Elton John and Spin̈al Tap have joined forces on a new version of the band’s song Stonehenge – and have finally corrected one of the great scenery-based mishaps in classic rock.
The song, performed in the 1984 rock-mockumentary This Is Spin̈al Tap, is at the heart of one of the film’s most cherished scenes: when the band, having made a mistake when commissioning an 18ft Stonehenge stage prop, have to make do with an 18in version being lowered from the rafters. After some hired dwarves caper around it, the band’s David St Hubbins complains that they looked likely to crush it underfoot.
No such problems with the new version made for the long-awaited sequel Spın̈al Tap II: The End Continues, which will be released 12 September in the US and UK (and 25 September in Australia). In the scene, released today along with a recording of the song on streaming services, the band put in a considerably more triumphant performance, complete with full-sized standing stones and the return of the dwarves.
Appearing in a cloak from beneath the stage is Elton John, who takes over the lead vocal, singing lyrics such as “Stonehenge, where a man’s a man / and the children dance to the pipes of Pan” with the requisite po-faced grandeur.
John is one of a number of starry cameos in the film, along with Paul McCartney, Questlove, Metallica’s Lars Ulrich and more. Michael McKean reprises his role as St Hubbins alongside Christopher Guest as Nigel Tufnel and Harry Shearer as Derek Smalls, heading up a supporting cast filled with British comedy stars such as Nina Conti, Chris Addison and Kerry Godliman.
The film will have the documentary film-maker Marty DiBergi (played by Rob Reiner) following the group as they prepare for a final reunion show. The first trailer was released earlier this week.
An accompanying soundtrack album has also been announced. Elton John will appear again on Flower People, while McCartney joins them for Cups and Cakes, and country music couple Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood perform Big Bottom.