To many of us who knew him, Rick was invincible for many years, and cheated the attempts to knock him down more than once. He gave me great personal advice when I had to have both my knees replaced, he said get it done and set yourself a goal. He had set a goal after his first major heart attack. He set a goal to be back on stage performing with Quo in ten weeks, it might have been twelve, but it was the fact that he said, with that goal you will get better. I booked a ski holiday ten weeks to the day after the double op and made it. I will never forget Rick's bold and confident strength.
I am proud to have called him a friend, to have seen him at his best and known that he was inventive and is a name that helped shape British pop culture.
My daughter Laura Aikman who appeared with him in Bula Quo had many fond memories of times that were quite alien to me, because the actors and performers live a different life to directors and management. I didn't know the stories she shared whilst fighting back tears. My wife who was also a huge part of that film and it's build up over the eight years had her memories of Rick. It was amazing how he affected us all, and how hard it hit everyone who could share such different stories. Rick meant so much to us all. He will be missed, but he will live on in so much he has left us all.
To one of the toughest guys I have known, who could party like no other, Rick you will be missed.
If you did not see Simon's (Porter's, his manager) words, which are always the most accurate, I have posted them here so that you might see from all of us who knew him, that Rick fault all the way and was planning his own come back.
Miss you Rick, Bula
SSP
Words of Simon Porter
On behalf of family, band, management, crew, Rick’s many friends and, not least, Quo’s huge army of fans, I would like to thank everyone who has sent messages of sympathy and support today.
It is very much appreciated and perhaps now is the time to reflect at the end of a terrible day, coming at a time when we should all be celebrating both Christmas and the end of another year.
On a personal note, I have known Rick for over thirty years as a friend, PR and, for the past fifteen years, as Quo’s manager. There have been incredible highs, numerous laughs and some extremely dark periods. It has been an absolute rollercoaster and I probably wouldn’t have had it any other way.
I really think that we all thought that Rick was invincible, given his numerous and astounding recoveries from situations which would certainly have killed the average human being. Indeed, early this morning when I initially heard the news that he had taken a serious turn, my mind instantly thought that he would come around by Boxing Day.
Sadly, as we now know, his luck had run out and his line that ‘it will take more than death to kill me’ has taken a hollow ring. Quo fans should know and take comfort in the fact that his passing has, ironically, come at a time when Rick was in a happier place career wise than he had been for a long, long, time.
I had dinner with Rick in Malaga on Tuesday evening and met with him again on Wednesday morning. Although he was in pain from a shoulder injury incurred as a result of an accidental fall, he was in good spirits and extremely excited about the future. Rick had come to terms that he would be unable to tour with Quo again, but he continued to be very much part of the Quo machine and we discussed future plans for the band. More importantly, however, Rick was ecstatic and excited with the news and contracts that I was able to give him for his autobiography, a solo album and a UK ‘evening with’ tour, all scheduled to take place in May of next year.
Sadly and less than three days later, all of our exciting plans have now gone bust in an instant.
I just wanted to post something personal, given the rubbish that I have seen uttered on various news items today from people that barely knew him (with the notable exception of Ian Woods from Sky News).
Rick was the ultimate Rocker and lived the dream, plus a whole lot more. In perhaps the worst ever year for showbiz deaths, it is fitting that he topped the list right at the end of the year. He would have liked that…