Richard “Ric” J. Parnell was a rock drummer from England. He is well recognized for his performance as the ill-fated drummer Mick Shrimpton in the film This Is Spinal. He is also known for his work in the band Atomic Rooster.
Parnell, who was born in London, came from a long line of musicians in his family.
His grandfather, Russ Carr, was a music hall performer, and his father, Jack Parnell, worked for Associated Television as a jazz drummer and musical director.
Will and Marc Parnell, his two brothers, are also drummers. His two sisters opted out of the music industry.
He was a member of the short-lived hard rock band Horse in 1970, which only released one album before disbanding.
He temporarily joined the progressive rock band Atomic Rooster shortly after but left after only two months.
He was invited to rejoin Atomic Rooster towards the end of 1971 and stayed long enough to play on the band’s final two albums.
Following the demise of Atomic Rooster, Parnell (nicknamed “Spyder”) joined the Italian band Tritons, who scored a hit in Italy in 1973 with their rearranged version of the Rolling Stones’ “Satisfaction.”
That same year, they released another album called Satisfaction. Several Tritons members, including Parnell, were more interested in performing music of a more serious character and left the band to help co-found the Italian prog-rock band Ibis.
On their 1974 album Sun Supreme, Parnell was the drummer and co-lyricist. After Parnell’s departure, the band continued for one more record.
What Happened To Ric Parnell?
Ric Parnell, who played Mick Shrimpton, the band’s drummer in This Is Spinal Tap, died recently. He had reached the age of 70.
“Ric Parnell, our drummer in This Is Spinal Tap, passed away today,” actor Harry Shearer wrote on Twitter on Sunday. “No one has ever rocked as hard as this band.”
