Status Quo guitarist Rick Parfitt has said he will not return to the band in a performing capacity following a heart attack earlier this year.
The veteran pulled out of the band’s tour after he was taken ill after a show in Turkey on June 14 and the heart attack and associated complications led to doctor’s orders to rest for the remainder of the year.
The band will only perform acoustic shows after the current tour and Rick said he will not take part.
Appearing on Classic Rock’s Dave Ling, he said: “I don’t think I really want to, in my heart I’m a rocker. If I’m going to make music, it’s got to rock.”
(David Jensen/PA)
In a statement on Friday, the band’s management confirmed Rick will “step back from his regular commitments with the band” following the heart attack.
They added: “Contrary to some inaccurate reports this week – Rick’s connection with and within the band of course remains intact and that he will continue to be involved with future non-touring commercial activities of the band.”
Earlier this year, the band’s manager Simon Porter revealed Rick “died” for several minutes after the attack, which led to “mild cognitive impairments”.
A self-confessed former drug addict, Rick has suffered a catalogue of health problems including a quadruple heart bypass in 1997, a throat cancer scare in 2005 and a heart attack in 2011.
Freddie Edwards, son of the band’s bass player John “Rhino” Edwards, stepped in for Rick during the band’s summer concerts.
The band celebrated their 40th UK top 40 album on Friday after their latest release, Aquostic II – That’s A Fact!, went in at number seven in the charts.
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