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Ric Parnell was a drummer for the 1970s rock bands Horse, Atomic Rooster, and the Italian band Tritons. He played drums on the 1982 hit song “Mickey” by Toni Basil and it has been reported that he turned down an offer to join arena rock legends Journey. He achieved his greatest fame when he played the role of ill-fated drummer Mick Shrimpton in the cult classic “This Is Spinal Tap” in 1984. The running gag in the mockumentary film is that all the Spinal Tap drummers die in unusual ways. Parnell as Mick Shrimpton appears throughout the film yet dies from spontaneous combustion at the end. He appeared on Spinal Tap albums and toured with the band as Ric Shrimpton, Mick’s twin brother, since Mick died in the movie. Recently, he hosted a weekly radio show titled “Spontaneous Combustion.”
Born in London in 1951, the son of the jazz drummer Jack Parnell, the longtime leader of the band on The Muppet Show, Parnell played in bands including Horse, Atomic Rooster, Nova and Stars. He also played with Michael Des Barres and on the 1981 hit Hey Mickey, by Toni Basil.
But Parnell was arguably best known for portraying Shrimpton in This Is Spinal Tap, the 1984 cult rock mockumentary.
His character’s numerous predecessors had suffered various bizarre deaths, including choking on vomit, and being killed in a gardening accident. Shrimpton explodes onstage while performing in Japan at the conclusion of the movie.
When Spinal Tap went on a real-world tour, Parnell assumed the persona of Shrimpton’s twin brother, Ric. The act appeared on Saturday Night Live and in 1992 released an album named Break Like the Wind.
Other acts Ric was associated with include Jeff Beck, Cher, Bette Midler, Engelbert Humperdinck, Ravi Shankar, Michael Des Barres, Zoo Drive, Ibis, Hog Wild, Grand Poobahs, Eden Atwood, Ship of Fools, The Hermans, Matchstick Men, Zeppo Montana, PHILIDOR.
His partner, McKenzie Sweeney, confirmed the death. She said a blood clot in his lungs led to organ failure.
There is a GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses at this location: HERE
