Read More: Missoula Celebrity and Spinal Tap Drummer, Ric Parnell Dies at 70 | https://klyq.com/missoula-celebrity-and-spinal-tap-drummer-ric-parnell-dies-at-70/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral
Missoula Celebrity and Spinal Tap Drummer, Ric Parnell Dies at 70
Read More: Missoula Celebrity and Spinal Tap Drummer, Ric Parnell Dies at 70 | https://klyq.com/missoula-celebrity-and-spinal-tap-drummer-ric-parnell-dies-at-70/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral
Read More: Missoula Celebrity and Spinal Tap Drummer, Ric Parnell Dies at 70 | https://klyq.com/missoula-celebrity-and-spinal-tap-drummer-ric-parnell-dies-at-70/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral
He was not on the list.
I will never forget the first time I ran into Ric Parnell. We were standing outside the Wilma waiting to get inside for a rock concert. In front of me stood someone who clearly meant a lot to many Missoulians. Every other person who walked past gave him a high five or a fist bump. I knew the person looked familiar, but I could not put my finger on it. Soon it dawned on me. It was "Mick Shrimpton" from Spinal Tap. I tapped him on the shoulder and said, "Hey Mick!" He turned around with a smile, a fist bump, and a British accent "It's Ric, nice to meet ya.. you wanker." It made my day. "Mick Shrimpton called me a wanker!"
Today we learned the news that Ric Parnell passed away at the age of 70.
Ric Parnell began his career in music back in 1970. He played in multiple bands. He provided the drums for Toni Basil's hit "Mickey," and he had an offer to join Journey. But, Ric's big break came in the '80s when he landed the role of Mick Shrimpton on the mockumentary, "This Is Spinal Tap."
Ric eventually settled in Missoula, Montana. He hosted his own radio show on "Trail 103" cleverly titled, "Spontaneous Combustion," which paid homage to his character from "Spinal Tap."
Thanks for being a part of my introduction to rock in the 80s, Ric. Thanks for the laughs and the fist bump. Most of all, thanks for being such a cool addition to the Missoula community.
After Atomic Rooster folded, Parnell (using his nickname "Spyder") joined with the Italian group Tritons, who had a hit in Italy with their re-arranged version of the Rolling Stones song "Satisfaction" in 1973. They quickly issued an album also titled Satisfaction that same year. Several members of Tritons were more interested in performing music of a more serious nature; these members (including Parnell) left Tritons and helped co-found the Italian prog-rock group Ibis. Parnell was the drummer and co-lyricist on their 1974 album, Sun Supreme. The group continued for one further album after Parnell left.
In 1975, Parnell was a member of the more pop/rock oriented group Stars, which issued one self-titled album before breaking up. That was followed by a two-album stint as drummer for Italian/British jazz fusion group Nova in 1977 and 1978.
After leaving Nova, Parnell continued to play for various other bands and artists throughout the 1970s and 1980s including Michael Des Barres and Lisa Dal Bello, as well as providing the drums for the Toni Basil hit "Mickey" among other contributions. At one time, Steve Perry offered him a spot in Journey, but Parnell declined as he was preoccupied with his studio band at the time Zoo Drive, a decision he later regretted.
Spinal Tap became a working band, recording a soundtrack album and promoting the film with live shows and a 1984 appearance on Saturday Night Live. The character of Mick Shrimpton having died in This Is Spinal Tap, Parnell assumed the role of his "twin brother" drummer Ric Shrimpton for the group's appearances subsequent to the film. This continued through the band's 1992 reunion album Break Like the Wind and the associated concert tour. Parnell was not a part of more recent Spinal Tap activity.
Filmography
This Is Spinal Tap (1984) – as Mick Shrimpton
Masters from the Vaults (2003)
The Devil's Due at Midnight (2004)
Saving For The Day (2018) - as Ricardo
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