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.
Better Times
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I feel so sure
I walk the town
And it brings me down
But I won't give up
And I won't turn back
Oh, I'll hang around
Then it's gonna be fine, fine, fine
If we hang on longer
But it's gonna take time, time, time
It'll make us stronger
So I feel so good
But I know for sure
We've got to think about, think about
Bring about a better time
(Ugh!)
Well I'm up and down
And I'm on and off
Oh, I have been told
I'm blowin' hot and cold
So, where to from here?
Where do we go?
Oh, I say it's wrong
To go on and on
But it's gonna be fine, fine, fine
If we hang on longer
And it's gonna take time, time, time
It'll make us stronger
So, where to from here?
Where do we go?
We got to think about, think about
Bring about better times
Oh, trying to find the answer
Trying to look, trying to find the other side
Oh, all the doors are open
Or you take a trip across the other side
So, where to from here?
Where do we go?
Oh, I say it's wrong
To go on and on
Now, I'm sure it's time
And I'm sure it's right
To make better ways
Oh, happy days
'Cos it's gonna be fine, fine, fine
If we hang on longer
But it's gonna take time, time, time
It'll make us stronger
So where to from here?
Where do we go?
We've got to think about, think about
Bring about better times
We've got to think about, think about
Bring about better times
We got to think about, think about
Bring about better times
The lyrics to Status Quo's song "Better Times" serve as a message of hope and perseverance. The first verse expresses the singer's confidence in themselves and their determination to continue despite feeling down due to their surroundings. The second verse sees the singer questioning their direction but acknowledging that it's wrong to just continue going in circles. The chorus then reminds us that it will take time to get to better times, but it will happen and that we will be stronger for it. The third verse sees the singer searching for answers, trying to find a different path, and eventually coming to the conclusion that it's time to make better ways for ourselves. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the importance of actively thinking about and bringing about better times.
This message of hope and perseverance is not only reflected in the lyrics but in the music as well. The song features a driving beat and catchy guitar riffs that give the listener a feeling of optimism and energy. The use of a call and response in the final chorus also creates a sense of community and togetherness. Overall, "Better Times" is a song that encourages us to keep pushing forward, even when things seem difficult, and that better times will eventually come.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I feel so good
The singer is feeling really good
And I feel so sure
The singer feels confident
I walk the town
The singer is out and about
And it brings me down
The artist is feeling negative emotions due to the town
But I won't give up
The artist is determined to keep going
And I won't turn back
The singer won't stop making progress
Oh, I'll hang around
The singer will continue to be present
Til a way is found
The artist will wait until a solution is found
Then it's gonna be fine, fine, fine
The situation will be alright
If we hang on longer
Perseverance is key to success
But it's gonna take time, time, time
Reaching the goal will take an extended period
It'll make us stronger
This challenge will help us grow
So I feel so good
The singer feels positive again
But I know for sure
This is a known fact for the singer
We've got to think about, think about
We need to put some thought into it
Bring about a better time
We need to work to make the future better
(Ugh!)
A sound expressing frustration
Well I'm up and down
The singer is experiencing fluctuations
And I'm on and off
The singer is inconsistent
Oh, I have been told
The artist has received feedback from others
I'm blowin' hot and cold
The artist is inconsistent in their emotions or actions
So, where to from here?
What is the next step?
Where do we go?
What direction should we take?
Oh, I say it's wrong
The artist believes that continuing on as is, is wrong
To go on and on
To continue down the same path
Now, I'm sure it's time
The singer is now certain
And I'm sure it's right
The singer knows it is the correct choice
To make better ways
We need to create better methods or processes
Oh, happy days
This will lead to better times, a brighter future
We've got to think about, think about
Once again, we need to consider our actions
Bring about better times
We must work towards a more positive future
Oh, trying to find the answer
The artist is struggling to find the solution
Trying to look, trying to find the other side
The artist is searching for a different perspective or solution
Oh, all the doors are open
There are many possibilities
Or you take a trip across the other side
One must explore other options or solutions
We've got to think about, think about
Once again, we need to consider our actions
Bring about better times
We must work towards a more positive future
Contributed by Sadie C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Paris Cortez
STATUS QUO FOREVER!
Rick Parfitt the best rhythm guitarist ever and boogie king'!
YOU ARE MY FIRST HERO!
R.I.P. RICK, play your boogie in heaven!
George Stanley
The greatest rock and roll band in the world rip rick
Eyleen rossi
Wonderful music.So fantastic.This Guys are the best.Status Quo vor ever.R.I.P.Rick .You are my Hero.
Chris Hayes
Great Song. Quo at there best! Just makes you smile.
José Raposo
Status Quo sempre a bombar!!!!!!!
Joe Kauffman
I’m glad this is on the deluxe version of rock until you drop, that album was a full comeback to their rock ‘n’ roll boogie roots
teleguten
Love you boys,rock on for ever!
Hessel de Zoete
Keep on rocking blonde one.. you'll never be forgotten!!!
Katerina Machackova
omg...this is a sound!!!!!! Love it.
carlos pereyra
status quo x siempre aguante el rock and roll