Rick lived life at high speed, high volume, high risk
Status Quo star Rossi tells of anguish over death of pal of 50 years who ‘never lost his mischievous edge’
STATUS Quo frontman Francis Rossi has told of his shock at the death of bandmate Rick Parfitt.
Veteran musician Rick died from a severe infection in a Spanish hospital on Christmas Eve. He was suffering complications from a shoulder injury.
Yesterday, Rossi described his mate as “the archetypal rock star” and said he was “one of the originals” who “never lost his joy, his mischievous edge and his penchant for living life at high speed, high volume, high risk”.
Rossie added: “Rick Parfitt had been a part of my story for 50 years. Without doubt the longest relationship of my life: this was also the most satisfying, frustrating, creative and fluid.
“From those early days, we worked together to create the Quo sound, look and hits. We spent years on the road, on the stage and in the studio, rarely far from each other, honing what we did.
“We were a team, a double act, a partnership and yet also two very different people, handling the pressures of growing older, constant touring, dealing with success and keeping the creative flame burning in different ways.”
Rossi said Rick, who was 68 when he died, “developed his own sound, his own style” and casually inspired a generation of guitar players.
“His life was never boring, he was louder and faster and more carefree than the rest of us,” he added.
“There were any number of incidents along the way, times when he strayed into areas of true danger and yet losing him now is still a shock.
“Even in a year that has claimed so many of our best, including now George Michael, Rick Parfitt stands out. I was not ready for this.”
From 1967, Surrey-born Parfitt helped steer Status Quo into a role as one of the British rock scene’s staple acts. And hits such as Rockin’ All Over The World became immortalised when they opened the historic Live Aid concert in 1985.