Spinal Tap’s Viv Savage Keyboard Legend David Kaff Dies at 79
Hold on to your coffee cup, because I have a head-spinning update, people! The man behind those unforgettable Viv Savage keyboard antics in the cult classic mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap has bowed out of the spotlight at 79. David Kaff, who tickled the ivories and delivered deadpan one-liners as Tap’s eccentric synth maestro, passed away earlier this week, leaving fans and fellow musicians raising an eyebrow and asking, “Is this a drill?”
According to a family statement reported by People Magazine and confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter, Kaff died peacefully in his Santa Monica home on June 16, 2024, after a brief battle with heart complications. His loved ones described him as a gentle spirit offstage who loved sunrise coffee runs and had an encyclopedic knowledge of vintage synth gear. Neither exact funeral arrangements nor a public memorial has been finalized, but sources say close friends in the rock community plan to host a private tribute in Southern California next month.
Born in 1944 in Rochester, New York, David Kaff studied classical piano before touring small venues in the early 1970s. He answered an open casting call for Rob Reiner’s mock rockumentary in 1979 and won the role of Viv Savage with his uncanny knack for deadpan humor and unyielding focus during onstage chaos. Critics and fans credit Kaff with elevating the film’s satire: his exaggerated keyboard solos in the “Stonehenge” sequence and his famously blank expression when Nigel Tufnel’s amp volume went to eleven remain iconic. Variety once noted that Kaff’s performance provided the perfect foil for the film’s absurdity, giving Spinal Tap just the right dose of keyboard-driven mischief.
After This Is Spinal Tap took off at festivals in 1984, Kaff toured with several tribute acts and released a solo album of experimental synth music in 1991. He made occasional cameo appearances on late-night talk shows and was featured in a 2002 documentary about the film’s enduring cult status. Fellow Tap bandmate Michael McKean tweeted his condolences, calling Kaff “a genius in a quiet package” and remembering “countless late nights laughing over jam sessions and Weegee photographs.”
In the years before his passing, Kaff taught electronic music workshops at local community colleges and mentored aspiring keyboardists. He remained a fixture at fan conventions, posing for photos in his vintage aviator shades and sharing stories about on-set pranks. His willingness to chat with every attendee made him a beloved figure beyond his on-screen persona.
David Kaff’s departure marks the end of an era in rock satire. Fans around the world will miss his sly humor and masterful keyboard flair. Stay tuned for details on a possible tribute concert later this summer. I swear, I could talk about this all day.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and New York Post, People Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
