Rock group forced to scrap dates on European tour after guitarist is deemed too unwell to continue
Status Quo have cancelled six concerts on their European tour after guitarist Rick Parfitt was hospitalised.
The rock band had been scheduled to perform on Saturday night in Pula, Croatia, but were forced to axe a series of dates when Parfitt was deemed too unwell to continue. He is now in hospital receiving treatment. Dates in Monte Carlo, Germany and Switzerland have also been cancelled, but the band are as yet still scheduled to perform throughout the UK later this month and in December.
Details of Parfitt’s health are still not detailed, but manager Simon Porter has said that Status Quo did not “cancel shows lightly”.
“In this instance we have no option but to follow medical advice,” Porter said.
Parfitt had heart bypass surgery in 1997, and was warned by doctors to curb his lifestyle. He told the Guardian in 2007 that at the peak of his excessive behaviour, he spent £3,000 a week on cocaine.
“Through the late 70s and all through the 80s I was a bit of an ogre. I fell into the sex, drugs, rock’n’roll big time, and Richard, my eldest son, saw me at my worst. It was a big shock for him and he deserted me. I don’t blame him ’cos I was just not with it, I wasn’t here.”
A spokesman said the band would release more information regarding Parfitt’s condition next week.
Amid a number of lineup changes, Status Quo have sold over 100m records and have had 65 hit singles over their career. Francis Rossi and Parfitt were awarded OBEs in 2010’s New Year honours list for their services to music.
Quo’s cancelled gigs
2 August – Pula, Croatia
4 August – Monte Carlo
6 August – Schaffhausen, Switzerland
7 August – Biel, Switzerland
9 August – Tettnang, Germany
10 August – Dautphetal, Germany
