GUITARIST Rick Parfitt passed away on Christmas Eve but the Status Quo will be maintained as fellow founder member Francis Rossi leads the veteran band on their Aquostic Live tour in 2017, playing York Barbican on June 21.

As was the case for Quo's Leeds First Direct Arena show on their Last Night Of The Electrics tour last December, Rossi will be joined by Andrew Bown, John ‘Rhino’ Edwards, Leon Cave and Richie Malone, who guested on guitar for those electric shows once Parfitt withdrew from playing gigs after suffering a heart attack on tour in June. Malone is now installed as his permanent replacement.

Last October, Status Quo released Aquostic II – That’s A Fact as their 32nd studio album, their second set of acoustic songs and their last record to feature Parfitt's guitar. Quo reimagined a dozen numbers, such as Roll Over Lay Down, Resurrection and In The Army Now, combined with two new songs, One For The Road and One Of Everything, after the success of Aquostic (Stripped Bare) in 2014.

Looking forward to June 21, Seb Santabarbara, York Barbican's marketing executive, says: “After the great success of Quo’s show at our sister venue, Leeds First Direct Arena, we're incredibly excited to have the band here at the York Barbican for a night of stripped-back rock'n'roll classics that are sure to put a smile on everyone’s faces. The band are as tight as ever, and Francis Rossi certainly knows how to whip up the crowd!”

Tickets are on sale at £61.60 and £50.40 on 0844 854 2757, at yorkbarbican.co.uk or in person from the Barbican box office.