ENUFF Z’NUFF Drummer Ricky Parent Dies
ENUFF Z’NUFF drummer Ricky Parent passed away yesterday (Saturday, October 27) after a long battle with cancer.
According to antiMUSIC, Ricky Parent was born in Passaic, New Jersey. His spent his childhood in New Jersey and New York before he headed to Los Angeles to follow his rock n’ roll dream. Ricky was just five years old when realized his love for the drums. One day he was in the yard playing football when he heard a marching band playing down the street. Mesmerized by the sound he found himself following it to discover what was creating that beat. Once he found out, he was hooked and like many young aspiring drummers he first turned to the ready made drum set in any household; pots and pans. Seeing the young drummer in the making he was giving his first drum set, a Mickey Mouse toy set which fueled his dream for a short while before he destroyed it. He then graduated to a Del Ray set that was covered in black contact paper but had cymbals and a snare. From there he pursued his passion with a vengeance, learning his craft from a combination of lessons, drum clinics, but primarily learning from records and songs on the radio.
“My main influence is probably John Bonham,” Ricky wrote on his Myspace page. “But I’ve gone through a bunch of phases from jazz Buddy Rich, Tony Williams, etc. progressive rock Terry Bozzio, Simon Phillips to Ringo to Ansley Dunbar, etc pretty much listened with an open mind soaking up what I admired and working it into my own.”
Like many of his generation when the time came to follow his muse in rock n’ roll he headed to Los Angeles. He was quickly established as world-class drummer and got his first high profile gig with WAR & PEACE, a band fronted by Jeff Pilson after he left DOKKEN that also featured Tommy Henricksen (P.O.L.) and Russ Parrish (HALFORD, FIGHT). The band was short-lived and disbanded after grunge revolution made it hard for them to get noticed. When Vince Neil left MÖTLEY CRÜE, Ricky was called on to lay down some drum tracks for Vince’s solo project. Ironically, Neil would soon hire away ENUFF Z’NUFF drummer Vikki Foxx.
At the time Ricky was playing in a jam band with Paul Gilbert and when word went out that ENUFF Z’NUFF were looking for a new drummer, Gilbert and Mike Varney the head of WAR & PEACE’s label Shrapnel Records, recommended Ricky to the band. He soon after relocated to the band’s home base of Chicago becoming an official member in 1992 where he was a mainstay of the group on stage and in the studio until 2004 when he took a leave of absence after being diagnosed with cancer.
Over the years Ricky was involved in other bands and projects including a brief stint with Alice Cooper as well as playing with Sass Jordan and Tod Howarth (FREHLEY’S COMET).
It’s a sad night at the Hard Rock Hideout. My Condolences to the Parent Family.
Danger Danger - Revolve
Lynch Mob - Smoke and Mirrors
Outloud! -S/T
Stryper - Murder By Pride
Great drummer bud. We hung together and got into trouble all the time. Those were the days. Jammin in the early days was a blast. My heart goes out to his dad, sister and his family. Long time friend of 30+ years.
Wow. Although knowing that Ricky had cancer and was fighting hard against the disease – for some reason I was always optimistic and thought that he would some day recover and play drums again for us – really optimistic thinking, probably because I did not want him to die as he was such a great personality and great guy….he will truly be missed…thanks Ricky for all the fun you have brought into our lives with your music and personality
Ricky you will never be forgotten and always be loved. You were always like my brother to my family and keep on drummin in heaven and never stop we love you and we will miss you deeply. Kate always loved you and will remain too.
Rest In Peace Ricky!
You’re still rockin us man……
I used to jam with Ricky many, many years ago. And although I haven’t seen him in over 20 years, we still shared a lot of mutual friends. I’m so saddened by his passing – as if I had been best friends with him since the day we met. I’m gonna miss ya, Ricky.
Danny
I am so sorry to hear this sad news. Even sadder is the fact that Ricky had to suffer for so many years.
Ricky was one of the nicest guys I ever met, and my husband and I were just reminiscing about how we used to make him laugh behind the kit while he was drumming for Enuff Z’Nuff. It wasn’t hard
Rest in Peace Ricky, you will be remembered with much love.
Glad you finally have peace Ricky. You know you will be missed… You could always be found breathing new life into anyone you came in contact with here on Earth. It was a unique pleasure to have known you. May your family find peace and serenity in the days to come. Special condolences to Kate. Anyone could see that she loved you very much.
Rest in peace Ricky! I really love the band and his contribution to it… Another idol and great musician after Pepsi Tate that has left us.
And mine as well. Ricky gave me an interview for my metal book a couple years back even while quite sick with this cancer. I’m dumbfounded and sad at this news. Peace to Ricky’s family…
A sad night indeed. I love Enuff Z Nuffs brand of melodic rock, and Rickys contribution to it. May he rest in peace, and live on through the music.