They began as a rock and roll freakbeat band called The Spectres. By 1967, with very little commercial success, they discovered psychedelia and changed their name to Traffic (later Traffic Jam, to avoid confusion with Steve Winwood's Traffic.) At this time the line-up also included organist Roy Lynes and drummer John Coghlan. Late in 1967 they recruited second guitarist Rick Parfitt and became The Status Quo, scoring Top 10 singles with Pictures Of Matchstick Men and Ice in The Sun. "Pictures of Matchstick Men" remains the only Top 40 hit single the group has ever charted in the United States. They have never achieved the same level of success there, that they have enjoyed in their home country.
After their second album Spare Parts they decided to change into a heavy boogie rock band. During the seventies they became one of the UK's leading rock bands, gaining a faithful following due to their excellent live gigs. They showed a great amount of energy during this decade and in the early 80s. They and are best known for songs from this era such as Paper Plane (1972), Caroline (1973), Down Down (1975), John Fogerty's Rockin' All Over The World (1977) and Whatever You Want (1979). Down Down topped the UK charts in January 1975 (their only British No. 1 single to date).
Lynes left in 1971, to be replaced initially by guest keyboard players on album, including Jimmy Horowitz and John Parker, and later on a more permanent basis on record and stage by ex-The Herd and Judas Jump member Andy Bown, though as he was contracted as a solo artist with EMI, he was not credited as a full-time member until 1982. Coghlan left in late 1981, to be replaced by Pete Kircher from 1960s band Honeybus. This short-lived lineup played its last gig in 1984 at the Milton Keynes Bowl, and reformed briefly to open the Live Aid charity event at Wembley in July 1985.
That year Rossi recorded and released two solo singles with longtime writing partner Bernie Frost. Parfitt was also working on a solo album which is still unreleased, although some tracks have been re-recorded by Status Quo and released as 'B' sides. Bass player John Edwards and drummer Jeff Rich, both ex-Judie Tzuke Band and Climax Blues Band, assisted Parfitt in the studio.
In the summer of 1985 Rossi, Parfitt and Bown, along with Edwards and Rich started work on a new album. Lancaster, who was living in Australia at the time, took out a legal injunction to stop the band using the Status Quo name on any records. The injunction was lifted after a court hearing in January 1986. Lancaster had had increasing musical differences with the group, notably during the sessions for the 1983 album Back to Back over two tracks which became hit singles for the group around that time. He had written Ol' Rag Blues, but was angered when the producers chose to release a version with Rossi singing lead vocal in preference to the one sung by himself, and he objected to Marguerita Time, which he thought unduly corny and too pop-oriented for them. He remained in Australia, forming a band called Party Boys, who had no success in Britain.
The commercially successful In The Army Now album was released in 1986, and the band continues to this day with the revised personnel. Rich left in 2000 and was replaced by Matthew Letley. Andrew Bown took a year off at the same time for family reasons and was replaced on stage by Paul Hirsh, formerly of Voyager.
According to Songfacts.com, Quo's 29th studio album, Quid Pro Quo, was released in a deluxe format exclusively at Tesco on 30 May 2011. The regular edition was released elsewhere a week later on 7th June. The LP debuted at #10 in the UK charts, the band's best chart placing for an original album since Don't Stop peaked at #2 in 1996.
Although Quo still release new material every few years, recent years have seen them release a series of greatest hits compilations and covers albums. One of the band's most recent original albums, Heavy Traffic, shows a return to classic form not seen since the late 1970s.
Status Quo have often been characterized, perhaps unfairly, as producing very simple songs, always in the same format: 4/4 rhythm, three chord structure. However, the recordings from their first decade demonstrate a diversity in musical style and complexity to rival most of the late 60s UK bands, and several of their singles and album tracks from later show considerable subtlety, not least the mainly acoustic 1979 single Living On An Island, and the 1980 album track, later a single, Rock'n'Roll, which is ironically one of the least rock'n'roll-like songs they have ever recorded.
They have a loyal group of fans in the United Kingdom, where they have enjoyed more hits than any other group in rock and roll history (over 60 as of mid-2005), as well as a big following in Europe, notably in The Netherlands.
In September 2005 a contestant on the long-running BBC television quiz programme Mastermind chose Status Quo as his specialist subject. That same year they took part in the long running ITV soap opera Coronation Street in a storyline which involved them being sued by the layabout Les Battersby.
In December 2005 it was announced that Parfitt was undergoing tests for throat cancer. All subsequent dates of the UK tour were cancelled as a result. However on 20th December it was further announced that the growths found in Parfitt's throat were benign and had been removed.
Quo have even been the subject of a Doctoral Thesis, purporting to demonstrate that their music composition skills could be favourably compared to the likes of the classical music composers, such as Beethoven!
In Autumn 2008 German techno legend Scooter released new single Jump that rock together with Status Quo.
On 1 February 2016, it was officially announced that Status Quo, in addition to the spring and summer dates already scheduled, would tour Europe starting in October. The final dates would take place in the UK towards the end of the year, after which the group would retire from playing 'electric' tours.
On 28 October 2016, Rick Parfitt permanently retired from live performances after suffering a heart attack earlier the same year. On 24 December 2017, he died in hospital in Marbella, Spain as a result of severe infection, after suffering an injury to his shoulder. Parfitt's funeral was held at Woking Crematorium on 19 January 2017. Irish guitarist Richie Malone, who had substituted for Parfitt during some 2016 live shows, took his place on rhythm guitar.
13 Burning bridges
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Making time and living for the day
Burning bridges never made me cry
I could walk away with no goodbye
Easy take or easy leave them all
'Til you scratch the writing on the wall
It's on and off and on again
Taking all I got again
Bleeding me leaving me dry
You're hanging on for what you can
Dragging out the pain
Taking all I give again
Fakin' it making me cry
One day someday I may slide away
Turn around and call it all a day
Even though I fooled myself for years
I can't escape this ringing in my ears
It's on and off and on again
Going on and then
Taking all I got again
Bleeding me leaving me dry
You're hanging on for what you can
Dragging out the pain
Taking all I give again
Fakin' it making me cry
The lyrics to Status Quo's Burning Bridges portrays a character who is not afraid to take risks and follow his dreams, even if it means burning bridges and walking away from relationships without a goodbye. The singer believes that it's better to live in the moment and make the most of life, rather than dwelling on the past. The line "Building dreams has always been my way" is a testament to this. However, the singer realizes that this constant cycle of taking risks comes at a price. The repeated theme of "on and off and on again" and "taking all I give again" depicts the character getting used and taken advantage of by others for his altruistic attitude. He realizes that he has been living in a cycle of pain and hurt and in his heart, there is a ringing alarm that's telling him to turn around and call it all a day. However, he can't escape the constant noise, perhaps a metaphor for a desire to keep on living and taking risks, no matter the cost.
Overall, the lyrics show the different experiences that come with living in a constant cycle of taking risks, burning bridges, and making every day count. It highlights the ups and downs of such a lifestyle, the hurt and pain that comes with it and the constant struggle to keep on going.
Line by Line Meaning
Building dreams has always been my way
I've always been a dreamer and focused on my aspirations.
Making time and living for the day
I try to balance my time well and live in the present moment.
Burning bridges never made me cry
I've never regretted leaving things behind and moving on.
I could walk away with no goodbye
I'm capable of leaving without looking back or saying goodbye.
Easy take or easy leave them all
It's easy for me to take or leave things in life.
'Til you scratch the writing on the wall
Until I see the signs that indicate I need to make a change and move on.
It's on and off and on again
My situation is unpredictable and inconsistent.
Going on and then
My life keeps moving forward despite any setbacks.
Taking all I got again
People around me always seem to take the good things I have.
Bleeding me leaving me dry
Their actions drain me of my energy and resources.
You're hanging on for what you can
Others are holding on to me for what they can get out of me.
Dragging out the pain
They're causing me unnecessary suffering and torment.
Taking all I give again
They continue to take advantage of my generosity and kindness.
Fakin' it making me cry
They pretend to care about me, but it's all a facade and it hurts me.
One day someday I may slide away
Someday I may decide to leave everything behind and start anew.
Turn around and call it all a day
I'll accept that it's time to move on and live life differently.
Even though I fooled myself for years
Even though I've been in denial about my current state and feelings for a long time.
I can't escape this ringing in my ears
I can't ignore the nagging feeling in my heart that tells me to make a change.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Andy Bown, Francis Rossi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Roobydoo
Just got back from my mother's partner's funeral where they played this and a couple of other quo tracks. Lovely way to say goodbye Mark. You'll be missed 🙏
Peter Gyorgyovich
As a kid I dreamt about being on stage and playing music while listening to this song. I'm lucky that as a hobby, music has been always a part of my life. I'm a band member now as well The Punching Preachers and whenever we play I'm that kid again who was dreaming. Never let your dreams fade 🎶✊
Christian Yde
Haven't heard this song for 25 years, and then i heard i on the radio the other day, and have played it at least 50 times since that. Such a lovely song 😍
Marc Lazarus
This song is absolutely fantastic a piece of genius work.
Thank you.
Jason Gulauma
My father loved this song very much..so do i😊🎶💯
Geoff Walker
These lads are something else, no group to touch them. Long live Quo
B. Kaman
Had this on audio tape in the late 80s. Used to play it over and over again. Damn… good times.
Niall McEntee
If this song doesn't put a smile on your face check your pulse 😂
Phil
Brilliant , loved to go and see them once a year in Birmingham and let my hair down to this song ! Oh am i going to miss them ? you bet, part of my life has gone . RIP RICK X
Joe Kauffman
I’ve always loved this song, back then this song makes me smile, now it makes me very emotional because Rick and Alan are no longer with us anymore, R.I.P Rick and Alan