Spinal Tap Jokes About Metallica Album Controversy

The iconic comedy-metal band Spinal Tap has responded to claims that Metallica borrowed their album artwork. According to Louder Sound, the group decided not to pursue legal action.

Michael McKean, who plays David St Hubbins in both the original film and the upcoming sequel Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, recently explained the band’s perspective. “We’ve discussed that. They say, ‘It’s a tribute!’ Or Lars [Ulrich, drums] did, at least,” St Hubbins said. “James [Hetfield, vocals/guitars] was heard to mutter something like, ‘We just didn’t have an idea.’ But we’ll take them at their word.”

Despite the controversy, the character voiced admiration for the metal icons. “They’re lovely chaps and very clever – in very good shape, too,” he continued. “They certainly could be rocking into the next millennium – or metallicum, I guess you could call it.”

These remarks come as Spinal Tap gears up for their sequel, showcasing their trademark humor in addressing what might have been a serious clash with one of metal’s most influential bands.

The lighthearted dispute stems from a decades-old similarity in album covers that has become a quirky piece of metal folklore.

Louder Sound noted that Metallica’s 1991 self-titled release, better known as the Black Album, featured an almost entirely black sleeve. The minimalist design was intended to strip away distractions, focusing attention solely on the music. Hetfield described it as “a simple black cover” with “no theme,” highlighting the music over visuals.

That design closely resembled Spinal Tap’s 1984 Smell the Glove soundtrack, which also carried a stark, all-black cover. According to Ultimate Classic Rock, this marked a stylistic shift for Metallica, whose artwork had previously leaned toward the elaborate, symbolic, or even humorous.

The overlap sparked a playful “confrontation” between the two bands, documented in Metallica’s 1992 film A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica. As Metal Insider reported, the exchange ended amicably, with Spinal Tap accepting Metallica’s explanation that the cover was meant as a tribute, not a theft.

This interaction underlines the mutual respect between the parody legends and the heavy metal giants. It also shows how humor can ease what could otherwise escalate into a serious copyright dispute.