to a remote Northern California town and is surprised by what -- and who -- she finds." Lenox Hill Netflix synopsis: "The series follows four physicians at the titular New York City hospital over the course of several months on the job."
Newsweek
15 hours ago
- Newsweek
Couple Save for Wedding Then Senior Dog Got Sick—They Had To Make A Choice
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. When their 15-year-old Chihuahua mix Elvis fell ill, Heather and her fiancé knew exactly what to do. Instead of planning their wedding, Heather and her partner redirected the money to save their dog's life. As Elvis began suffering seizures Heather, 29, from Maine rushed him to the vet. "We've had multiple ER visits and appointments with his normal doctor to try and figure out why he's passing out/having seizures. This weekend, he stayed at the emergency vet, and then we brought him back the night we got him back because he had two seizures again," Heather told Newsweek. Elvis, who also has early-stage kidney disease, suffered three episodes in a single night, prompting Heather to rush him to the ER again. Despite extensive testing—including X-rays, EKGs, ultrasounds, and a heart monitor—the cause remains unclear. Heather and her fiancé with their senior dog. Heather and her fiancé with their senior dog. @ "They kept going back from neurology to cardiology to try and figure out which one is the issue. We still don't exactly know what the main issue is, it could just be a factor of everything being a little off," Heather said. But thankfully, after a few days care from veterinarians, Elvis was ready to come home. "We picked him up last night and let me say the king is back," Heather said, delighted. "We're still going to take it easy, but I could not be happier at this moment." The couple had planned a low-key elopement this summer, with Elvis front and center. "I haven't nailed down the wedding plan yet. I know Elvis is older, and I want him to be a part of it. We have a photoshoot scheduled in August with him. We had planned to elope at the end of this summer and have a low-key, backyard event with immediate family, so that way Elvis could be a guaranteed part of it," Heather said. Read more Video of shelter dog pacing goes viral as staff say: "nothing comforts her" Video of shelter dog pacing goes viral as staff say: "nothing comforts her" But after Elvis' medical emergency, their plans are on hold. "I'll go into debt over my dog but not over a wedding. I think the plan now is just to figure out something small with Elvis there and plan a bigger celebration at some point later," she said, although the couple did not share the full cost of the vet bill. According to a poll by Talker Research for the insurance company MetLife, the average pet owner spent $2,085.60 on their animals in 2024. Despite pet owners increasingly seeing their pets as part of the family, a survey by PetSmart Charities found that 52 percent of owners have skipped or declined medical care for their pet. Of those, 71 percent cite cost as the key factor, whether because they could not afford it, they did not think it was worth the cost, or both. Amber Batteiger, from Embrace Pet Insurance previously told Newsweek: "Our average individual claim cost in 2024 was $445, but pet emergencies can cost tens of thousands of dollars." Because of this, she recommended pet owners have an emergency fund for pet medical issues, aiming for around $2,000 per pet. The couple shared how they spent their wedding fund on saving their pet, with the video on Instagram gaining more than 40,000 views since being posted earlier this week. "Would give everything I have for this little boy," the caption says, while the on-screen text reads: "When you spend your whole wedding budget saving your 15 year old dog." "Elvis deserves the whole world," said one commenter. While another wrote: "They are worth every single penny." "I've always said Elvis comes first; he lives a better life than me because I owe him my life. I got him in high school, my sister, who passed away actually picked him out... I was the first person he let hold, and it was soulmates from there," Heather said. "I'm not kidding when I say I love him more than anything in the world (maybe fiancé excluded)."
