Anvil

Local man Brian Hart was at Sundance and told us that the buzz there was that the band inspired the mockumentary "This is Spinal Tap."

That buzz was echoed elsewhere: From Chud: "I've heard rumors around the festival that Spinal Tap was at least partially based on Anvil, so it makes lots of sense that the documentary about the band would echo the mockumentary classic."

And indeed, research on the Internet points to a lot of references between "This is Spinal Tap" and "Anvil." Rolling Stones is heard on video at the band's Web site, anvilmetal.tk saying that the film could have been a sequel to "This is Spinal Tap."

Adding further confusion, is the strange coincidence that Anvil's drummer is named Robb Reiner and veteran director Rob Reiner directed and starred in "This is Spinal Tap."

But shortly after running our article about Sundance, Harry Shearer, writer and star of "This is Spinal Tap," contacted us, saying our reference was "so not true, it's not even funny." In fact, he said, he had never even heard of the band Anvil.

Spinal Tap

One thing that appears true, however, is that "Anvil! The Story of Anvil" is at the very least a kindred spirit to Spinal Tap.

Film-Threat said "I am going to go out on a limb and assume a lot of you have seen `This is Spinal Tap.' If that is the case then you are going to be thrilled when I tell you that there is a new movie out there that is "Spinal Tap" for real, and it is every bit enjoyable as that famed mockumentary."

We apologize for any confusion we may have caused our readers.