Great Characters: Nigel Tufnel (“This Is Spinal Tap”)
November 11th, 2011 by ScottNigel Tufnel: The numbers all go to eleven. Look, right across the board, eleven, eleven, eleven and…
Marty DiBergi: Oh, I see. And most amps go up to ten?
Nigel Tufnel: Exactly.
Marty DiBergi: Does that mean it’s louder? Is it any louder?
Nigel Tufnel: Well, it’s one louder, isn’t it? It’s not ten.
Today being November 11, 2011 (11/11/11), there has been a movement to name it Nigel Tufnel Day.
Therefore today’s Great Character can only be the lead guitarist from the legendary heavy metal band Spinal Tap — Nigel Tufnel!
The 1984 mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap [written by Christopher Guest & Michael McKean & Harry Shearer & Rob Reiner] has a simple plot. Per IMDB: “Spinal Tap, the world’s loudest band, is chronicled by hack documentarian Marti DeBergi on what proves to be a fateful tour.”
There’s the music:
And the offstage banter:
And the pièce de résistance, the full “One Louder / These Go To 11″ clip:
Nigel Tufnel — today’s Great Character!
For Nigel’s fascinating (?) biography, go here
How will you celebrate Nigel at 11:11AM today?
Of all the movie lines that have entered the public vernacular, “These go to eleven.” is my personal favorite. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said “Crank it up to eleven!” Thanks for featuring this, Scott.
Actually, that might be a good theme for Daily Dialogue: movie lines that have entered the public vernacular.
“You’re gonna need a bigger boat.”
“I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse.”
“Show me the money!”
“What we have here is a failure to communicate.”
“Go ahead. Make my day.”
“Toto, I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore.”
“Houston, we have a problem.”
“If you build it, he will come.”