R.J. Parnell Biography

Fast Facts

• Came from a family of musicians, as his grandfather was a music hall artist, his father was a jazz drummer and bandleader, and his two brothers became drummers
• In 1970, he recorded a single album with the hard rock band Horse
• Best remembered as the ill-fated drummer Mick Shrimpton in "This Is Spinal Tap․"
• Was the drummer in the progressive rock band Atomic Rooster for two months, then rejoined the band to play on its last two albums
• Co-hosted a radio program on KDTR Trail 103․3 called "Spontaneous Combustion․"
• Enjoys playing golf when he isn't playing the drums professionally
• His discography includes "Made in England" and "Nice 'n' Greasy" with Atomic Rooster and "This Is Spinal Tap" and "Break Like the Wind" with Spinal Tap