Ric Parnell was an English rock drummer. Notable for his work in the band Atomic Rooster, he is probably best known for his role as the ill-fated drummer Mick Shrimpton in the film This Is Spinal Tap.
Before landing the part of Shrimpton, Parnell was a gifted musician who played in a variety of bands.
He was born in London, England, on August 13, 1951. His grandfather, Russ Carr, was a music hall performer, and his father, Jack Parnell, was a jazz drummer and musical director for Associated Television.
He actually toured with Spinal Tap as Ric Shrimpton, Shrimpton’s “twin brother,” and appeared on the group’s first two albums, The Is Spinal Tap (1984) and Break Like the Wind (1985). (1985).
Shortly after, he briefly joined the progressive rock band Atomic Rooster, but barely stayed for two months.
Around the end of 1971, he was invited to rejoin Atomic Rooster and stayed long enough to play on the band’s final two albums.
In 1975, Parnell was a member of the pop/rock group Stars, which disbanded after one self-titled album. For two albums in 1977 and 1978, he was the drummer for the Italian/British jazz fusion trio Nova.
Ric Parnell Cause of Death: What Killed Ric Parnell?
Ric Parnell’s cause of death is yet to be revealed.
How Did Ric Parnell Die?
Harry Shearer, who also played Ric Parnell in the 1984 spoof documentary about the fictional heavy metal band Spinal Tap, did not identify the cause of Ric Parnell’s death.
