Born Nigel Sedgewick Tufnel in Squatney, East Londonon, February 8th 1945. After moving several tmes due to his father's occupation as a travelling Audiologist/painter, The Tufnel family eventually settled in Colchester, Sussex UK for health reasons.The early years for Nigel involved attending the Convent of Jesus for Gels and Small Boys in Colchester England where he excelled in postures and was voted most likely to be a future car park attendant or shoe clerk . By the age of 15, Nigel had saved up enough money from selling polished pebbles to buy a secondhand guitar, mostly for the purpose of attracting women, it was not a fruitful endeavor. In fact, most childhood friends thought Nigel might be a pervert (homosexual). When Nigel was 18, he had the good fortune of meeting David St Hubbins (Nee David Lodsy Downings, next door neighbor) in his 4th year 'occupationally inept and potentially detrimental to modern society' class, the two struck up a bond that would last over 40 years... off and on. They began jamming together in a toolshed in David's garden, influenced by early blues artists like Honkin' Bubba Fulton, Little Sassy Francis and particularly Big Little Daddy' Coleman, a deaf guitar player, and wrote their first song, (Cry) All the Way Home.The two also developed a penchant for very tight trousers. An attribute which, in Colchester in 1966. made their prospective parents suspect homosexuality( due in part to their inability to have normal relationships with members of the opposite sex, neither were in fact homosexual... Just daft) this animalistic integrity would later become the very basis for all that was/is Spinal Tap. Incredibly, St. Hubbins and Tufnel were ahead of their time.In April 1966, The Thamesmen had a minor hit with This is the Sound of One Hand Clapping (B side, Marmite Stomp (tounging the toast) ) which enabled them to gain the interest of major label Playtex Records. Several lukewarm tours of Bristol followed. The Thamesmen stayed with Playtex Records until the company introduce their line of feminine hygene products in 1968. However, their writing prowess grew and congeled with the addition of Derek Smalls on bass guitar in late 1968. Derek's joining the band (and the fact that he did indeed own a pair of tight leather trousers ) led a the name change. Spinal Tap was born, the name coming from the only thing that they could think of that was more painful than Mahler's 5th symphony (in C#m). The world was yet to take notice however.As with many 60's bands that are still claiming to be relevant, Spinal Tap is constantly touring.Nigel's hobbies include collecting guitars; particularly noteworthy is his un-played unlooked-at foam green six string Fender Bass VI. He also has Gibson Les Paul 1959 model, whose acoustic properties and flame he praises. He also plays mandolin, piano, and does backing vocals. He is currently writing a classical piece in D minor which he claims is the 'saddest of all keys' and is provisionally entitled 'Lick My Love Pump'.Nigel has a great love for Gumby, carrying a figurine in his shirt pocket and wearing Gumby shirts frequently. He is also a self-proclaimed 'fish nut', liking cod and canned tuna because it has 'no bones'. Nigel currently sits on the Editorial Board of his preferred in-flight periodical, Car and Driver.Tufnel has stated that if he wasn't in the music industry he would like to either enter the field of haberdashery, possibly sell shoes or become a surgeon: 'I like surgery'.Nigel Tufnel, as a member of Spinal Tap, was inducted into the Fictitious Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015 (see http://www.notinhalloffame.com/the-inductees/2015-fictitious-rock-inductees/3632-spinal-tap). Show less «