Stonehenge Has Been Closing Early Because Spinal Tap Is Secretly Filming Something There

This article contains potential spoilers for Spinal Tap II: The End Continues.

It’s been more than 40 years since This Is Spinal Tap hit theaters, much to the confusion of the American moviegoing public. And now we’re finally getting a theatrical sequel to the classic mockumentary: Spinal Tap II: The End Continues. 

While the movie hasn’t been released yet, we do know that it includes a scene in which Sir Elton John joins the band onstage for a performance of their rock ballad “Stonehenge,” along with a prop that’s far larger than they had back in ‘84.

But that may not be the only time that the sequel references the ancient English monument.

Now, after decades of singing about the “magic place” where “the demons dwell,” the members of Spinal Tap have actually visited the prehistoric spot, and performed some of their hits in front of the famous stone circle.

As reported by the BBC, stars Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer were all spotted filming a concert scene at Stonehenge last week. English Heritage, which manages Stonehenge, confirmed that filming was taking place, but “could not confirm any further details.” Eyewitnesses also noticed Jamie Lee Curtis (who’s married to Guest) watching the show.

Thanks to Tap, the Stonehenge site has been closing to visitors early in order to accommodate the production. But folks didn’t seem to mind, including one tourist who told the BBC that he was “dragging my parents around all of Wiltshire looking at all the ancient monuments,” adding, “little did I know they were filming the climax to Spinal Tap 2. I almost passed out. I didn’t care about Stonehenge any more. I was losing the plot. I was so thrilled, I couldn’t cope.”

It’s unclear if the shoot was for the film itself or something else entirely, like a tie-in music video or something. After all, the movie hits theaters in mid-September, would they really still be filming major scenes so close to the release date? 

The Daily Mail reported that the concert also featured several superstar musical guests, including Josh Groban, Eric Clapton and Shania Twain, which may lend credence to the theory that the Stonehenge footage will indeed end up in the movie.

At the risk of spoiling what could be a scene in Spinal Tap II, a fan actually captured footage of Shania singing “Hell Hole” and Groban belting out “Bitch School” before Clapton played an extended solo. “Someone’s been practicing,” McKean/David St. Hubbins remarked. 

We’ll have to wait and see if the band similarly performs at any real-life Sex Farms.