Status Quo's Rick Parfitt makes 'rapid progress' after hospitalisation

Issues with the guitarist’s 1997 quadruple heart bypass caused his recent ill health, according to a statement from the band

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Following the cancellation of six tour dates, details of Rick Parfitt’s medical condition have been revealed. Results from tests confirm that the Status Quo member’s health was recently impaired by a problem regarding his quadruple heart bypass in 1997.

Earlier this month, the rock group were forced to cancel a series of shows planned for Europe, up to and including 10 August, after Parfitt was suddenly hospitalised. Status Quo had been scheduled to perform in Pula before dates in Croatia, Monte Carlo, Switzerland and Germany.

According to a statement on the band’s Facebook, tests carried out at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London showed that one of the grafts inserted during his original quadruple heart bypass had become “furred”, but the situation “has been remedied by the insertion of a stent and Rick is now recuperating,” reads the post.

Status Quo manager Simon Porter added that Parfitt is now making a recovery, and hinted at future ventures for the band: “We are all obviously delighted that Rick has made such rapid progress, especially as the band is shortly to unveil another exciting and innovative new project, details of which will be announced in the next couple of weeks.”

Shows at Clumber Park NT in Worksop, and Holkham Hall in Norfolk on 15 and 23 August will go ahead as planned.

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