This is bit of bad news. I’m due to go and see Status Quo later this year, but that might not now happen as Rick Parfitt has been taken ill and Quo have been forced to cancel several European gigs due to go ahead in August. It must be quite serious, since the band is touring pretty much all year round most of the time, and they don’t cancel lightly.
Rick has had heart bypass surgery in the past, and has also been treated for suspected (but ultimately benign) throat cancer (which I didn’t know about).
No word yet on what the problem is, but apparently we should find out this week. Hopefully, Rick – who is 65 – will be all right whether the tour continues or not. I mean, sod the tour – hope you get well soon, Rick!
Good news! It looks like Rick is OK and will be back on stage during the summer. Apparently it was a furred up valve from his previous bypass operations, which has been rectified by the use of a stent.