Guitarist Rick Parfitt missed his first Status Quo gig since joining the band in 1967 after being told to rest by medics following surgery.

The 65-year-old musician had been due to return to the line-up yesterday following an operation to correct a problem with his previous heart bypass.

But he has now been told to continue with his recuperation so a last-minute stand-in was drafted in for a single show.

Freddie Edwards – son of bass player John ‘Rhino’ Edwards – stepped in for the concert at Clumber Park in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, the UK.

Parfitt fell ill during the band’s European tour and was flown home from Croatia to be treated at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London. He had a stent inserted after it was found a graft from his 1997 quadruple heart bypass had become furred.

Parfitt has weathered drink, drug and health problems over the years but the band has never gone ahead with a show without him since his arrival in the line-up.

The guitarist has been cleared to return to the band by the time of their next show at Holkham Hall in Norfolk on August 23.

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