(left to right) Leon Cave, Richie Malone, Francis Rossi, John "Rhino" Edwards and Andy Bown.
Three different lineups of Status Quo. Top: the "Frantic Four" (pictured in 1978), middle: the band's four longest-serving members (pictured in 2005), bottom: the current lineup (pictured in 2017).
Status Quo are an English rock band. Formed as The Paladins[1] in 1962 at Sedgehill Comprehensive School, Catford, by schoolboys Francis Rossi, Alan Lancaster, Jess Jaworski and Alan Key. The group has had a career spanning almost 60 years, their current line-up includes consistent member Rossi, keyboardist Andy Bown (official member since 1981, previously an auxiliary musician with the band since 1973), bassist John "Rhino" Edwards (since 1985), drummer Leon Cave (since 2013) and rhythm guitarist Richie Malone (since 2016).
The Paladins, The Spectres, Traffic Jam and (The) Status Quo (1962-1970).
The group that became known as Status Quo was formed in 1962 as "The Paladins". The members met while playing together in the school orchestra at Sedgehill Comprehensive School in Catford, London, and consisted of Francis Rossi on guitar and lead vocals, Alan Lancaster on bass, Jess Jaworski on keyboards and Alan Key on drums. According to Rossi, the group was Key's idea, and they practiced in Jaworski's bedroom, playing covers such as The Shadows' version of Jerry Lordan's "Apache, "Wake Up Little Susie" by The Everly Brothers and The Beatles' "Love Me Do".[2] Rossi has remained in the group up until the present day, making him the group's longest-serving member, and the only remaining original member. Lancaster remained in the group until 1985, returning briefly for reunion concerts in 2013 and 2014.
Key was replaced by air cadets drummer John Coghlan the next year in 1963,[3][4] although Rossi maintains that Key had left at an earlier time to get married, and was replaced by a short-lived drummer named "Barry", who was ousted by the band in favour of Coghlan, whom they preferred as a drummer.[5] Coghlan remained in the group until 1981, and, like Lancaster, returned for a reunion tour in 2013-14.
In 1965, after finishing school, Jaworski left the group to seek employment outside of the music industry. Pat Barlow, the band's manager at the time, replaced Jaworski with organist Roy Lynes.[6] The Spectres released two singles: a cover of "I (Who Have Nothing)" and the Lancaster-penned "Hurdy Gurdy Man", but neither charted.
Parfitt joined the band in 1967 and stayed until his death in 2016.
While playing a stint at Butlin's Holiday Camp in Minehead, the band formed a friendship with future Quo rhythm guitarist and vocalist Rick Parfitt, then known as Ricky Harrison, performing with a cabaret trio called The Highlights. Parfitt joined the band in August 1967 on the instruction of Pat Barlow, who suggested that the group needed a new singer. The same year, The Spectres changed their name again to "Traffic Jam". They initially wanted to call themselves "Traffic", but were unable to due to a dispute with Steve Winwood who had also registered the name for his own group.[7] Later, the group would change its name again, to "The Status Quo".[8][9] Parfitt remained in the group until his death in 2016, making him the longest-serving member of the group thus far next to Rossi. This lineup saw the group's first charting single in "Pictures of Matchstick Men" which appeared on the album Picturesque Matchstickable Messages from the Status Quo (both 1968). The lineup went on to release two more albums, now known as "Status Quo" (dropping the definite article): Spare Parts (1969) and Ma Kelly's Greasy Spoon (1970), as well as the single "Down the Dustpipe" (1970), which reached number 12 in the UK charts.[10]
Rossi, Lancaster, Coghlan and Parfitt (the "Frantic Four") (1970–1981, 2013–2014)
In 1970, Lynes left the band. In his 2019 autobiography, Rossi states that Lynes had decided to get married; that they were "on [their] way to a gig in Aberdeen when he jumped ship somewhere around Stoke-on-Trent".[11] The band continued as a four-piece without a keyboardist (though they later hired Andy Bown as an additional musician on keyboards from 1976).
The four-man lineup's first release was the single "In My Chair" in late 1970, which reached number 21 in the UK, with the first album from this lineup, Dog of Two Head, following in 1971. Ten more studio albums followed, the last being 1981's Never Too Late. They also released a UK top-10 charting non-album single "The Wild Side of Life" in 1976, and a live album in 1977. This lineup is considered to be the band's "classic" lineup by many fans, having overseen the release of many of their early hits such as "Caroline", "Down Down", "Rockin' All Over The World" and "Whatever You Want". Due to its emphasis on hard rock as opposed to the psychedelic direction of the '60s and the pop rock records of the group's future, this lineup is often referred to as "The Frantic Four".[12] They were often joined on stage by road manager and songwriterBob Young, who played the harmonica,[13] and was jokingly referred to as Status Quo's "unofficial fifth member".[14]
32 years after it ended, the popularity of the "Frantic Four" lineup saw Rossi, Lancaster, Coghlan and Parfitt (as well as Young on harmonica) reuniting for a series of shows in 2013 and 14, running simultaneously with the present Quo lineup at the time.[15]
Rossi, Lancaster, Parfitt, Kircher and Bown (1981-1985)
Andy Bown joined the band in 1981, having worked with the band as a session/touring musician since 1973.
In 1981, Coghlan infamously quit the band after destroying his drum kit during a recording session for the 1+9+8+2 album, bringing an end to the "Frantic Four" lineup. He was replaced by Pete Kircher of Honeybus fame,[4] while keyboardist Andy Bown, who had been working with the band as an additional musician since 1976, was made an official member of the band.
In 1982, this lineup completed the 1+9+8+2 album and released the live album Live at the N.E.C. (originally as part of a box set titled From the Makers of... and re-released separately in 1984), with 1983 bringing another studio album entitled Back to Back, containing the Rossi/Frost single "Marguerita Time" whose pop rock direction was a point of contention for both fans of the band and Lancaster (Lancaster stating "Nobody but Francis [Rossi] wanted to record it[...] All it did was advertise that we were a bunch of nerds.").[16] In 1984, the single "The Wanderer" gave the band a number 7 UK chart placement, with the Rossi-Lancaster-Parfitt-Kircher-Bown lineup embarking on the "End of the Road Tour" - intended as a farewell tour due to tensions within the group. However, the group was persuaded to reformed to open Bob Geldof and Midge Ure's Live Aid concert in 1985. The success of the concert saw demand for Status Quo to reform. Due to tensions, Rossi agreed on the condition that Lancaster did not return, leading to a legal battle over the Status Quo name, which Rossi and Parfitt won. Kircher also did not return.[17]
Rossi, Parfitt and Bown reformed the group with bassist John "Rhino" Edwards and drummer Jeff Rich, who had both been working with Parfitt on a never-released solo album entitled Recorded Delivery.[18] The 31-year duration of this partnership (not counting the two changes in drummers) makes these four members the most consistent members of the band to date. Rossi, Parfitt, Bown, Edwards and Rich would release eight studio albums together, starting with In the Army Now (1986) and ending with Famous in the Last Century (2000), as well as the live album Live Alive Quo (1992), and saw hits such as "In the Army Now" (1986), "Burning Bridges (On and Off and On Again)", "The Anniversary Waltz" (1990), and "Come On You Reds", a 1994 version of "Burning Bridges" performed with the Manchester Unitedfootball team, with lyrics changed to a football theme.
In April 2000, Rich retired from the group after 15 years citing family commitments,[19] and was replaced with Matt Letley. With Letley, the group released six studio albums starting with Heavy Traffic (2002) and ending with Bula Quo! (2013), the latter being a soundtrack album for the feature film of the same name, an adventure comedy starring Rossi and Parfitt. A live album, Pictures (Live at Montreux), was also released in 2009. Letley , in turn, announced his own retirement after 13 years in 2013, and was replaced by their current drummer Leon Cave.[20] During 2000-2001, Bown took a hiatus from the band for personal reasons, and his place was covered by Paul Hirsh of Voyager, though Bown remained an official member during this period.[21]
In 2013 and 2014, the aforementioned "Frantic Four" reunion tour took place, with the Rossi-Lancaster-Coghlan-Parfitt lineup reuniting for a UK tour (separate to the main band). Four live albums came of the tour: The Frantic Four Reunion: Live at the O2 Academy Glasgow, The Frantic Four Reunion: Live at Hammersmith Apollo, The Frantic Four Reunion: Live at Wembley Arena (all 2013) and The Frantic Four's Final Fling: Live at the Dublin O2 Arena (2014).
With Cave, the group released their first acoustic album, Aquostic (Stripped Bare) in 2014, as well as a live acoustic album, Aquostic (Live at the Roundhouse) (2015). In 2016 they released the acoustic successor Aquostic II (That's a Fact!).
Richie Malone was a fan of the band before joining them.
After a concert in Antalya, Turkey on 14 June 2016, Parfitt suffered a heart attack and was hospitalised, and retired from touring.[22][23] For the remainder of the then-ongoing "Last of the Electrics" tour, Parfitt was replaced by Edwards' son, Freddie,[24] except for dates in July 2016 in Edinburgh and Belgium, Irish guitarist Richie Malone filled in for Parfitt.[25] Malone was a fan of the band, and Parfitt in particular, and had become a personal friend of them after meeting them backstage a number of times.[26]
Rossi, Bown, Edwards, Cave and Malone (2016-present)
Parfitt died on 24 December 2016, bringing an end to an almost 50-year partnership between himself and Rossi.[27] Malone was announced as Parfitt's permanent replacement on the band's website, and toured with them for the remainder of their "Last of the Electrics" tour. The Rossi-Bown-Edwards-Cave-Malone lineup has thus far released three live albums, The Last Night of the Electrics (2017), Down Down & Dignified at the Royal Albert Hall (2018) and Down Down & Dirty at Wacken (2018), and one studio album Backbone (2019).[28]
1981–present (session musician in 1973, session/touring musician 1976-1981)
keyboards
vocals
rhythm guitar
harmonica
all releases from 1+9+8+2 (1982) onwards except the 2013 and 2014 Frantic Four reunion live albums. Previously worked as a session musician on Hello! (1973) and as a session and touring musician on all releases from Blue for You (1976) to Never Too Late (1981)
Young was the band's road manager and a songwriter. Appeared as a guest during various stage shows from 1970-1979 and "Frantic Four" reunion tour (2013-2014) to play harmonica on certain songs. Was often referred to as "Status Quo's unofficial fifth member" during the Frantic Four lineup.[29]
Edwards, son of the band's bassist John "Rhino" Edwards, played back-up rhythm guitar at the band's "Aquostic" acoustic concerts. Along with Richie Malone, Edwards also performed in place of Rick Parfitt after the latter's retirement from touring
Timeline
Thinner lines indicate non-official member status as a guest or touring musician.
Status Quo are a British rock band. The group originated in London and was founded in 1962 by Francis Rossi and Alan Lancaster while they were still schoolboys. After a number of name and lineup changes, which included the introduction of John Coghlan in 1963 and Rick Parfitt in 1967, the band became The Status Quo in 1967 and Status Quo in 1969. As of 2022, the group have been active for 60 consecutive years.
Francis Dominic Nicholas Michael Rossi, is an English musician. He is the co-founder, lead singer, lead guitarist and the sole continuous member of the rock band Status Quo.
Richard John Parfitt, was an English musician, best known as a rhythm guitarist, singer and songwriter with rock band Status Quo.
Famous in the Last Century is the twenty-fourth studio album by British rock band Status Quo, released in 2000. According to the band's autobiography, the idea to record it came from manager David Walker, who said they should celebrate the millennium with an album containing twenty of their favourite hits from the past century. "Another bloody covers album!" grumbled Francis Rossi. "We went along with it, as usual, but inside I felt like a fraud... for me it was the worst Quo album there had ever been - or ever will be!"
Alan Charles Lancaster was an English musician, best known as a founding member and bassist of the rock band Status Quo, playing with the band from 1967 to 1985, with brief reunions in 2013 and 2014. As well as contributing to songwriting, he was also one of the lead vocalists on albums and live concerts, taking the lead on tracks such as "Backwater", "Is There a Better Way", "Bye Bye Johnny", "High Flyer" and "Roadhouse Blues".
John Robert Coghlan is an English musician, best known as the original drummer of the rock band Status Quo.
Hello! is the sixth studio album by the British rock band Status Quo. Released in September 1973, it was the first of four Status Quo albums to top the UK Albums Chart. It was the first Status Quo album on which drummer John Coghlan was credited with songwriting.
Live! is the first live album by British rock band Status Quo. The double album is an amalgam of performances at Glasgow's Apollo Theatre between 27 and 29 October 1976, recorded using the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio.
Just Supposin' is the thirteenth album by Status Quo. Co-produced by the group and John Eden, it was recorded at Windmill Lane Studios, Dublin. Released on 17 October 1980, it entered the UK albums chart at number 4.
Rock 'til You Drop is the twentieth studio album by English rock band Status Quo and their last on the Vertigo label after nearly 20 years. Singer and guitarist Francis Rossi produced the album.
Heavy Traffic is the twenty-fifth studio album by English rock band Status Quo, and their first to feature drummer Matt Letley. Released in 2002, it hit #15 in the UK.
The Party Ain't Over Yet... is the twenty-seventh album by English rock band Status Quo, released 19 September 2005.
Never Too Late is the fourteenth studio album by English rock band Status Quo, coproduced by the group and John Eden. Released on 13 March 1981, it had been recorded at the same sessions – at Windmill Lane Studios, Dublin – as its predecessor Just Supposin'. It reached number 2 in the UK Albums Chart.
1+9+8+2 is the fifteenth studio album by the English rock band Status Quo, released on 16 April 1982. It was the first to include new drummer Pete Kircher, who had recently replaced John Coghlan, and also the first to credit keyboard player Andy Bown as a full member of the band; on the previous few releases he had merely been listed as a guest musician although he had long been an integral member in all but name.
Live at The N.E.C. was the second live album by rock band Status Quo which was recorded at the National Exhibition Centre. It had originally been released as part of the 3-LP box set From the Makers of... in 1982. In 1984 the recording became available as a separate album.
Live Alive Quo was the third live album by English rock band Status Quo and was broadcast live on BBC Radio 1 as part of the station's 25th Anniversary 'Party in the Park' celebrations in Birmingham, England. The concert was watched by nearly 125,000 fans.
In Search of the Fourth Chord is the twenty-eighth studio album by English rock band Status Quo, released on 17 September 2007. The title is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the rumour that the group always plays the same three chords, and a reference to the album In Search of the Lost Chord by British rock band the Moody Blues. The album's artwork is a parody of the Indiana Jones films.
Quid Pro Quo is the twenty-ninth studio album by English rock band Status Quo, released in May 2011. The album debuted at number 10 in the UK charts and features 14 new songs, as well as the 2010 version of their 1986 hit "In the Army Now" which was re-recorded in support of the Help for Heroes and British Forces Foundation charities. The accompanying Official Live Bootleg album features 12 older songs recorded by the band in concert in Amsterdam and Melbourne in 2010. In the UK the album was only available at branches of Tesco stores for its first week before being released conventionally on the band's Fourth Chord label on 6 June 2011.
Bula Quo is the thirtieth studio album and the first soundtrack album by English rock band Status Quo, it was released on Monday 10 June 2013. It is the last Status Quo album recorded with drummer Matt Letley, who announced his departure from the band before the album had been released.
References
↑ Celebrating Seven Decades of Quo (Exhibition caption). Barbican Library, London. 2023. The Scorpions have always been cited as the band's first name and this is ingrained into Quo history. However, this has now been exposed as an urban myth. [...] We called ourselves 'The Paladins' for a short while - before changing to The 'Spectres'. - Alan Lancaster
↑ Rossi, Francis (14 March 2019). I Talk Too Much: My Autobiography. Constable. p.Loc. 478–488 of 4402 (in the Amazon Kindle version). ISBN1472130200.
↑ Ling, Dave (January 2002). "Again again again…". Classic Rock #36. p.73.
↑ Rossi, Francis (14 March 2019). I Talk Too Much: My Autobiography. Constable. p.Loc. 2341–2656 of 4402 (in the Amazon Kindle version). ISBN1472130200.
↑ Rossi, Francis (14 March 2019). I Talk Too Much: My Autobiography. Constable. p.Loc. 2721 of 4402 (in the Amazon Kindle version). ISBN1472130200.
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