Liam Gallagher stormed off “right up the middle of Carnegie Hall” after finding out the truth about a much-loved Rob Reiner movie, according to his brother and Oasis bandmate, Noel
Liam Gallagher once declared he wasn’t “f***in’ ’avin that” and marched off “right up the middle of Carnegie Hall” after discovering the reality behind a cherished Rob Reiner movie, according to his brother Noel. The revelation comes as Hollywood reeled from devastating news this week that acclaimed American filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, were found dead at their Los Angeles residence.
The director, whose impressive filmography includes When Harry Met Sally, Stand by Me, Misery, and A Few Good Men, was pronounced dead alongside Michele at the California property on Sunday. As of yesterday (December 15), his son Nick Reiner had been arrested and was in custody on $4 million (£3 million) bail, as LA police investigate what they described as an “apparent homicide”, reports the BBC.
Reiner’s 1984 comedy mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap involves a filmmaker tracking fictional British heavy metal outfit Spinal Tap as they embark on an American tour. Famous for coining the expression “up to eleven” — referencing the guitarist’s amplifier volume dial that goes from 0 to 11 — the film has achieved cult classic status.
The Oasis frontman was apparently a fan of the group, though his brother and bandmate Noel claims Liam believed the band actually existed. Chatting to The Observer back in 2005, Noel confirmed the story — allegedly shared by After Life and Extras actor Ricky Gervais — admitting Liam genuinely “thought they were real people”.
Noel revealed how everything came to a head when the Gallaghers attended Carnegie Hall in June 2001 to catch Spinal Tap’s performance during their Back From the Dead Tour. However, the concert kicked off with a set from a folk trio called The Folksmen, portrayed by actors Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, and Harry Shearer — the same performers who play the fictional metal group in This Is Spinal Tap.
Noel recalled: “Yeah, he thought they were real people. We went to see them play in Carnegie Hall. Before they played, they came on as three folk singers from the film A Mighty Wind. We were laughing and he said: ‘This is s**t.’ We said, ‘No, those three are in Spinal Tap. You do know they are American actors? They’re not even a real band. They’re not even English! One of them is married to Jamie Lee Curtis.’
“‘I’m not f***in’ ’avin that,’ he says, and walks off right up the middle of Carnegie Hall. He’s never watched Spinal Tap since. He’d seen the film and loved it and thought they were a real band.”
As reported by Cracked.com, The Folksmen originally appeared in a 1984 Saturday Night Live sketch and, as Noel highlighted, subsequently featured in the 2003 comedy film A Mighty Wind.
Following the devastating loss of Rob and Michele, numerous celebrities paid heartfelt tributes to the acclaimed director, including legendary author Stephen King, who wrote both Misery and The Body — the novella adapted into Stand by Me. He expressed being “horrified and saddened” by the tragedy, describing Rob as a “wonderful friend, political ally, and brilliant filmmaker (including two of mine)”.
He continued: “Rest in peace, Rob. You always stood by me.” Meanwhile, fellow director Ron Howard, known for films like Cocoon, The Da Vinci Code, and Apollo 13, hailed Rob as “superlative”, stating: “He proved to be a superlative filmmaker, a supportive colleague and, at all times, a dedicated citizen.”
Music icon Sir Elton John, who features in Rob’s final project, the 2025 Spinal Tap sequel Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, shared: “I am in disbelief at today’s news of Rob and Michele. They were two of the most beautiful people I’d ever met and they deserved better.”
Rob launched his career in the 1960s, shooting to fame as Meathead in the sitcom All in the Family (a remake of the UK’s Till Death Us Do Part) and landing two Emmy Awards.
Source: Mirror
Leave a Reply