Heart scare for Status Quo star Rick Parfitt

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Star 'had a stent fitted' the day before he took to the stage

By Ben Todd
Updated: 04:06 EST, 13 December 2011

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Status Quo star Rick Parfitt was taken to hospital for an operation the night before the band started their Christmas tour, amid concerns he may have had a heart attack.

The 63-year-old singer and guitarist, who had a quadruple heart by-pass in 1997, is believed to have had a stent fitted at a south west London hospital to clear an artery blockage the day before performing at Birmingham’s LG (NEC) arena on December 3.

He is said to have told fans in Brighton days later that he had suffered a ‘heart attack’, although this has not been confirmed.

Still standing: The singer and guitarist, who had a quadruple heart by-pass in 1997, is believed to have had a stent fitted

Yesterday, a spokesman said: ‘Rick briefly attended hospital for a straightforward procedure pre-tour but has been cleared to perform on the inaugural QuoFest tour.’

The band play at Bournemouth BIC tonight. Their tour ends on Saturday at Glasgow’s SECC.

It is believed he had an artery shunt to clear a blockage after he had complained of pain down one side.

Close friends yesterday admitted they had been concerned for his health with the star believed to have continued to drink and smoke despite previous scares.

Rockers: Parfitt (right) with fellow Status Quo bandmate Francis Rossi

One said: ‘Everyone who knows and cares for Rick has been worried. There had been a lot of talk that he has been drinking and smoking again recently – even though he had been warned not to.’

‘We just hope this will make him look at the bigger picture.’

According to fan websites, one of his son’s Rick Parfitt Jr had reportedly Tweeted: ‘RT @RickParfittJnr: .... worried about pappa parf...all will become clear can’t say yet bt love u dad and hope u get better very soon.’

Parfitt is said to have told fans before a concert in Brighton days later that he had suffered a ‘heart attack’, although this has not been confirmed.

A spokesman yesterday confirmed: ‘Rick briefly attended hospital for a straightforward procedure pre-tour but has been cleared to perform on the inaugural QuoFest tour which is on the road across the UK as we speak.

‘There is no further comment as obviously we consider anything pertaining to health issues to be a private matter.’

Tonight, the band play at Bournemouth BIC. Their festive tour ends on Saturday at the Glasgow SECC.

Parfitt had a quadruple heart by-pass in 1997.

He has since admitted he was ‘clinically dead’ at one point during the operation, revealing: ‘The cardiologist told me that I’d been clinically dead for 12 minutes during the operation and they’d kept me alive artificially. He also recorded the operation and gave me the video - I’ve never been able to watch it.’

In December 2005, Parfitt also survived a throat cancer scare. He underwent laser surgery to remove two growths from his larynx which proved to be benign.

The twice-divorced star became a father again in 2008 to twins Tommy and Lily with third wife Lyndsay Whitburn.

Talking of being an older father, he has since said: ‘I admit at my age it’s not easy when it comes to sleepless nights but I’m taking it all in my stride. I’m having a ball as an older father and it’s put a spring in my step.

‘No doubt there will be some people who disapprove of a man fathering a child in his 60s but the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.’