David Kaff, “This Is Spinal Tap” keyboardist, dies at 79
- - - David Kaff, “This Is Spinal Tap” keyboardist, dies at 79
Mekishana PierreJuly 14, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Embassy Pictures / Courtesy Everett
David Kaff as Viv Savage in 'This Is Spinal Tap'
David Kaff, the British musician and actor known for portraying keyboardist Viv Savage in This Is Spinal Tap, died Friday at 79.
Kaff's band Mutual of Alameda's Wild Kingdom announced the news on Facebook over the weekend, writing, "Our brother David Kaffinetti passed away peacefully in his sleep yesterday. We are devastated by this event. David always had a kind word and a quick wit that would slay you where you stand. Then he'd make you smile doing it!"
The statement concluded, "RIP dear brother."
A cause of death was not disclosed.
Born David Kaffinetti in 1946, Kaff first rose to notoriety with the prog-rock band Rare Bird in the late 1960s. The band released five albums between 1969 and 1974, becoming the very first band to have music released by Charisma Records when their self-titled debut LP was released in December 1969.
Their 1970 single "Sympathy" was a hit in the U.K, making it to No. 27 on the U.K. music chart and No 1. in Italy and France, and selling more than 1 million copies worldwide.
Kaff was perhaps best known for his role inThis Is Spinal Tap, the 1984 mockumentary film co-written and directed by Rob Reiner in his feature directorial debut; it also starred Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer, and Michael McKean.
Photo by Authorized Spinal Tap LLC/Shutterstock
Rob Reiner and David Kaff on the set of 'This Is Spinal Tap'
The comedy follows the members of the fictional heavy metal band Spinal Tap, characterized as "one of England's loudest bands."
In addition to appearing in the movie, Kaff joined the fictional band when they played several real gigs to promote it, including a Saturday Night Live performance.
Kaff's role in the film was small, but the keyboardist made his mark with his jokes about the "magic" of video games and said he was capable of playing Nigel's bassline in "Big Bottom" because "I have two hands." Perhaps his most famous line comes in the film's credits, when he's asked for his life motto and says, "Have a good time… all the time."
Within the Spinal Tap mythos, Viv is supposed to have died when visiting the grave of drummer Mick Shrimpton, who previously exploded on stage, after a buildup of methane gas caused the grave to also explode.
"I played him very close to my heart," Kaff told BAM in 1991, "just a little bit dimmer. If people like that character, chances are they'll like me."
A sequel to the film is slated for release Sept. 12, with Reiner, Guest, Shearer, and McKean all returning.
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After his role in Spinal Tap, Kaff performed in a series of other bands, including the Oakland-based Model Citizenz as well as Mutual of Alameda's Wild Kingdom.
on Entertainment Weekly
Source: AOL Entertainment
