English musician Rick Parfitt died today.
Parfitt was best known as a member of the rock band Status Quo (latin for 'unchanging chords) with motorcyclist Velantino Rossi.
Parfitt first met Rossi at Butlins in Minehead, where Rossi was playing in a band called The Spectres, later renamed as Traffic Jam, after the least tasty of all the jams.
In 1967 Traffic Jam found themselves going nowhere so they changed their name to The Status Quo, which didn't suggest much more in the way of progress. Nevertheless, it was a The Status Quo that Parfitt had his first hit, with the song Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs by Brian and Michael.
After this, the band dropped the definite article, making them indefinite, appropriate as that is how long many of their songs seemed to go on for. But the hits kept coming, including 1977's Rockin' All Over The World, Whatever You Want (As Long As It's These Three Chords), and the ever-popular Down Down, written by Parfitt whilst on walkies with an excitable Jack Russell.
In 1976 the band signed a pioneering sponsorship deal with French Anthropologist Claude Lévi-Strauss, promoting his book Structural Anthropology on all their tours. The band also became known for their distinctive denim-clad appearance, inspired by Irish pop moppets B*witched.
In addition to their foot-tapping tunes, the Quo were also known for their hard partying, regularly spending thousands a week on Vodka and Coke. And coke.
In 2005, Parfitt and Rossi played Cameo in an episode of Coronation Street singing Word Up and sporting red codpieces. In 2010 both men were awarded oboes by the Queen.
Over his long career with the Quo, Parfitt had over 60 chart hits in the UK.
And now, after bringing joy to millions, he's Rockin' All Over the Afterworld.
Goodbye Rick.
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