Status Quo star Rick Parfitt suffers heart attack after performing in Turkey

  • Guitarist and singer, 67, in 'serious but stable condition' in hospital
  • Band had performed at Expo 2016 in Antalya
  • A self-confessed former drug addict Parfitt suffered a heart attack in 2011

By MailOnline Reporter and Press Association

Published: 15:15 GMT, 16 June 2016 | Updated: 17:28 GMT, 16 June 2016

Status Quo guitarist Rick Parfitt is in hospital after suffering a heart attack after performing with the band at Expo 2016.

He is currently being treated in Antalya and is said to be in a serious but stable condition.

In a statement, his management said: 'Whilst his condition is serious, he has already demanded his customary cup of tea with two sugars and a sweetener.'

Status Quo star Rick Parfitt suffered a heart attack after performing with the band at Expo 2016 in Antalya, less than two weeks after the band performed at the Isle of Wight Festival (pictured)

Status Quo star Rick Parfitt suffered a heart attack after performing with the band at Expo 2016 in Antalya, less than two weeks after the band performed at the Isle of Wight Festival (pictured)

The band's manager Simon Porter added: 'No further comment will be made at this stage until the completion of the next round of tests and assessments to be made over the next few days.

'We would ask you to respect the family's privacy at this difficult time.'

A self-confessed former drug addict, Parfitt 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.

Parfitt, who is pictured performing at the Isle of Wight Festival earlier this month, had pulled out of a performance at Rock On Windermere charity show on June 18 to raise funds for the Cumbria Flood Appeal

Parfitt, who is pictured performing at the Isle of Wight Festival earlier this month, had pulled out of a performance at Rock On Windermere charity show on June 18 to raise funds for the Cumbria Flood Appeal

FROM BUTLIN'S TO BAND AID 

Rick was born in Woking in 1948.

He was invited to join a rock group by lead vocalist and guitarist Francis Rossi in 1965 after meeting at Butlin's.

The band,Traffic Jam, changed their name to The Status Quo in 1967, later dropping 'The'.

The band opened Live Aid in 1984 and also appeared on Band Aid. 

To date, Status Quo have sold over 118million albums worldwide.

They have also played more 6,000 live shows, according to their website. 

 Status Quo were forced to cancel a series of gigs in 2014 after singer and guitarist Parfitt was told to rest by medics following surgery to correct a problem with his previous heart bypass.

He fell ill during the band's European tour and was flown home from Croatia to be treated at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London. He had a stent inserted after it was found a graft from his heart bypass had become furred.

Parfitt has pulled out of a performance at Rock On Windermere charity show on June 18 to raise funds for the Cumbria Flood Appeal.

However, the rest of the band will appear, with Freddie Edwards, the son of Quo bassist John 'Rhino' Edwards, stepping in for Parfitt.

Rick Parfitt (left) and Francis Rossi of Status Quo on stage at the Isle of Wight Festival earlier this month

Rick Parfitt (left) and Francis Rossi of Status Quo on stage at the Isle of Wight Festival earlier this month

Comments (319)

Share what you think

 View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

 View all

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Add your comment

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now