WALKWAY, MASSIVE WAGONS AND CJ WILDHEART ANNOUNCED FOR RICK PARFITT TRIBUTE RELEASE
29th November 2017



rick parfitt

Harrogate based independent Barrel And Squidger Records have announced a limited edition 7" vinyl release to honour fallen Status Quo guitarist Rick Parfitt who died on 24th December 2016.

The 'Rock Remembers Rick' EP, is being released in memory of the late great Rick Parfitt OBE, with all proceeds going to children's cancer charity The Shona Smile Foundation. The The triple A-side EP release will be available on very limited edition 3-track 7" vinyl as well as a two-track download. Both formats are available to preorder directly from Barrel And Squidger Records at basr.tmstor.es.

The digital version will be available from Friday 15th December 2017 with the vinyl version being released on the first anniversary of Parfitt's death, Sunday 24th December.

Walkway featuring John Coghlan perform 'Rain', a cover of the 1976 Status Quo classic, which was written by Parfitt and was included on the 'Blue For You' album as well as being released as a single which reached number seven in the UK charts. Norfolk based rockers Walkway's re-recording is featured on their 'WWIII' album and marks original Status Quo drummer Coghlan's first UK vinyl single in over thirty years.

rick parfitt
Walkway

Lancashire noise monsters Massive Wagons penned their own tribute to Parfitt, titled 'Back To The Stack', and this is the vinyl debut of the track, which has cemented itself in the boys' live shows. This track is exclusive to the 7" format and will not be available as part of the download package.

Chris Ready of Walkway told us:

"We are both delighted and honoured to have our tribute to Rick included on this Rock Remembers Rick release.

"Not only does it honour one of Britain's finest rock stars, but it also helps raise awareness and funds for The Shona Smile Foundation. We are extremely proud to be part of it."

The final track is 'Christmas Eve (Nanana)' and features CJ Wildheart, Boss Caine, Ben Marsden and Jason Hodgson along with Sound Of Status and The Quo Choir.

The track is a radical rewrite of the 1971 Status Quo album track 'Nanana', which has been adapted with permission of original songwriters Francis Rossi and Bob Young, to become a reflective and celebratory Christmas Eve ode to Parfitt.

Wildhearts guitarist CJ is accompanied by York Americana stalwart Boss Caine and The Main Grains' Ben Marsden with new lyrics by Jason Hodgson. Swedish sensations Sound Of Status lead a 1,000-strong crowd in an outro sing-along which was recorded at the recent Status Quo Fan Club convention, held at Butlins in Minehead where Quo stalwarts Rossi and Parfitt first met back in 1965.

rick parfitt
Massive Wagons

Massive Wagons frontman Barry Mills spoke exclusively to MetalTalk about the release, telling us:

"Jason Hodgson from Barrel and Squidger Records caught us supporting The Wildhearts at the Ritz in Manchester, and after the show he approached us about 'Back To The Stack'. He said how he loved the track and the sentiment, and we struck up an instant friendship. He's a really great guy and wanted to do what he could to promote the track.

"Jason's spread the good word far and wide, so when he came to us about releasing the vinyl well, it's a total no brainer!! Onboard with Walkway, Coghlan, CJ Wildheart and co, all for Rick and a fantastic charity! Mega, sign us up! Honoured beyond words."

You can see the official video for 'Back To The Stack' by Massive Wagons here: