Ric Parnell, once a Londoner, decided to retire in the unexpected town of Missoula, Montana. His journey to Missoula began when he toured with blues musician Joe Houston, and Missoula was one of the stops. His band was then traveling to Canada, but he couldn’t pass the Canadian border due to a paperwork issue, so he landed back in Missoula. The location grew on him, particularly because of the hippie-redneck combination. Parnell quickly made a home in the city and eventually retired there, playing with various musicians in the area, such as Eden Atwood, the Hermans, and Zeppo Montana. Parnell’s approach to Missoula’s music scene was to offer his services to any band that would have him, according to the Missoulian.
While a resident, he became an avid golfer and beer-drinker, although he disliked the taste of American beer, per The Times. He also landed a job as a Missoula-area radio host for a show aptly named “Spontaneous Combustion,” which seemingly referenced his Spinal Tap character. In an interview with the Missoulian, given when he was 56, Parnell vowed to never leave the city. It appears he kept his promise.
