Destined to become an instant cult classic, “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues” picks up 41 years after the release of 1984’s groundbreaking “This Is Spinal Tap”, when now-estranged bandmates David St. Hubbins, Nigel Tufnel and Derek Smalls (Michael McKean, Christopher Guest and Harry Shearer) are forced to reunite for one final concert. Documentarian Marty DiBergi (Rob Reiner) returns as well, to try to capture his favorite metal gods as they contemplate mortality. Joined by music royalty like McCartney and John, SPINAL TAP wrestle with their checkered past to put on a concert that they hope will solidify their place in the pantheon of rock ‘n’ roll.

“Stonehenge” looms large in TAP lore thanks to a prop gaffe captured in the first movie, where the band ordered an 18-foot high version of the monument but instead received an 18-inch one. They’ve performed the song many times since, with rocks of various sizes, and Tufnel even appeared on NatGeo‘s 2008 “Stonehenge: Decoded” special to share his theories about the mysterious megaliths. For the new recording of the song, John brings his most arena-sized vocals to the mix, lording over shredding guitar, swirling synths, pounding drums, shrill pan pipes, and a full-band medieval jam session. Tufnel still holds down the eerie spoken parts.

“Spinal Tap II: The End Continues” will open in theaters and IMAX nationwide on September 12, following a recent limited theatrical re-release of “This Is Spinal Tap” newly restored in 4K resolution. The original film — directed by Reiner and written/improvised/performed by McKean, Guest and Shearer — released to critical acclaim and went on to become a cult classic that has directly inspired actual metal bands like METALLICA, spawned the “turn it up to 11” idiom, and been referenced in pop culture ever since. In 2002, it was deemed “culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant” by the Library Of Congress, and was selected for preservation by the National Film Registry.

Meanwhile, TAP have played on, reuniting for various tours, charity gigs, festivals and TV appearances (including “SNL” and “The Simpsons”); collaborating with the likes of John Mayer, Cher, Slash, Adam “MCA” Yauch and members of FLEETWOOD MAC, FOO FIGHTERS and METALLICA; and releasing three albums: 1984’s “This Is Spinal Tap”, 1992’s “Break Like The Wind” and 2009’s “Back From The Dead”, which was nominated for a “Best Comedy Album” Grammy Award (all three charted on the Billboard 200).

“The End Continues” track listing:

01. Nigel’s Poem
02. Let’s Just Rock Again
03. Flower People (with Elton John)
04. Brighton Rock
05. The Devil’s Just Not Getting Old
06. Cups And Cakes (with Paul McCartney)
07. I Kissed A Girl
08. Angels
09. Big Bottom (with Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood)
10. Judge And Jury
11. Rockin’ In The Urn
12. Blood To Let
13. Stonehenge (with Elton John)

Asked by The Hollywood Reporter what makes the original “This Is Spinal Tap” movie so timeless, Reiner said: “I don’t know. I mean, what’s weird is that when it first came out, nobody got it. They thought I made a movie about a real band that wasn’t very good. And why wouldn’t I make a movie about THE BEATLES or THE ROLLING STONES? It took a while before people really caught on to it and understood that we were making fun, we were having fun with it. And then over the years it kind of…”

He continued: “We had created like a parallel universe for SPINAL TAP; we didn’t talk about other bands. But then, all of a sudden, the real world started creeping in. They played Glastonbury, they played Royal Albert Hall and Wembley Stadium. And every rock band we talked to, they all said, ‘Oh my God. It’s just like what we do on tour.’ They keep the tape on the tour bus. They watch it over and over. Sting saw it and he said, ‘Every time I see it, I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.’ So somehow we’ve seeped into the culture. The Oxford English dictionary now has ‘this goes to 11’ as a thing that’s not just about loud music, but about anything in excess. And we’re part of the Library Of Congress and the National Film Registry. So here we are. I mean, we never thought in a million years it was gonna happen like this.”

Regarding the plot for “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues”, Reiner, who directed the original movie and costarred as the fictional documentarian Martin “Marty” DiBergi and also returned for the sequel, said: “Well, what happens is we find out that they… And this we took from real life, which is the guys had not played with each other in 15 years. So we said, ‘Okay, what would cause them to get back together again?’ We created this whole idea that there’s bad blood, they’re not speaking to each other, what’s going on, and you find that out in the course of the film, but they now are forced together because of a contract. That was the last performance they had to give. It was a contract when their manager, Ian Faith, died, which is the real guy [who played Ian], [actor] Tony Hendra died. And the daughter takes it over and says, ‘Well, what am I gonna do with this contract? It’s worthless. They don’t play together.’ Then there’s a big music star screwing around at a soundcheck. He sings ‘Big Bottom’. It’s caught on an iPhone, they throw it up on TikTok and it goes viral. And then, ‘Okay, now we’ll play.’ And they go to New Orleans and play their last concert. But if you notice, it says ‘The End Continues’ [in the title of the movie]. These people never stop. They never stop.”