So I wound up watching the new Led Zep DVD on Saturday night after the show. And couldn’t stop laughing. Now, I know Led Zep’s music pretty well – all the bogans at my school were into it, and eventually I got it as well. I own a copy of IV. Got a few songs in iTunes. But I’d never really watched a video of them, until now.

And now they’re ruined, because Spinal Tap got it so right. The mental drummer. The bass player standing there looking all serious. And especially David St. Hubbins / Jimmy Page. It’s all there from the ridiculous poses to scary facial expressions during the solos. I couldn’t stop laughing. And when he bought out the violin bow to play his guitar I almost had to leave the room.

I reckon it’s a great example of where a sharp parody makes the original material redundant, and reminds me of when I used to read Mad’s movie satires, which were so dead on you didn’t really have to see the film – and when you did, it was never as good. It’s all in the details – you have to study your ‘target’s’ expressions, tones of voice, their ‘ums’ and ‘ahs’, and then just crank it up a notch without going too OTT – it’s why shows like The Office, Fawlty Towers and Seinfeld were as popular as they were. What’s your favorite parody or satire?

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