R.I.P. Richard Ric Parnell.

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Not a lot of people can’t be described by the old saying «they don’t make them like this anymore» on many a level – the great Ric Parnell, who passed away today, on May 1st, at the young age of 70, could. Ric Parnell was a legend even to those that had no idea of his principal musical career.

Richard Ric Parnell played drums in Spinal Tap, Atomic Rooster, The Deviants – many more. Ric Parnell was known for his drumming in the band Atomic Rooster, yet he is probably best known for his role as the fateful drummer Mick Shrimpton in the funny film This is Spinal Tap.

Parnell has a long family history of musical ambition. His grandfather Russ Carr was a music hall artist and his father Jack Parnell was a jazz drummer and bandleader. He has two brothers, Will and Marc Parnell, who are also drummers. His two sisters decided not to enter the music business.

In 1970 he was a member of the short-lived hard rock band Horse, who recorded one album before breaking up.]Shortly after, he briefly joined the progressive rock band Atomic Rooster, leaving after just two months with the band.

In April 1971 he formed his own progressive rock group, Matchstick Men, whose sole single was much more pop-oriented than the band’s genre of choice. By the end of the year he had been invited to rejoin Atomic Rooster, this time staying long enough to play on the band’s last two albums.

Associated acts, Atomic Rooster, Nova, Spinal Tap, Joe Houston, Toni Basil, Jeff Beck, Cher, Bette Midler, Engelbert Humperdinck, Michael Des Barres, Zoo Drive, Ibis, Hog Wild, Grand Poobahs, Eden Atwood, Ship of Fools, The Hermans, Matchstick Men, Zeppo Montanta!