Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. The semi-fictitious rock band Spinal Tap has released three albums in addition to several bootleg compilations that have been compiled by fans. The band also has an extensive fictitious back catalog which is discussed briefly within the film. Spinal Tap (officially spelled "Sp n al Tap", with a "heavy metal umlaut" over the letter n n-diaeresis and a dotless letter i) is a Grammy-nominated parody fictional heavy metal band that first appeared on a failed 1979 ABC TV sketch comedy pilot called "The T.V. Show", starring Rob Reiner.