Back From The Dead - The Return Of Spinal Tap

Peter Curran meets the remaining members of Spinal Tap as they make their comeback.

With:

* Harry Shearer

* Christopher Guest

* Michael McKean

* Tony Hendra

* Jarvis Cocker

* Suggs

* Mike Barson

* Glenn Tilbrook

In 1984 ‘This is Spinal Tap', exposed the shocking world of the self-proclaimed 'loudest band in the world'.

It revealed the highs and lows of life on the road, and pitfalls of celebrity. The rockumentary also added a phrase to the lexicon that sums up humiliation, incompetence and ineptitude – ‘a Spinal Tap moment'.

Who can forget their Stonehenge debacle? Or when Nigel turned his amp up to 11 or the 45cm Stonehenge trilithon?

These legends of the rock world brought us anthems like ‘Big Bottoms', ‘Jazz Odyssey' and that unforgettable love ballad ‘Lick My Love Pump'.

Spinal Tap reformed in 2009 resulting in a new album and tour, including Wembley.

To mark the occasion, Peter Curran fronts this hour-long special - speaking to the remaining band members with tracks from their comeback album.

He traced what they'd been doing for the previous 25 years, the fights, the rehab, Jeanine Pettibone...

Peter also asks musical contemporaries to assess the band's contribution to popular music

* Jarvis Cocker on their lyrics

* Glenn Tilbrook on how Squeeze was influenced by Spinal Tap

* Suggs and Mike Barson of Madness confess to how they've stolen wholesale from the Spinal Tap back catalogue

Producer: Alison Vernon Smith

Peter Curran meets the surviving members of Spinal Tap as they make their comeback.

Peter Curran meets the surviving members of Spinal Tap as they make their comeback. Stars Harry Shearer. From 2009.

Respected 'rockumentarian' Peter Curran joins the three iconic and influential band members of Spinal Tap in the studio for a playback of tracks from their new long-awaited album, Back from the Dead, 25 years after the release of the seminal 'rockumentary' This is Spinal Tap.

Peter travels to Washington DC, Baltimore and a rehab facility in the Deep South to visit each of the band members David St Hubbins, Nigel Tufnel and Derek Smalls, to catch up with the individual members as they prepare to reform once again.

25 years ago This is Spinal Tap, exposed the shocking world of England's Loudest Band. The film showed us the monstrous egos and rampant stupidity of life on the road for a rock band at the mercy of fickle fate and fans. It spawned a phrase for all that is humiliating, incompetent and inept; a 'Spinal Tap moment'.

Who can forget the 18 inch Stonehenge debacle? Or when Nigel turned it up to 11 rather than just make ten louder? Or when the band spent an eternity lost in the basement, unable to find their way the stage and their enraged fans? These lycra- clad legends of the rock world brought us anthems like Big Bottom, Sex Farm and Jazz Odyssey.

Now they're back. A newly reformed Spinal Tap are touring, they have a new album out and they're playing Wembley. In the hour-long special, Peter Curran talks intimately to the band and plays tracks from their new album. He finds out what they've been doing for the last twenty-five years; the fights, the failed alternative careers, and the legacy of band-wrecking girlfriend Jeanine Pettibone.

He also hears both warm and jealous tributes from fellow practitioners; Jarvis Cocker on their lyrics, Glenn Tilbrook on Spinal Tap and Squeeze and Suggs on how he's stolen wholesale from the Spinal Tap back catalogue.

Embracing today's thirst for celebrity confessionals, these ravaged road warriors open their hearts and what's left of their minds for music lovers everywhere.

Peter Curran joins Spinal Tap for a catch-up and to hear tracks from their new album.

In 1984 ‘This is Spinal Tap', exposed the shocking world of the self-proclaimed 'loudest band in the world'. It revealed the highs and lows of life on the road, and pitfalls of celebrity. The rockumentary also added a phrase to the lexicon that sums up humiliation, incompetence and ineptitude – ‘a Spinal Tap moment'.

Spinal Tap reformed in 2009 resulting in a new album and tour, including Wembley. To mark the occasion, Peter Curran fronted this hour-long special for Radio 2. He spoke with the remaining band members and played tracks from their comeback album.

He traced what they'd been doing for the previous twenty-five years, the fights, the rehab, Jeanine Pettibone... Peter also asked musical contemporaries to assess the band's contribution to popular music - Jarvis Cocker on their lyrics, Glenn Tilbrook on how Squeeze was influenced by Spinal Tap, and Suggs and Mike Barson of Madness confess to how they've stolen wholesale from the Spinal Tap back catalogue.

2009: Peter Curran meets the surviving members of Spinal Tap as they make their comeback.

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