Still rockin'

Because Rick has swapped the sex, drugs and rock-and-roll lifestyle for a palatial villa in Spain, a new wife and baby twins, and is blissfully happy as a result.

And, understandably, he's found coming back to the UK alone a bit strange, because when he's not on stage with fellow Quo frontman Francis Rossi, he doesn't know what to do with himself.

"I should've brought some nappies over with me or something to make me feel more at home," he laughs.

"And I forgot it was so bloody cold over here so I didn't even pack a jacket and now I'm freezing. I think I'll have to go and buy a new one."

"Denim?" I ask. He chuckles. "No, not any more."

But then lots has changed in Rick Parfitt's world, which his body must be delighted about. After a heart bypass, his septum falling out in the shower thanks to his excessive cocaine habit, and a cancer scare, he knew he had to start looking after himself.

So instead of groupie heaven and a life of debauchery, Rick is more likely to be found sipping a cup of tea and watching a movie after the gigs than the legendary Status Quo parties of yore. So did Rick consider taking a raincheck on this tour then, bearing in mind his twins are only four months old?

"Oh no," he says in horror. “The tour has to be done. It’s rock-and-roll, that’s what I do. It just hurts a bit more when I leave these days because I’m a bit older and more sensible ... well not much, actually.

"But my life is real now. And I missed it all first time around because of all the shenanigans going on, so I really want to watch the twins grow up this time around.

"So the farewells are a bit more tearful because you get married to be together.

"In the early days it didn’t bother me because it was about sex, drugs and rock-and-roll.

"But I miss the twins incredibly. It’s a real wrench because I’m away for the best part of three months, which is almost as long as they've been around so far (four months) and even if I’m away for four-five days they’ve changed when I get back. But I’ve just got to get a mindset on this."

But Lyndsay (his third wife) knew what she was getting into didn’t she?

“Oh yes. But it’s been great to be able to change my life because there were so many skeletons in my cupboard; now I’ve made that break I've never been happier.

"We didn’t think we’d be able to have kids — it just happened. But that’s how our relationship has been, things have just happened and it's given me a new lease of life. So the rock-and-roll lifestyle has gone and I conserve all my energy for the show because it's still hectic and takes it out of you. Our set is still an hour and 45 minutes long, so you need all your energy."

And does being on stage still do it for him?

"Yeah, most nights," he says in that rasping voice of his.

"If the sound's right it will rock, but other times it's like pulling a Morris Minor up a hill with a rope tied around your willy. But when it's good, it's really good.

"We're rehearsing in London at the moment and after the rehearsals we’ll have a glass of wine and some dinner and I’ll get a good night's sleep.

"You know what's it's like with small children. You get up and think 'I must clean my teeth in a minute' and then it's 5pm and you still haven’t cleaned your teeth.

"I just don't know where the days go."

So does he miss the UK?

"Yes, I do like a rainy day, and yes, the English countryside is gorgeous, but it's so nice living over there (Spain) and waking up to the sun every day."

So why did he move?

"Well we had the place over there, yet we were sitting in England in the rain spending half the day in traffic and we thought 'what are we doing here when we could be in sunny Spain' so we ordered the lorries, packed up and moved over and that was it.

"I can't see us ever moving back now,” he admits.

"And although a few people recognise me, most Spanish don’t know who I am, so I can get on with my life," he says happily.

Maybe that doesn't sound very rock-and-roll, but Rick Parfitt is still living the dream.