Status Quo has cancelled six concerts in Europe after guitarist Rick Parfitt was hospitalised. The veteran rockers had been scheduled to perform on Saturday night in Pula, Croatia, but were forced to pull the show, and five others, when Parfitt was deemed too ill to play.

Status QuoRick Parfit has been hospialised [Getty/Ian Gavan]

According to the Guardian, Parfitt is now in hospital receiving treatment though details are yet to be circulated. The band's manager Simon Porter said that Quo did not "cancel shows lightly" but that they had no option to pull the tour, which featured dates in Monte Carlo, Germany and Switzerland. 

"In this instance we have no option but to follow medical advice," Porter said.

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Parfitt had heart bypass surgery in 1997 and was apparently warned by doctors to curb his excessive lifestyle. Speaking in 2007, the musician revealed that at the peak of his behaviour, he spent £3,000 a week on cocaine.

"Through the late 70s and all through the 80s I was a bit of an ogre. I fell into the sex, drugs, rock'n'roll big time, and Richard, my eldest son, saw me at my worst. It was a big shock for him and he deserted me. I don't blame him 'cos I was just not with it, I wasn't here." 

Status Quo's cancelled gigs are as followed:

2 August  Pula, Croatia

4 August - Monte Carlo

6 August - Schaffhausen, Switzerland

7 August - Biel, Switzerland

9 August - Tettnang, Germany

10 August - Dautphetal, Germany