Written by: Alex Green

Rick Parfitt, the dynamic guitarist of the legendary band Status Quo has died.

Parfitt was 68.

The cause of death was a severe infection that resulted from a shoulder injury the musician sustained after a fall last Thursday in Spain.

The official statement was posted on the band’s Facebook page: “We are truly devastated to have to announce that Status Quo guitarist Rick Parfitt has passed away at lunchtime today,” said his family in a statement. “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.

The statement went on to say: “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.”

The Surrey-born Parfitt who started playing guitar at age eleven, authored many of Status Quo’s catalog of over 100+ singles. He played with Status Quo from their inception, logging a total of 50 years with the band.

The band’s CV is nothing short of staggering: they sold over 130 million albums, played sold-out shows across the world and were chosen to be the band that opened Live Aid in 1985.

And Parfitt, along with being an innovative guitarist, also invented the Fender-endorsed guitar facelift, a removable and reusable vinyl guitar overlay which can change the appearance of any guitar.

Parfitt had a triple bypass in 1997 and a heart attack in summer, 2016, but the musician had recovered and was healthy and fit and ready to have a busy 2017.