RIP Rick Parfitt 1948-2016

The Curse of Being a Celebrity in 2016 strikes again. After failing to make it on to the “last electric tour” with Status Quo due to suffering a heart attack during summer, word is out that Parfitt has passed away in hospital in Spain, aged 68. The cause of death is being cited as related to an infection, rather than his heart, but regardless his passing is yet another in a sadly long list this year.

Plans had been laid for a solo career and an autobiography in 2017, but we’ll settle with the fact that he leaves a hell of a legacy with one of the most famous bands in the rock world, and who gave us so many classic tunes. Status Quo, with Parfitt’s input, have been not just entertainers in their own right but huge influences on many other acts over a long career.

RIP Rick Parfitt.

UPDATE

The band’s management issued this statement:

Statement from The Parfitt Family & Status Quo Manager, Simon Porter.

We are truly devastated to have to announce that Status Quo guitarist Rick Parfitt has passed away at lunchtime today.

He died in hospital in Marbella, Spain as a result of a severe infection, having been admitted to hospital on Thursday evening following complications to a shoulder injury incurred by a previous fall.

This tragic news comes at a time when Rick was hugely looking forward to launching a solo career with an album and autobiography planned for 2017 following his departure from Status Quo’s touring activities on medical advice.

He will be sorely missed by his family, friends, fellow band members, management, crew and his dedicated legion of fans from throughout the world, gained through 50 years of monumental success with Status Quo.

Rick is survived by his wife Lyndsay, their twins Tommy and Lily and Rick’s adult children Rick Jnr and Harry.

No further comment will be made at this time and Rick’s family, and the band, ask for their privacy to be respected at this difficult time.

Main image taken from Status Quo’s website. Header photo by Alfred Nitsch and sourced from Wikimedia Commons. Used under CC Attributions-Share Alike license.