Elton John Teams Up with Spinal Tap for New Recording of Classic Track
via Spinal Tap / YouTube
Spinal Tap Returns with Big Names
The classic 1984 rock mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap is getting a sequel. The original stars — Michael McKean (David St. Hubbins), Christopher Guest (Nigel Tufnel), and Harry Shearer (Derek Smalls) — are all back. They’ll be joined by Paul McCartney, Elton John, Garth Brooks, Questlove, and more.
Director Rob Reiner is also returning. He’ll play filmmaker Marty DiBergi again in Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, which opens September 12, 2025. The first trailer dropped on July 24.
Elton John Joins for “Stonehenge”
On July 31, fans got a new version of Spinal Tap’s song “Stonehenge,” now featuring Elton John. The track is part of the upcoming soundtrack, which will be released on the same day as the film. Pre-orders are now open in the U.S.
“Stonehenge” became a fan favorite thanks to a famous scene in the original movie. The band ordered a giant prop monument for their stage show, but it arrived only 18 inches tall. Since then, they’ve continued to perform the song with props of all shapes and sizes.
A Mix of Humor and Power
In the new version, John adds his strong vocals to the mix. His singing rises over guitars, synths, drums, and even pan pipes. The song builds into a full medieval-style rock moment. Meanwhile, Tufnel’s spooky spoken parts remain.
The movie follows the band as they reunite for one last concert. It was first planned to come out in March 2024, close to the original film’s 40th anniversary.
Listen to the song below:
Behind the New Movie’s Plot
“When people ask why we haven’t done another one, I always said we didn’t have the right idea,” Reiner told Deadline in 2022. “You don’t just do it. You have to take it somewhere new.”
Reiner explained that the band’s old manager, Ian Faith, has died. His widow finds a contract showing Spinal Tap still owes one more concert. If they don’t perform, she’ll sue. The band members, after years apart, are forced back together to play the show.
New Book and Soundtrack Details
The original film had a small budget of $2.25 million. The new one was made for $22 million, still modest by Hollywood standards. In 2002, the Library of Congress chose This Is Spinal Tap as a film worth preserving.
A book titled A Fine Line Between Stupid and Clever will come out September 9, 2025. It shares stories from the making of the first movie and the sequel.
Watch the trailer for Spinal Tap II: The End Continues below:
