Local Hero

Rick Parfitt

Rick Parfitt was born in Woking on 12 October 1948, and was brought up on the Elmbridge Estate, near Woking Football Ground, and also in Goldsworth Road where his grandmother ran a café.

His talent as a musician was first spotted when he was singing and playing the guitar in the Feathers pub in Goodge Street, London.  He then performed at The Sunshine Holiday Camp on Hayling Island, followed by a spell at Butlin’s, Minehead, where he met Francis Rossi.  He joined Rossi’s band, The Spectres, re-named Traffic Jam, and then The Status Quo – ‘The’ was eventually dropped. Their 1972 album “Piledriver” lead to the band becoming famous: it continues until now, with Rick and Francis the only original members still playing –  the longest-standing partnership In British pop music, with the band being named Britain’s hardest working band in 2009. They have sold over 28 million albums world-wide so far, and plan to stop ‘Electric concerts’ at the end of 2016.

Rick was awarded the OBE in the New Year’s Honours List of 2010.

“I’ve been given a ninth life – cats are jealous of it” – Rick Parfitt, after his second heart attack in 2014.

Find out more by visiting the display in Woking's Story

Image credit: Rick Parfitt courtesy of Danny Clifford.