Status Quo cancel European shows after Rick Parfitt falls ill

LOCAL legend Rick Parfitt has fallen ill while on tour in Croatia, forcing his band Status Quo to cancel several shows.

The Alhaurin-based guitarist had a quadruple heart bypass in 1997 and tests for possible throat cancer in 2005, but sources cannot confirm if the current illness is related to either.

Parfitt, 65, is recovering in a hospital in the city of Pula and will unfortunately have to cancel tour dates until August 10, including shows in Monte Carlo, Germany and Switzerland.

Status Quo – who hold the record for the most British singles – is due to play in the UK in December, so let’s hope old Rick makes a speedy recovery!