Latest news with #ThisIsSpinalTap
San Francisco Chronicle
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
‘Spinal Tap' actor and longtime Bay Area musician David Kaffinetti dies at 79
David Kaffinetti, the British-born musician and actor who brought to life the endearingly vacant keyboardist Viv Savage in the 1984 cult mockumentary ' This Is Spinal Tap ' has died. He was 79. His death, at his East Bay home on Friday, July 11, was announced by his bandmates in the local group Mutual of Alameda's Wild Kingdom, who wrote on Facebook that Kaffinetti 'passed away peacefully in his sleep.' No cause of death was given. 'David always had a kind word and a quick wit that would slay you where you stand,' they added. 'Then he'd make you smile doing it!' Born on April 17, 1946, in Folkestone, England, Kaffinetti began studying classical piano at age 5 before discovering rock 'n' roll through artists like Jerry Lee Lewis and Chuck Berry. He co-founded the progressive rock band Rare Bird in the late 1960s, scoring a U.K. hit with 'Sympathy' in 1969. But it was as Viv Savage — the mumbling, lab coat–wearing synth player with the immortal mantra, 'Have a good time … all the time' — that Kaffinetti found pop culture permanence. His turn in Spinal Tap, alongside co-creators Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer, cemented his place in rock satire history. Though he left the fictional band later that year, he remained active in music, performing with Bay Area acts like Model Citizenz and continuing to embrace the persona that made him a fan favorite. A sequel to 'This Is Spinal Tap' is set for release in September. Kaffinetti was not involved in the production.
Los Angeles Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
David Kaff, who played keyboardist Viv Savage in ‘This Is Spinal Tap,' dies at 79
David Kaff, the British actor and musician who played keyboardist Viv Savage in Rob Reiner's hit 1984 mockumentary 'This Is Spinal Tap,' died Saturday. He was 79. His death was announced in a Facebook post by his band Mutual of Alameda's Wild Kingdom, which didn't specify a cause or say where Kaff died beyond noting that he 'passed away peacefully in his sleep.' 'We are devastated by this event,' the band added in the note. 'David always had a kind word and a quick wit that would slay you where you stand. Then he'd make you smile doing it!' As Savage, Kaff played keyboards in Spinal Tap behind lead singer David St. Hubbins (portrayed by Michael McKean), guitarist Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest) and bassist Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer). Reiner's film, which followed the band's introduction in a sketch on the 1979 ABC comedy special 'The T.V. Show,' expertly parodied the stylistic excesses of heavy metal — one enduring gag had Tufnel demonstrating that the volume knobs on his Marshall amplifier 'go to 11' instead of the usual 10 — and became a cult favorite eventually inducted into the Library of Congress' National Film Registry. The movie spawned a soundtrack featuring original songs written and performed by the actors, including 'Stonehenge,' 'Sex Farm' and 'Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight.' Kaff performed with Spinal Tap on 'Saturday Night Live' after the film's release but left the band before it made a second album, 'Break Like the Wind,' in 1992; he's not expected to appear in a long-awaited sequel to the movie, 'Spinal Tap II: The End Continues,' due in theaters in September. Kaff was born David Kaffinetti in 1946 and co-founded the British prog-rock group Rare Bird, which scored a Top 40 hit in the U.K. in 1970 with 'Sympathy.' In 1972, he played piano for Chuck Berry at a live gig that was recorded for Berry's album 'The London Chuck Berry Sessions,' which spawned the chart-topping 'My Ding-a-Ling.' Information about Kaff's survivors wasn't immediately available.
Newsweek
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
'Spinal Tap II' Teases Huge Rock Star Cameos
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 "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
Extra.ie
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
BREAKING: Tributes pour in as rock icon dead at 79
Actor and musician David Kaff, known for playing the Spinal Tap keyboardist Viv Savage in the film This Is Spinal Tap, has died aged 79. Kaff's current band, Mutual of Alameda's Wild Kingdom, confirmed his death on Facebook. 'Our brother David Kaffinetti passed away peacefully in his sleep yesterday. We are devastated by this event. David always had a kind word and a quick wit that would slay you where you stand. Then he'd make you smile doing it! R.I.P,. Dear brother,' they posted. Born in southern England in Kent, he launched his music career in 1969 as a founding member of the progressive rock band Rare Bird. The group released five studio albums between 1969 and 1974. Their single Sympathy reached no.1 in both France and Italy as well as no. 27 in the UK singles charts in February 1970, with the track having sold an estimated one million copies globally. Kaff was also involved in session work on Chuck Berrys 1972 album, The London Chuck Berry Sessions. He was later cast as Viv Savage, the keyboardist for the fictional rock band Spinal Tap, in the 1984 mockumentary film This Is Spinal Tap. Following the release of the film, the group continued as a band, performing at concerts and live television appearances. Kaff's final involvement with Spinal Tap was their 1984 appearance on Saturday Night Live. By the end of that same year, Kaff had departed from the group and was no longer associated with any subsequent Spinal Tap projects. Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, a follow-up to This is Spinal Tap, has been announced with a cinema release date later this year.
Perth Now
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
This Is Spinal Tap's David Kaff dies aged 79
David Kaff has died aged 79. The actor and musician - who was best-known for playing keyboardist Viv Savage in Rob Reiner's This Is Spinal Tap - passed away on Friday (11.07.25). Mutual of Alameda's Wild Kingdom, his band, said in a Facebook post: "Our brother David Kaffinetti passed away peacefully in his sleep. We are devastated by this event. David always had a kind word and a quick wit that would slay you where you stand. Then he'd make you smile doing it! RIP dear brother (sic)" Kaff's cause of death has not yet been revealed. The musician - whose real name was David Kaffinetti - was a founding of the progressive rock band Rare Bird, which released five studio albums between 1969 and 1975. Sympathy, the band's 1970 single, is estimated to have sold one million copies globally. Kaff was cast as a Viv Savage in This Is Spinal Tap, the mockumentary comedy film co-written and directed by Rob Reiner, which was released in 1984 to critical acclaim. Kaff starred in the movie alongside the likes of Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer, and he even appeared in the band's Saturday Night Live performance in 1984. The musician had a relatively small role in the film, but he still became well-known for some of his memorable lines, like "Have a good time … all the time" and "Quite exciting, this computer magic!". Kaff admitted in 1991 that he actually shared a lot of traits with his on-screen character. He told BAM: "I played him very close to my heart, just a little bit dimmer. If people like that character, chances are they'll like me." After cutting ties with Spinal Tap, Kaff went on to star in the bands Model Citizenz and Mutual of Alameda's Wild Kingdom. And while a sequel to This Is Spinal Tap - entitled Spinal Tap II: The End Continues - is slated to be released later this year, Kaff is reported to have had no involvement with the project.
