Spinal tap drummer Rick Parnell has died at the age of 70

Rick Parnell, the famous British musician who played drummer Mick Shrimton in the cult rock documentary “This Is Spinal Tap”, has died.

Actor Harry Shearer, who starred in the film with Parnell, shared the news via Twitter on Sunday and wrote, “No one has ever been tough.”

The cause of Parnell’s death was not immediately clear.

The London-born drummer was surrounded by a family of musicians. His grandfather, Russ Carr, was a music hall artist, and his father, Jack Parnell, worked as a band leader for “The Muppet Show.”

Parnell played in several bands, including Horse, Atomic Rooster, Nova, and Stars. He claims that he declined the invitation to play in Journey and Whitesnake, but is credited with playing the drums on Tony Basil’s 1981 song “Hey Mickey”.

Our drummer Rick Parnell from This Is Spinal Tap passed away today. No one has ever rocked hard.

But its biggest break came in 1984 when Parnell, along with actor-composer Michael McKinn, Christopher Guest and Shearer, filmed the fictional rock band Spinal Tap on the big screen. With the release of the album and appearing on “Saturday Night Live”, the group became a reality.

Parnell also played on the material of actor Michael des Barres, who recalled his collaboration on Twitter on Monday.

“Some musicians are doing roles. Others are rock ‘n’ rolls. Rick Parnell was the latter. The real thing, ”Barres wrote.

Rick Parnell, spinal tap drummer Mick Shrimton, dies at 70
Some musicians are doing roles. Others are rock ‘n’ rolls. Rick Parnell was the latter. The real thing. Lost and found in a rhythm that was gritty and beautiful.