Following the death of Rick Parfitt on Saturday 24th December, there have been numerous tributes from famous fans, friends and Rick's former bandmates and the official Status Quo fan club have organised several public events around the UK to mark the passing of the legendary guitarist.
At 3:00pm outside Hammersmith Odeon in London today, Thursday 29th December, the first gathering is scheduled. Hammersmith Odeon (officially now the Apollo, of course) was a venue that Quo played consistently throughout the seventies and eighties and it appeared on the Quo tour venue list last in 2014 for three nights, 28th, 29th and 31st March, as part of the second reunion tour which featured drummer John Coghlan and bass player Alan Lancaster, arguably Quo's classic line-up.
Tomorrow, Friday 30th December, an event is scheduled to be held between 1:00-3:00pm at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC) in Glasgow. There is a garden of remembrance at the side of the main building and Quo fans are being asked to quietly congregate there to lay flowers to remember Rick.
The SECC was on the Quo tour list between 1986 and 2011, where it replaced the Edinburgh Playhouse as the band's main venue of choice in central Scotland. It was also there that on 21st September that Quo chose to play their most northern gig as part of their 'Rock Till You Drop' UK tour in one day.
Also on Friday 30th December, fan gatherings are taking place outside the Civic Hall, Wolverhampton at 2:00pm, which is another venue that Quo played as part of their reunion tours with Lancaster and Coghlan as well as the Motor Point Arena, Nottingham which has been visited by Quo a number of times over the years, most recently on Thursday 8th December as part of the 'Last Night Of The Electrics' tour. The Nottingham memorial takes place on Saturday at 3:00pm.
Back to Friday and John Coghlan's Quo are playing their final show of 2016 at the Half Moon in Putney, and fans are being asked to attend to pay tribute to John's old bandmate. This is currently MetalTalk's Gig Of The Week and you can read all about it right here.
Coghlan first worked with Quo stalwart Francis Rossi and Lancaster way back in 1962 in The Spectres and the trio were joined by Parfitt after they met him during a summer season at Butlin's in Minehead where he was performing with another group.
Coghlan stayed with Quo until 1981, performing on their first fourteen albums which included some of their biggest hits, 'Pictures Of Matchstick Men', 'Whatever You Want', 'Caroline', 'Rockin' All Over The World' and their only number one record, 'Down Down'.
Regarding Rick's passing, Coghlan was still in shock the following day but passed on his thanks to fans telling them: "Thank you to all the Quo family everywhere for all the kind and heartfelt messages - we are in shock and can't express feelings right now... Just thank you."
rick parfitt
Another ex-drummer, Jeff Rich, told fans: "Thank you so much for the lovely messages you have sent me since Rick passed away. I am still in shock and can't believe he is not with us any more but I know he will be in good company up there with all the other Rock Gods that have also recently left us! RIP mate, you will be sorely missed and my condolences go out to all your family at this sad time."
Film maker Alan G Parker, who produced and directed the 2012 movie 'Hello Quo', the catalyst for the Parfitt and Rossi reunion tour with Coghlan and Lancaster said: "I was in a West End Theatre watching 'This House' on Christmas Eve afternoon when I got a text message from Alexa Morris (co-producer of 'Hello Quo') at the interval - I called her... Rick was dead...
"Rick, the one made of rubber, the one who always bounces back, was no longer with us... I bought a scotch & coke, and sat in my box sipping on it and crying through the second half of the play... My phone was full of messages when I turned it back on at the end of the performance... It barely stopped ringing between 6:00pm and 7:30pm that night...
"An era is over, a full stop in the way of any progress, and one of our best rockers is no more... RIP Ricky I thank you for letting us into your world and I miss you man.... You were one of the good guys."
In the wider circle, Sir Paul McCartney MBE was one of many celebrities who acknowledged Parfitt's passing saying: "Sad Christmas news about Rick Parfitt. His straight ahead rock and roll style will be sadly missed."
Queen guitarist Brian May also paid tribute saying: "Shocked to hear of the passing of Rick. Hard to find words. RIP dear buddy.”
Likewise, Spandau Ballet/Eastenders actor Martin Kemp wrote on Twitter: "RIP you lovely man Rick Parfitt! You rocked all around the world and back again! One of rock's great characters, you will be missed!"
Football pundit Gary Lineker paid his tribute saying: "The year in which the Status Quo has shifted in so many ways ends with the loss of Rick Parfitt. How terribly sad."
The Who also expressed their sorrow on Twitter too by saying: "Our condolences to the family and friends of Rick Parfitt of @status_Quo R.I.P. Rick."
And Joe Elliott, frontman of British rockers Def Leppard summed up his feelings saying: "R.I.P. @status_Quo’s Rick Parfitt - We grew up on Status Quo as kids & have a great respect for them & their legacy.. - Joe."
It's currently unknown if there is to be a special concert to remember Rick, but MetalTalk will be sure to let you know any details if it is to happen.
Read more:
statusquo.boards.net/thread/6924/sad-eerbetoon-tribute-rick-parfitt#ixzz4UIhYYj4k