Nigel Tufnel (1948-) is the fictional lead guitarist of the rock band Spinal Tap featured in the 1984 mockumentary film This Is Spinal Tap. He is played by actor Christopher Guest. Nigel's hobbies include collecting guitars; particularly noteworthy is his un-played, un-looked-at, foam-green six-string Fender Bass VI.

He also has a 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'.

According to Christopher Guest, Nigel has not yet completed the trilogy, and is still working on it. 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. His favorite cookies are Oreos, but without the filling. The rider in his contract requires a large plate of Oreo halves without frosting backstage (similar to Van Halen's request for a bowl of M&M's without the brown ones.) Tufnel was born in Squatney, East London.

He got his first guitar from his father at the age of six, a sunburst 'Rhythm King'. His life changed when he met David St Hubbins (Michael McKean) who lived next door. 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.

Before long they had formed the Thamesmen and the rest is history.

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