Status Quo (band)

Status Quo is an English rock band whose music is characterized by their distinctive brand of boogie rock. The group originated in The Spectres, founded by schoolboys Francis Rossi and Alan Lancaster in 1962. After a number of lineup changes, the band became The Status Quo in 1967 and Status Quo in 1969.

They have had over 60 chart hits in the UK, starting with 1967's "Pictures Of Matchstick Men", and the most recent being in 2010, which is more than any other rock group. 22 of which reached the Top 10 in the UK Singles Chart. In 1991, Status Quo received a Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music.

Status Quo in the 70s … Rick Parfitt (top), John Coghlan (front left), Alan Lancaster (second right) and Francis Rossi (right)

Status Quo starred in their first feature film, Bula Quo!, which was released to cinemas in July 2013. The film coincided with the release of the soundtrack album Bula Quo!, which peaked at number 10 in the UK Albums Chart. The first single from the album, "Bula Bula Quo" was released in June 2013, and is Status Quo's one hundredth single release.

Formation

Status Quo was formed in 1962 under the name "The Scorpions" by Francis Rossi and Alan Lancaster at Sedgehill Comprehensive School, Catford, along with classmates Alan Key (drums) and Jess Jaworski (keyboards). Rossi and Lancaster played their first gig at the Samuel Jones Sports Club in Dulwich, London. In 1963, Key was replaced by John Coghlan and the band changed name to "The Spectres". They began writing their own material and after a year met Rick Parfitt who was playing with a cabaret band called The Highlights. By the end of 1965, Rossi and Parfitt, who had become close friends, made a commitment to continue working together. On 18 July 1966, The Spectres signed a five-year deal with Piccadilly Records, releasing two singles that year, "I (Who Have Nothing)" and "Hurdy Gurdy Man" (written by Alan Lancaster), and one the next year called "(We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet" (a song originally recorded by New York psychedelic band The Blues Magoos). All three singles failed to make an impact on the charts. Parfitt joined the band in 1967.

Success

After two relatively poor selling albums, Ma Kelly's Greasy Spoon and Dog of Two Head in 1970 and 1971, their major breakthrough came when they signed with the heavy rock and progressive label Vertigo. Their first album for Vertigo, Piledriver, was released in 1972 and heralded an even heavier, self-produced sound. This album was essentially the stylistic template for each album they released up until Blue for You in 1976. Quo's more popular songs from this era include "Paper Plane" (no 42 in the German music chart) (1972), "Caroline" (no 36 in the German music chart) (1973), "Down Down" (no 14 in the Austrian music chart) (1975), "Rain" (no 27 in the German music chart) (1976), "Rockin' All Over the World" (No 29 in the New Zealand music chart) (1977) and "Whatever You Want" (no 24 in the Australian Music Chart) (1979). "Down Down" topped the UK Singles Chart in January 1975, becoming their only UK number one single to date. In 1976, they signed a pioneering sponsorship deal with Levi's. Quo have now sold approximately 128 million records worldwide.

...........the 2010s

In May 2013, Leon Cave became Quo's new drummer. In the latter months of 2013, Status Quo embarked on their Bula Quo tour, supported by Uriah Heep on German dates, and 10cc in the UK. This will be followed by nine concert dates in the UK during 2014. On 25 November 2013, it was announced that Status Quo will be headlining the second stage at the Download Festival in June 2014.

The original members of Status Quo in 2013: (front from left) Rick Parfitt, Francis Rossi, Alan Lancaster and John Coghlan (rear)

In January 2014, Wychwood Brewery announced they would be releasing a Status Quo brand of beer named after their 1972 album 'Piledriver' exclusively in JD Wetherspoon pubs across the UK in February before going on general sale in April. March 2014 saw the second 'Frantic Four' reunion tour featuring Rossi and Parfitt with original members Alan Lancaster and John Coghlan once more with their last gig being at the The O2 in Dublin. Rossi has indicated that this will be the last ever reunion tour of the 'Frantic Four' lineup. On 8 March 2014, Rossi and Parfitt appeared on ITV show Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway performing "Rockin' All Over The World" with McBusted.

In October 2014 the two appeared on BBC's The One Show performing an acoustic version of "Pictures of Matchstick Men".