Heavy metal mock-rockers Spinal Tap have announced a concert tour to mark the 25th anniversary of the original movie.

The 1984 film detailed the career of a fictional spandex-clad rock band, and became a cult classic, riddled with 'in-jokes' parodying the excesses of the music industry - the egos, the groupies and the lifestyle.

Now the original cast members Michael McKean, Harry Shearer and Christopher Guest are staging another rock cliché: the reunion tour.

Shearer says the reality of going on tour is just as ridiculous as portrayed in the movie.

"Even if you've just played guitar in your bedroom, you can kind of get that this is what it's really like. It's a little bit stupider than... no, it really isn't - it's every bit as stupid as it really is."

With song titles including 'Break Like The Wind' and 'Big Bottom', the tone of Spinal Tap's humour was always tongue-in-cheek, but the band members themselves have grown up. Gone is the pomp and extravagance. Instead, says guitarist Michael McKean, the reunion performances will be acoustic sets - 'unwigged and unplugged'.

"It's so much easier, we don't have to put the wigs on, we don't have to carry all this heavy stuff, there's not a truck full of pods which don't open."

But without spandex pants and rock costumes, is it really Spinal Tap? McKean is hoping for a sympathetic reception.

"I hope people come to kinda be our friends. I don't think anyone really really needs to see us in spendex again, especially at our age. Only time will tell."

The tour begins in Vancouver on April the 17th.