Parking problems apart, he says there’s something about the island that helps him to write music.

“I’ve written a lot of material here. I can’t tell you why, to be honest, but it seems to work. If ever I have a musical problem while working on a project, I can fly to Tenerife and for some wonderful reason I find the answer here.”

His villa is equipped with its own music room, where he wrote material for the album Return To The Centre Of The Earth, released 25 years after the original and hugely successful Journey To The Centre Of The Earth, adapted from the writings of Jules Verne. Narrated by actor Patrick Stewart, the Return album featured the London Symphony Orchestra and the English Chamber Choir, as well as Rick’s friends, Ozzy Osbourne and Bonnie Tyler.

Rick says he spends as much time as possible on the island: “After buying the house, it meant that I could hop on a plane at a minute’s notice. These days, I probably spend between six to ten weeks a year here, but that will increase over the next few years as I cut back on my touring.”

So what does Rick get up to when he’s not locked away in his music room?

“I have a few things I always do when I’m on the island. I love to go up to Mount Teide and always go for a drive around the island on every visit. If I have a Sunday free, I go for a barbecue in the hills. There’s so much to do and never enough time to do it all!”

Three-time divorcee Rick recently became a grandfather when his second eldest son, Adam, who also contributed to the album, and his wife Teri had a baby girl.

Adam is the keyboard player with Scottish band, Travis, and he’s been following in his dad’s musical footsteps, having worked with big names like Annie Lennox, Black Sabbath, Lisa Stansfield and ex-Spandau Ballet frontman, Tony Hadley. All of Rick’s children, who often visit him on the island, have gone down the musical route.

Another of his passions is golf and Tenerife has a large selection of high-quality courses, especially in the south of the island. Many celebs and professional golfers have property on the Golf del Sur in San Miguel, which hosts international tournaments.

“I mainly play at Las Américas now – it’s the closest to me – although I do enjoy Amarilla, which has improved beyond belief over the last few years.”

As for nightlife, the island has countless excellent bars and restaurants. The new state-of-the-art Auditorium in Santa Cruz has classical, rock and jazz concerts, while the famous annual carnival, also held in the capital, is a spectacle of extravagant costumes and magnificent music, rivalled only by that of Rio.

Rick’s recommendations for a night on the town in Tenerife?

“I try to get a meal at the Molino Blanco in San Eugenio, which is one of the best eating experiences I’ve had anywhere in the world.” Set among orange groves, it’s one of Tenerife’s most fashionable restaurants.

One night out in particular seems to be turning into a bit of an obsession: “Don’t laugh, but I’m a kid at heart! I’ve been to the Mediaeval Night in San Miguel 42 times now!” he admits. In a spectacular castle setting, the banquet show sees knights battle it out on horseback, demonstrating their prowess in jousting contests.

After so many visits, he’s more than qualified to recommend it as a knight to remember: “I take friends who are visiting every time and they love it. I think they should make me king!”