Maps of Movies

This Is Spinal Tap (1984)

Where This Is Spinal Tap says it takes place, and where it was really shot.

A fake documentary of a real-looking American tour: every stage is filmed around Los Angeles, and even Elvis's grave is a mock-up in a park.

Scenes and places

The band at Elvis's grave (1982)

The band visits Elvis's grave and tries to sing "Heartbreak Hotel", but cannot agree on the harmony. The solemn stop turns into one more argument.

Set in Graceland, Memphis — The band stands at Elvis Presley's grave in Memphis and tries to sing a tribute. Google Maps · Apple Maps

The grave is a mock-up built in a Los Angeles-area park, not the real Memphis site.

Filmed at A park in Altadena, California (Los Angeles County, Altadena, United States) — Filmed here with a mock-up of the grave site; the coordinate is the center of Altadena, not the park. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The gig at the Air Force base (1982)

The original gig falls through and the band is sent to play an Air Force base instead. Nigel's equipment fails and he walks off mid-show.

Set in Lindbergh Air Force Base — A United States Air Force base, named only in the film's dialogue, where the band plays an "at ease" weekend party.

The base is named in the dialogue only; no real base is given as the filming place.

Billed below the puppets (1982)

Without Nigel the band has almost nothing to play, and it sits under a puppet show on the bill. Derek pushes the group into an experimental "Jazz Odyssey" that the crowd does not welcome.

Set in Themeland Amusement Park, Stockton, California — An amusement park amphitheater, named in the film as a park in Stockton, where the band follows a puppet show on the bill.

The park is named in the film, but its real filming place is not tied to this scene by any source found.

Backstage on the last night (1982)

David and Derek talk about ending the band. Then Nigel turns up backstage with news that changes the mood.

Set in Backstage at the final show of the tour, Los Angeles — The back rooms of the venue on the last day of the tour; the film names the party as being in Los Angeles but not the venue.

No venue name or filming place for the final show is given in any source found.

The song that is a hit in Japan (1982)

The idea of a Japan tour reaches the band as a rumor about a song on the charts. David is too proud to say yes.

Set in Japan — A country the band is not in at this point; the news that a song is on the Japanese charts reaches them backstage.

Nothing in the film was shot in Japan; the entire production stayed in the Los Angeles area.

Filmed at Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia — Scene not identified in the source Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Andaz West Hollywood, 8401 Sunset Blvd — Scene not identified in the source Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles — Scene not identified in the source Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Pasadena, California — Scene not identified in the source Google Maps · Apple Maps

Characters

• David St. Hubbins — Guitarist and singer of the English band Spinal Tap.
• Nigel Tufnel — Guitarist and singer, David's childhood friend, with a custom amplifier that goes to eleven.
• Derek Smalls — The band's bassist.

Questions answered on the map

• Where did the band really film at Elvis's grave?
• Which tour stops are real places, and which are invented?