Editing Rick Parfitt

{{Short description|British rock musician (1948–2016)}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name             = Rick Parfitt
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|OBE}}
| image            = Rick-parfitt-2007-07-18-orebro.jpg
| caption          = Parfitt performing with [[Status Quo (band)|Status Quo]] in 2007
| birth_name       = Richard John Parfitt
| birth_date       = {{birth date|df=yes|1948|10|12}}
| birth_place      = [[Woking, Surrey]], England
| death_date       = {{nowrap|{{death date and age|df=yes|2016|12|24|1948|10|12}} }}
| death_place      = [[Marbella]], Spain
| alias            =
| genre            = {{Flatlist|
* [[Rock music|Rock]] 
* [[boogie rock]]
* [[hard rock]]
}}
| instruments      = Guitar, vocals<!--- If you think an instrument should be listed, a discussion to reach consensus is needed first per: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Infobox_musical_artist#instrument--->
| occupations       = Musician, songwriter
| past_member_of  = [[Status Quo (band)|Status Quo]]
| years_active     = 1964–2016
}}

'''Richard John Parfitt''', {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|OBE}} (12 October 1948 {{endash}} 24 December 2016) was an English musician, best known as a rhythm guitarist, singer and songwriter with rock band [[Status Quo (band)|Status Quo]].

Parfitt began his career in the early 1960s, playing in pubs and holiday camps. He joined Status Quo in 1967 when they were looking for an additional singer. He wrote songs for the band and remained with them for 49 years. He occasionally guested with other bands, and recorded an unreleased solo album in 1985. In 2016, Parfitt temporarily retired from touring with the band due to ill health, and died in December of that year. His only solo album, ''[[Over and Out (Rick Parfitt album)|Over and Out]]'', was released posthumously in 2018.

==Early life==
Richard John Parfitt was born in [[Woking, Surrey]], on 12 October 1948. His father Richard was an insurance salesman "who was a drinker and a gambler",<ref name="Rick Parfitt: my family values">{{cite news|last1=McGrath|first1=Nick|title=Rick Parfitt: My family values|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/jul/05/rick-parfitt-status-quo-family-values|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=3 June 2015}}</ref> and his mother Lillian worked in cake shops.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Status Quo - The Official Site - Rick Parfitt |url=https://www.statusquo.co.uk/rick_parfitt.htm#:~:text=Rick%20Parfitt%20was%20born%20in,to%20parents%20Richard%20and%20Lillian. |access-date=2022-03-15 |website=www.statusquo.co.uk}}</ref> He described his upbringing as "wonderful", and described his childhood-self as a "typical naughty boy". He first started to learn to play the guitar at the age of 11.<ref name="Rick Parfitt: my family values"/>

==Career==
===Early career===
In 1963 Parfitt was playing guitar and singing in The Prince of Wales Feathers, a [[public house|pub]] on [[Warren Street]] in [[London Borough of Camden|Camden]], London, when his father was approached by an agent from Sunshine [[Holiday Camp]] on [[Hayling Island]], who gave Parfitt a performing job. At the camp Parfitt joined Jean and Gloria Harrison – performing as the [[double act]] The Harrison Twins – to form a [[cabaret]] trio called The Highlights. Following the season, the Harrison Twins' manager Joe Cohen – who had been one of the [[Keystone Cops]] – arranged for The Highlights to perform at [[Butlins]] in [[Minehead]]. Here, Parfitt met future [[Status Quo (band)|Status Quo]] partner [[Francis Rossi]], who was playing with [[Alan Lancaster]] and [[John Coghlan (drummer)|John Coghlan]] in a band called The Spectres (soon to be renamed Traffic Jam) – a forerunner to Status Quo. "I remember wandering over there one afternoon for the first time and watching them rehearse," Parfitt recalled. "I may still have been in my silver [[Lamé (fabric)|lamé]] suit, which I used to wear all the time. They were playing ''[Chuck Berry's]'' '[[Johnny B. Goode|Bye Bye Johnny]]' and it sounded absolutely fantastic."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Dave|last=Ling|title=Again again again…|magazine=[[Classic Rock (magazine)|Classic Rock]] #36|date=January 2002|page=70}}</ref>

After Parfitt befriended the band, their manager Pat Barlow invited him to join, as they needed another singer.<ref name="Status Quo: Just Doin' It!">{{cite book
| first= Bob
| last= Young
| author-link = Bob Young (musician)
| year= 2000
| title= Status Quo: Just Doin' It!
| edition= 1st
| publisher= Cassell Illustrated
| location= London
| page= 27
| isbn= 1-84403-562-X}}</ref><ref name="Guinness Rockopedia">{{cite book
| first= David
| last= Roberts
| year= 1998
| title= Guinness Rockopedia
| edition= 1st
| publisher= Guinness Publishing Ltd.
| location= London
| page= [https://archive.org/details/guinnessrockoped0000unse/page/417 417]
| isbn= 0-85112-072-5
| url-access= registration
| url= https://archive.org/details/guinnessrockoped0000unse/page/417
}}</ref><ref name="The Great Rock Discography">{{cite book
| first= Martin C.
| last= Strong
| year= 2000
| title= The Great Rock Discography
| edition= 5th
| publisher= Mojo Books
| location= Edinburgh
| pages= 927–929
| isbn= 1-84195-017-3}}</ref><ref name="Hello Quo">{{cite news|last1=Parker|first1=Alan |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03hy6vp|title=Hello Quo|access-date=6 June 2015|publisher=BBC|date=2012}}</ref>

===Status Quo ===
{{Main|Status Quo (band)}}
[[File:Status Quo1978.jpg|thumb|right|Parfitt (centre) with Status Quo in 1978]]
In 1967, Traffic Jam changed their name to The Status Quo (they soon dropped the definite article and later still would often be known simply as 'Quo'), beginning Parfitt's almost 50-year career in the band. Early successes came with the Rossi-penned hit "[[Pictures of Matchstick Men]]". The single became the group's only [[Top 40]] hit in the United States, peaking at number twelve on the [[Billboard Hot 100]].<ref>{{cite book| first= Martin C.| last= Strong| year= 2000| title= The Great Rock Discography| edition= 5th| publisher= Mojo Books| location= Edinburgh| pages= 927–929
| isbn= 1-84195-017-3}}</ref> Though the follow-up was the unsuccessful single, "Black Veils of Melancholy", they had a hit again the same year with a [[Marty Wilde]] and [[Ronnie Scott (songwriter)|Ronnie Scott]] song, "[[Ice in the Sun]]", which climbed to number eight.<ref name="Guinness Rockopedia"/> The band's 1972 album ''[[Piledriver (album)|Piledriver]]'', which reached number 5, spent a total of 37 weeks on the [[UK Albums Chart]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/status-quo-land-500th-week-on-official-albums-chart__7581/|title=Status Quo land 500th week on Official Albums Chart|publisher=officialcharts.com|access-date=24 December 2016}}</ref>

The band's more popular songs during the early 1970s include "[[Paper Plane (song)|Paper Plane]]" (no 42 in the German music chart) (1972), "Caroline" (no 36 in the German music chart) (1973), "[[Down Down]]" (no 14 in the Austrian music chart) (1975), "Rain" (no 27 in the German music chart) (1976), "[[Rockin' All Over the World (song)|Rockin' All Over the World]]" (No 29 in the New Zealand music chart) (1977) and "[[Whatever You Want (Status Quo song)|Whatever You Want]]" (no 24 in the Australian Music Chart) (1979). "Down Down" topped the [[UK Singles Chart]] in January 1975, becoming their only [[United Kingdom|UK]] [[List of number-one singles from the 1970s (UK)|number one]] single to date.<ref name="500 Number One Hits">{{cite book| first= Jo| last= Rice| year= 1982| title= The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits| edition= 1st| publisher= Guinness Superlatives Ltd| location= Enfield, Middlesex| page= 164| isbn= 0-85112-250-7}}</ref> In 1976, they signed a pioneering sponsorship deal with [[Levi Strauss & Co.|Levi's]].<ref name="Guinness Rockopedia"/>

The 1976 hit "[[Mystery Song]]", co-written with [[Bob Young (musician)|Bob Young]], was composed after Rossi had laced Parfitt's tea with [[Amphetamine|amphetamine sulphate]] during the sessions for the ''[[Blue for You]]'' album. Rossi later said: "He was playing the riff when we left the studio, and he was still playing it when we came back the next day!"<ref>{{cite web|date=20 December 2013|title=The Top 50 Status Quo songs pt.4 (20-11) - Pure Rock News|url=http://purerocknews.com/the-top-50-status-quo-songs-pt-4-20-11/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161225081054/http://purerocknews.com/the-top-50-status-quo-songs-pt-4-20-11/|archive-date=25 December 2016|access-date=30 October 2021|website=}}</ref>

Quo were highly successful in Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand throughout the 1980s and 90s, and were the opening act for 1985's [[Live Aid]], and they continued to be successful to the present day. By February 2015 they had sold over 118 million records worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statusquo.co.uk/factsheet.htm#.WF7Vo_mLTmY|title=Status Quo – The Official Site – Factsheet|publisher=statusquo.co.uk/|access-date=24 December 2016|archive-date=26 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091226090132/http://www.statusquo.co.uk/factsheet.htm#.WF7Vo_mLTmY|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2013 and 2014, Parfitt and Rossi reunited temporarily with original Quo bandmates Alan Lancaster and John Coghlan for a series of reunion concerts on what would be called the "Frantic Four" tour.<ref name="Status Quo: Just Doin' It!"/><ref name="Guinness Rockopedia"/><ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/><ref name="Hello Quo"/>

Parfitt and Rossi were appointed [[Order of the British Empire|Officers of the Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) in the [[New Year Honours 2010]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8435197.stm|title= Status Quo stars and Formula One champion honoured|date=31 December 2009|work=BBC News|access-date=31 December 2009}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=59282 |date=31 December 2009 |page=11 |supp=y}}</ref>

At the time of Parfitt's death, he was the longest lasting member of Status Quo aside from Francis Rossi; who co-founded the band in 1962. He wrote some of their greatest hits, also in collaboration with the group's keyboard player [[Andy Bown]], among them "Whatever You Want", "[[Again and Again (Status Quo song)|Again and Again]]", and "[[Rain (Status Quo song)|Rain]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/6059242|title=Status Quo – Whatever You Want|publisher=45cat.com|access-date=24 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/quo1|title=Status Quo – Again And Again|publisher=45cat.com|access-date=24 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/6059133|title=Status Quo – Rain|publisher=45cat.com|access-date=24 December 2016}}</ref>

===Solo endeavours and other projects===
[[File:Rick Parfitt and Francis Rossi, Bula Quo, London, 2013 (crop).jpg|thumb|right|Parfitt and [[Francis Rossi]] in 2013 at the premiere of ''[[Bula Quo!]]'']]
In 1984, the year before Quo would open Live Aid, Parfitt and Rossi appeared on the [[Band Aid (band)|Band Aid]] charity single, "[[Do They Know It's Christmas?]]". [[Bob Geldof]] asked Parfitt and Rossi to take part, knowing that although the group were from an entirely different musical era and background, their consistent chart success and fame would bring a certain amount of credibility to the project from the rock fraternity and ensure that the group's loyal following of fans (the "Quo Army") would support the cause and buy the record in large numbers.<ref>{{cite book |first=Midge |last=Ure |author-link=Midge Ure |title=If I Was... An Enhanced Updated Autobiography |publisher=Acorn Digital Press |year=2013}}</ref>

Parfitt played guitar on the song "It's an Illusion" recorded for the 1984 album ''[[Strange Frontier]]'' by [[Roger Taylor (Queen drummer)|Roger Taylor]].<ref>{{cite book |last= Purvis |first= Georg |year= 2018 |title= Queen: Complete Works |publisher= Titan Books |location= London |isbn= 978-1-7890-9000-0 |pages= 103–104, 223 }}</ref>

Parfitt wrote and recorded a solo album ''Recorded Delivery'' in 1985, but it was never released.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.quoticker.de/SQTICKERUKYEARREVIEW85.htm|title=STATUS QUO – year review 1985 (www.quoticker.de)|publisher=quoticker.de|access-date=24 December 2016}}</ref> Among the musicians on the record were bassist [[John Edwards (musician)|John "Rhino" Edwards]] and drummer [[Jeff Rich]], formerly with the [[Climax Blues Band]] and [[Judie Tzuke]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wilde-life.com/encyclopedia/e/edwards-john|title=Edwards, John – Wilde Life : Official Kim Wilde fansite|publisher=wilde-life.com|access-date=24 December 2016}}</ref> Edwards and Rich were subsequently invited by Parfitt to join Status Quo.

In 2006 Parfitt released his guitar refacing overlay invention, the "guitar facelift", which was licensed by guitar manufacturer [[Fender Musical Instruments Corporation|Fender]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guitarfacelift.com/about.htm|title=Guitar Facelift|publisher=guitarfacelift.com|access-date=24 December 2016}}</ref>

In December 2009, Parfitt teamed up with [[Rolf Harris]] for the single "[[Christmas in the Sun]]", following on from the 2008 Status Quo hit "[[It's Christmas Time (Status Quo song)|It's Christmas Time]]" which Parfitt wrote with Wayne Morris.<ref>{{Citation|title=It's Christmas Time - Status Quo {{!}} Song Info {{!}} AllMusic|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/its-christmas-time-mt0019531509|language=en|access-date=2021-10-30}}</ref>

In 2013, Parfitt and Rossi starred as themselves in ''[[Bula Quo!]]'', a [[comedy film]] in which the duo find themselves becoming accidentally involved with [[mafia]] operations on [[Fiji]].<ref name='empire1'>{{cite news | first = Olly | last = Richards | title = Bula Quo! | year = 2013 | publisher = [[Bauer Media Group]] | url = http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/review.asp?FID=138214 | work = [[Empire (film magazine)]] | access-date = 3 July 2013}}</ref> The film was generally poorly-received by critics.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bula_quo/|title="Bula Quo" on Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=rottentomatoes.com|access-date=4 January 2017}}</ref> An [[Bula Quo! (album)|album]] was released alongside the film.

In April 2015, in partnership with Julian Hall and his wife Lyndsay, Parfitt set up "Status Homes", a real estate company based in [[Marbella]], Spain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://statushomes.com/en/about/|title=About Us – Marbella Property for Sale|publisher=statushomes.com|access-date=15 September 2016|archive-date=27 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227211015/http://statushomes.com/en/about/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 1 December 2017, a press release from the earMusic record label on Status Quo's website announced that ''[[Over and Out (Rick Parfitt album)|Over and Out]]'', a solo album planned by Parfitt, would be released posthumously on 23 March 2018. Parfitt had worked on the album during his hiatus from the band following a heart attack in 2016, completing vocal and guitar tracks, but dying before he had had an opportunity to produce it. Guest musicians helping to complete the album included [[Brian May]] of [[Queen (band)|Queen]], [[Chris Wolstenholme]] of [[Muse (band)|Muse]], former Status Quo bassist [[Alan Lancaster]] and current bassist [[John Edwards (musician)|John "Rhino" Edwards]] and co-produced by Parfitt's son Rick Parfitt Jnr.<ref name="earMusic's press release for 'Over and Out'">{{cite web|url=http://www.statusquo.co.uk/over-and-out.htm#.WjN289-WbIU|title=Rick Parfitt: Debut solo album "Over And Out"|website=Statusquo.co.uk|access-date=15 December 2017|archive-date=26 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126093027/https://www.statusquo.co.uk/over-and-out.htm#.WjN289-WbIU|url-status=dead}}</ref> The album entered the UK charts in its first week of release at number 3 and the German album charts at number 10.

==Musical equipment==
One of Parfitt's guitars, the one synonymous with his legendary image was a white 1965 [[Fender Telecaster]]. Prior to acquiring this instrument, he played a late 1967 Fender Custom Telecaster in Ice Blue Metallic finish, with a rosewood fretboard. In his career, he also played a [[Gibson SG Junior]], a 1981 [[Zemaitis Guitars|Zemaitis]] tuned to a [[B tuning|B]], a [[Schecter Guitar Research|Schecter Telecaster]], a [[Fender Esquire]], a custom-made Fender Telecaster Thinline, a Gibson Melody Maker and a [[Chet Atkins]] acoustic guitar. He also used Status Slipstream guitars in different configurations. For amplification, Parfitt used Marshall JCM800kk (Kerry King signature) or JCM900 amplifiers with 4x12 cabinets, combined with [[Vox (musical equipment)|VOX]] AC30 amplifiers and a Roland GP8 signal processor and a Boss GE-7 as his clean boost pedal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statusquo.co.uk/quo/rickparfitt.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000605045935/http://www.statusquo.co.uk/quo/rickparfitt.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 June 2000 |title=Rick Parfitt |publisher=Statusquo.co.uk |date=12 October 1948 |access-date=11 November 2011 }}</ref>

==Personal life==
===Drugs, alcohol and health issues===
Following a heart attack, Parfitt had a quadruple [[coronary artery bypass surgery|heart bypass]] in 1997, when he was told by doctors that he could die "at any time" unless he changed his [[Social effects of rock music#Sex and drugs|lifestyle]] of drugs, smoking and heavy drinking.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.sky.com/story/status-quo-star-taken-to-hospital-as-gigs-axed-10394475|title=Status Quo Star Taken To Hospital As Gigs Axed|work=Sky News|access-date=24 December 2016}}</ref> At the height of the band's fame, Parfitt and his long-time Status Quo partner [[Francis Rossi]] were notorious for drinking and drug use, with Parfitt claiming to have been spending up to £1,000 a week on [[cocaine]], and up to £500 a week on [[vodka]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopmusic/10597187/No-Status-Quo-in-rock-duos-drug-and-alcohol-spending.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopmusic/10597187/No-Status-Quo-in-rock-duos-drug-and-alcohol-spending.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=No status quo in rock duo's drug an alcohol spending|date=26 January 2014|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|access-date=25 December 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In his later life, following several health issues, Parfitt led a more sober life, stating in a 2014 interview that he had not smoked [[Cannabis (drug)|cannabis]] for 27 years and had not used cocaine for 10 years.<ref name="auto">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-28640835|title=Obituary: Rick Parfitt|date=24 December 2016|work=BBC News|access-date=25 December 2016}}</ref>

He had a [[throat cancer]] scare in December 2005.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/quo-star-throat-cancer-scare-1599779 |title=Quo star in throat cancer scare |work=Chronicle Live |access-date=19 June 2016}}</ref> He suffered a heart attack in December 2011 and underwent surgery on the following day.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopfeatures/9639096/In-the-wake-of-the-Jimmy-Savile-scandal-Status-Quos-Rick-Parfitt-says-Everybody-was-at-it-on-Top-of-the-Pops.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopfeatures/9639096/In-the-wake-of-the-Jimmy-Savile-scandal-Status-Quos-Rick-Parfitt-says-Everybody-was-at-it-on-Top-of-the-Pops.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=In the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal, Status Quo's Rick Parfitt says: 'Everybody was at it on Top of the Pops'|date=29 October 2012|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|access-date=22 November 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

On 1 August 2014, while on a European tour with Status Quo, Parfitt was hospitalised in [[Pula, Croatia]], forcing the cancellation of six shows on the tour.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-28621988|title=Status Quo cancel concerts because of Rick Parfitt's illness|date=2 August 2014|work=BBC News|access-date=2 August 2014}}</ref> He had suffered a heart attack while on his tour bus after performing a concert in Austria, and had a [[stent]] inserted.<ref>{{cite news |author=Lexi Finnigan |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/16/status-quos-rick-parfitt-suffers-heart-attack-after-show-in-turk/ |title=Status Quo's Rick Parfitt suffers 'heart attack' after show in Turkey |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=16 June 2016 |access-date=23 June 2016}}</ref>

On 14 June 2016, after playing with the band in [[Antalya]], Turkey, he suffered another heart attack and was hospitalised again.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/status-quos-rick-parfitt-suffers-heart-attack-in-turkeys-south-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=100575&NewsCatID=383|title=Status Quo's Rick Parfitt suffers heart attack in Turkey's south|date=16 June 2016|work=Hürriyet Daily News|access-date=16 June 2016}}</ref> His management described his condition as serious.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/16/status-quos-rick-parfitt-suffers-heart-attack-after-show-in-turk/|title=Status Quo's Rick Parfitt suffers 'heart attack' after show in Turkey|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=16 June 2016 |access-date=2 July 2016}}</ref> Parfitt was clinically dead for several minutes, resulting in mild cognitive impairments.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/entertainment/2016/09/16/rick-parfitt-will-not-recover-for-status-quo-birmingham-show/ |title=Rick Parfitt will not recover for Status Quo Birmingham show |work=Express & Star |date=16 September 2016 |access-date=24 December 2016}}</ref> The band announced that their ongoing tour would continue with Freddie Edwards, son of bassist John "Rhino" Edwards, as a temporary replacement.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-36557609 |title=Status Quo's Rick Parfitt treated after 'heart attack' |work=BBC News |access-date=23 June 2016}}</ref> On 22 June it was announced that Parfitt had been flown home to the UK and was described as "comfortable" in hospital in London, where he was undergoing more tests.<ref>{{cite web|author-link=title|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/rick-parfitt-status-quo-comfortable-heart-attack_uk_576a65c4e4b098ec71a03baa |title=Status Quo's Rick Parfitt Flown Home, 'Comfortable' Following Heart Attack In Turkey |date=22 June 2016 |publisher=Huffingtonpost.co.uk |access-date=23 June 2016}}</ref> He had a [[defibrillator]] fitted into his chest.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/status-quo-s-rick-parfitt-making-steady-recovery-following-suspected-heart-attack-a3291826.html|title=Status Quo's Rick Parfitt making 'steady recovery' after heart attack|date=8 July 2016|website=Standard.co.uk|access-date=24 December 2016}}</ref> In September 2016 it was announced that he would not be well enough to tour in the autumn,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-37371464|title=Status Quo guitarist Rick Parfitt pulls out of autumn tour|date=15 September 2016|work=BBC News|access-date=24 December 2016}}</ref> and he did not intend to tour with the band for the foreseeable future.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-37797845|title=Departure from band|work=BBC News|access-date=24 December 2016}}</ref>

===Family and relationships===
In 1973, Parfitt married his first wife, Marietta Boeker, and in 1974 they had their first son, Richard, better known as [[Rick Parfitt Jr.]], a [[Sports car racing|sports car racer]] and musician. The couple also had a daughter, Heidi, who drowned in the family swimming pool at the age of two.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.itv.com/news/2016-12-24/status-quos-rick-parfitt-entertained-global-audiences-and-was-the-embodiment-of-rock-and-roll/|title=Status Quo's Rick Parfitt entertained audiences and was the embodiment of rock and roll|date=24 December 2016|work=ITV News|access-date=26 December 2016}}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=http://northernlifemagazine.co.uk/stripped-bare-rick-parfitt/|title="Stripped Bare": Karen Shaw interviews Rick Parfitt|date=19 February 2015|website=Northern Life Magazine|access-date=26 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rpjracing.co.uk/about-me/|title=Rick Parfitt Jnr: About Me|website=RPJ Racing|access-date=26 December 2016}}</ref>

This tragedy, combined with Parfitt's alcohol abuse and cocaine habit, led to the couple divorcing. Parfitt was linked romantically to [[Page 3]] girl and glamour model [[Debee Ashby]] in the mid-1980s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/page-three-stunner-debee-ashby-7767319|title=Page three stunner Debee Ashby reveals: "Reggie Kray wanted to marry me."|last=Lockley|first=Mike|website=Birminghammail.co.uk|date=14 September 2014}}</ref> He went on to marry his second wife and former girlfriend, Patty Beeden, in 1988.<ref name="auto"/> They had a son, Harry, in 1989. They divorced eight years later in 1996 when Rick Parfitt had an affair with Marietta Boeker.<ref>{{cite news |last= Copping |first= Jasper |date=26 January 2014 |title= No Status Quo in rock duo's drug and alcohol spending |work= The Telegraph |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopmusic/10597187/No-Status-Quo-in-rock-duos-drug-and-alcohol-spending.html |access-date= 16 August 2023 }}</ref> Patty wrote a book about their life together in 1998 entitled ''Laughing All Over the World: My Life Married to Status Quo.''<ref>{{Cite book|title=Laughing All over the World: My Life Married to "Status Quo"|date=14 June 1998|id={{ASIN|185782198X|country=uk}} }}</ref>

Parfitt subsequently became engaged to [[fitness instructor]] Lyndsay Whitburn, whom he married in 2006 after a three-month courtship. The couple remained married for the remainder of Parfitt's life, and had twins Tommy and Lily in 2008, although by the time of Parfitt's death, the couple had been separated for several months.<ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/rick-parfitt-split-wife-phone_uk_57f23bc5e4b0e315f2840ecc|title=Rick Parfitt 'Splits From 3rd Wife By Phone After Rows'|date=3 October 2016|work=Huffington Post|access-date=25 December 2016}}</ref>

==Death and tributes==
Parfitt died in a [[Marbella]] hospital at lunchtime on 24 December 2016 from [[sepsis]], after being admitted on Thursday evening, 22 December, following an [[infection]] of a pre-existing [[shoulder]] [[injury]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/dec/24/status-quo-guitarist-rick-parfitt-dies-aged-68|title=Status Quo guitarist Rick Parfitt dies aged 68|first1=Nadia|last1=Khomami|last2=agencies|date=24 December 2016|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=28 December 2016}}</ref> His funeral was held at [[Woking Crematorium]] on 19 January 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/celebrity/funeral-status-quo-guitarist-rick-9653942|title=Funeral of Status Quo guitarist Rick Parfitt takes place in Woking|first=Joe|last=Nerssessian|date=19 January 2017|work=Daily Record|access-date=19 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/rick-parfitts-status-quo-bandmates-join-tony-hadley-to-pay-respects-at-his-funeral-a3444931.html|title=Status Quo join Tony Hadley and stars for Rick Parfitt's funeral|date=19 January 2017|website=Standard.co.uk|access-date=19 January 2017}}</ref>

Following the news of his death, friends and associates of the band took to [[social media]] to express their condolences. Among these were [[Brian May]] of [[Queen (band)|Queen]], [[The Who (band)|the Who]], [[Peter Frampton]] and [[Television presenter|broadcaster]] [[Chris Tarrant]], on whose show – ''[[Tiswas]]'' – Status Quo appeared. Former and current bandmates including drummer [[Jeff Rich]] also offered condolences.<ref name="Rick Parfitt: Rock world pays tribute to Status Quo guitarist">{{cite news|title=Rick Parfitt: Rock world pays tribute to Status Quo guitarist|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-38429471|work=BBC News|access-date=29 December 2017|ref=Rick Parfitt: Rock world pays tribute to Status Quo guitarist}}</ref> A tribute page dedicated to Parfitt appeared on the band's official website including messages from Francis Rossi and manager Simon Porter,<ref name="Rick Parfitt 1948 - 2016">{{cite web|title=Rick Parfitt 1948 - 2016: Statement from The Parfitt Family & Status Quo Manager, Simon Porter.|url=http://www.statusquo.co.uk/rick_parfitt.htm#.WkZG7t-WbIU|website=Statusquo.co.uk|access-date=29 December 2017|ref=Rick Parfitt 1948 - 2016}}</ref> as well as on the website of former Quo drummer [[John Coghlan (drummer)|John Coghlan]]. Coghlan personally paid tribute to Parfitt at a concert with his spin-off band, John Coghlan's Quo, at [[The Half Moon, Putney]] on 30 December 2016, during which he read out a poem by a fan entitled ''The Rhythm King''. Parfitt was cremated on 19 January 2017.<ref name="John Coghlan tribute">{{cite web|last1=Coghlan|first1=John|title=Rick Parfitt|url=http://www.johncoghlan.com/rickparfitt.html|website=johncoghlan.com|access-date=29 December 2017|ref=John Coghlan tribute}}</ref>

In June 2017, a [[blue plaque]] to Parfitt was unveiled on Jubilee Square, in his hometown of [[Woking]]. Among the attendees were Coghlan, and Parfitt's son [[Rick Parfitt Jr.]]<ref name="Status Quo's Rick Parfitt honoured with blue plaque in Woking's Jubilee Square">{{cite web|last1=Lyndsay|first1=Will|title=Status Quo's Rick Parfitt honoured with blue plaque in Woking's Jubilee Square|url=http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/status-quos-rick-parfitt-honoured-13192477|website=getSurrey|date=15 June 2017|publisher=getsurrey.co.uk|access-date=29 December 2017|ref=getSurrey article}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.statusquo.co.uk Status Quo official website]
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-28640835 Obituary: Rick Parfitt] from BBC News

{{Status Quo}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Parfitt, Rick}}
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:2016 deaths]]
[[Category:Deaths from sepsis]]
[[Category:Infectious disease deaths in Spain]]
[[Category:English expatriates in Spain]]
[[Category:English rock guitarists]]
[[Category:Musicians from Surrey]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:People from Woking]]
[[Category:Status Quo (band) members]]
[[Category:British estate agents (people)]]
[[Category:English male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:English singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:British rhythm guitarists]]
[[Category:English male guitarists]]