‘This is Spinal Tap’ drummer, Ric Parnell, dies

The drummer and actor who brought Mick Shrimpton to life in “This is Spinal Tap” has died.

Ric Parnell was 70 years old.

>> Read more trending news

Harry Shearer, Parnell’s co-star in the mockumentary, announced the actor’s death. No cause of death was reported, Yahoo Music reported.

While the film was about a fictional band, the band became real when it started touring, opening for such acts as Iron Butterfly, with concertgoers none the wiser, Variety reported.

The film had a running joke about the short lives of the band’s drummers because all of them died in odd ways, Spin reported. Parnell was featured throughout the film, meeting his fictional end through spontaneous combustion, Variety reported.

He also played drums on the film’s soundtrack and follow-up album.

Parnell performed on “Saturday Night Live,” an album and two tours as Mick’s brother, Ric Shrimpton.

Parnell, despite being featured as a fictional musician, was a drummer in real life.

He played with bands such as Atomic Rooster and Horse in the early 1970s, and then with three different groups from Italy.

There were rumors that Parnell had offers to join mega rock bands Journey and Whitesnake in the 1980s, Variety reported.

He also played drums on Toni Basil’s hit, “Mickey.”

Denik Tek from Radio Birdman, wrote on Facebook that Parnell “had a cheerful spirit that made you feel good, just being around him.” Tek also called Parnell, “one of a kind.”

Parnell, who lived in Montana, recently co-hosted a weekly radio show, aptly named ”Spontaneous Combustion,” Spin reported.

©2022 Cox Media Group