John "Stumpy" Pepys (1964–1966) (Portrayed by Ed Begley Jr. in the video "Gimme Some Money"). Died in a bizarre gardening accident that the authorities said was "best left unsolved."

Spinal Tap A to Zed Pepys, John "Stumpy" (1943-1969): David and Nigel met the tall, blond geek in 1964 while touring as members of the Johnny Goodshow Revue.

The tragic death of "Stumpy" Pepys in a bizarre gardening accident left the band stunned, saddened and holding auditions for a new drummer. They settled on Eric "Stumpy Joe" Childs (from Wool Cave) and this line-up recorded LPs: Brainhammer, Blood To Let, Nerve Damage, Intravenous DeMilo, and the "concept" album The Sun Never Sweats.

May 20, 2022 · Their first drummer, John "Stumpy" Pepys, "died in a bizarre gardening accident," Eric "Stumpy Joe" Childs died after asphyxiating on vomit, and Peter "James" Bond passed after spontaneously combusting during a Jazz-Blues (or Blues-Jazz …

Sep 3, 2019 · The roster includes John “Stumpy” Pepys, who “died in a bizarre gardening accident” in 1966; Eric “Stumpy Joe” Childs, who in 1967 choked on vomit — “actually, someone else’s vomit”; and Joe “Mama” Besser, who disappeared along with the band’s equipment during their Japanese tour in 1982.

Several of the band's previous drummers died under strange circumstances: John "Stumpy" Pepys died in a "bizarre gardening accident" that police said was better left unsolved, Eric "Stumpy Joe" Childs died choking on someone else's …

John "Stumpy" Pepys (1964–1966) Died in a bizarre gardening accident, that the authorities said was "best left unsolved." Eric "Stumpy Joe" Childs (1966–1967) Choked on vomit of unknown origin, perhaps but not necessarily his own, because "you can't really dust for vomit."

John "Stumpy" Pepys Southampton drummer from the Leslie Cheswick Soul Explosion who would later meet Nigel and David in late 1964 and form the Thamesmen. He was also the original drummer for Spinal Tap. Shortly before his death, he would form a supergroup called DCCSMM. "Stumpy" died in a bizarre gardening accident in 1969.

1964: David and Nigel form the Originals, change its name to the New Originals, then abandon the band to travel with the Johnny Goodshow Revue. While on the road, they meet drummer John "Stumpy" Pepys and form the Thamesmen; bassist Ronnie Pudding joins the group soon after.

Childs was the band's second drummer, replacing gardening victim Stumpy Pepys. He died from choking on vomit, which, as the band helpfully points out, was not his own.