The well renowned English rock drummer Ric Parnell has reportedly died at the age of 70. Continue reading this article to find out more about the drummer.
Richard “Ric” J. Parnell was a rock drummer from England. He is best known for portraying the ill-fated drummer Mick Shrimpton in the film ‘This Is Spinal Tap.’
He was a member of the band Atomic Rooster. Parnell, who was born in London, came from a musical family.
Ric’s grandfather, Russ Carr, was a music hall performer, and his father, Jack Parnell, was a jazz drummer and Associated Television musical director.
Will and Marc Parnell, his brothers, are also drummers. His two sisters opted not to pursue a career in music.
Ric was a member of the short-lived hard rock band Horse in 1970, which released one album before disbanding.
What Was Ric Parnell’s Death Cause?
Richard “Ric” J. Parnell, who was born on August 13, 1951, died away on May 1, 2022. He was a well-known English rock drummer.
Parnell is perhaps best recognized for his work with the band Atomic Rooster, but he is also remembered for his role as the ill-fated drummer Mick Shrimpton in the film This Is Spinal Tap.
Shearer, who portrayed Spinal Tap bassist Derek Smalls, announced Parnell’s death on Sunday. There was no mention of a cause of death.
Parnell portrayed Shrimpton in the 1984 cult classic mockumentary about a heavy metal band with a long habit of losing drummers to unfathomable tragedy.
Shrimpton survives long enough to appear in Rob Reiner’s film. However, the character ends up exploding on stage during a Japanese tour.
Ric Parnell: What Happened To Him?
According to a post by the band’s Harry Shearer and Yahoo News, Ric Parnell, who played Spinal Tap’s drummer Mick Shrimpton in the renowned 1984 heavy metal film, has died at the age of 70.
Initially, no cause of death was given. The drummers of Spinal Tap are a recurring gag in the film all of the band’s previous drummers had perished, one from spontaneous combustion.
Moreover, while Parnell appears throughout the film, he, too, violently combusts towards the conclusion.
He contributed to the film’s soundtrack CD and a follow-up record. Parnell most recently resided in Missoula, Montana, where he co-hosted a weekly radio show named “Spontaneous Combustion.”
Ric Parnell Wiki Bio Explored
Ric Parnell, the actor who played drummer Mick Shrimpton in the 1984 film This Is Spinal Tap, died at 70.
In the 1970s, he also played drums with the British progressive/hard rock band Atomic Rooster and, more recently, on solo albums for Radio Birdman’s Deniz Tek.
Parnell eventually moved to Missoula, Montana, and began hosting a weekly radio show. To assist with the drummer’s burial costs, a GoFundMe page has been set up.
Spinal Tap became a working band, producing a soundtrack CD and promoting the film with live gigs and an appearance on Saturday Night Live in 1984.
Following the death of Mick Shrimpton’s character in This Is Spinal Tap, Parnell assumed the role of his “twin brother” drummer Ric Shrimpton for the rest of the band’s shows.