Status Quo guitarist Rick Parfitt has died aged 68

Very sad news.

Rick Parfitt, guitarist with British rock band Status Quo, has died aged 68. Parfitt’s family and the band’s manager, Simon Porter, released a statement on Saturday, saying that Parfitt died in hospital in Marbella in Spain as a result of a severe infection, having been admitted to hospital on Thursday evening following complications to a shoulder injury incurred by a previous fall. Parfitt had been a member of Status Quo since the mid-1960s and was due to release a solo album and an autobiography next year. The full statement released by the Parfitt family and Status Quo’s manager, Simon Porter, can be read below. https://twitter.com/Status_Quo/status/812682721730457601 Rick Parfitt 1948 - 2016 Statement from The Parfitt Family & Status Quo Manager, Simon Porter We are truly devastated to have to announce that Status Quo guitarist Rick Parfitt has passed away at lunchtime today. He died in hospital in Marbella, Spain as a result of a severe infection, having been admitted to hospital on Thursday evening following complications to a shoulder injury incurred by a previous fall. This tragic news comes at a time when Rick was hugely looking forward to launching a solo career with an album and autobiography planned for 2017 following his departure from Status Quo’s touring activities on medical advice. He will be sorely missed by his family, friends, fellow band members, management, crew and his dedicated legion of fans from throughout the world, gained through 50 years of monumental success with Status Quo. Rick is survived by his wife Lyndsay, their twins Tommy and Lily and Rick’s adult children Rick Jnr and Harry. No further comment will be made at this time and Rick's family, and the band, ask for their privacy to be respected at this difficult time.