Spinal Tap keyboardist David Kaff has died aged 79

Actor and musician David Kaff, known for playing the Spinal Tap keyboardist Viv Savage in the film This Is Spinal Tap, has died aged 79.

Kaff's current band, Mutual of Alameda's Wild Kingdom, confirmed his death on Facebook.

“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! R.I.P. dear brother,” they posted.

Born in southern England in Kent, he launched his music career in 1969 as a founding member of the progressive rock band Rare Bird.

The group released five studio albums between 1969 and 1974.

Their single ‘Sympathy’ reached no.1 in both France and Italy as well as no. 27 in the UK singles charts in February 1970, with the track having sold an estimated one million copies globally.

Kaff was also involved in session work on Chuck Berry’s 1972 album, The London Chuck Berry Sessions.

He was later cast as Viv Savage, the keyboardist for the fictional rock band Spinal Tap, in the 1984 mockumentary film This Is Spinal Tap.

Following the release of the film, the group continued as a band, performing at concerts and live television appearances.

Kaff's final involvement with Spinal Tap was their 1984 appearance on Saturday Night Live.

By the end of that same year, Kaff had departed from the group and was no longer associated with any subsequent Spinal Tap projects.

Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, a follow-up to This is Spinal Tap, has been announced with a cinema release date later this year.