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.
Big Man
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know what I wanna be
When they asked me at school what I wanted to be
That was all they got from me
I wanna be a big man, nobody putting me down
I wanna be a big man
But everyone needs to know
If you look a bit tough when you talk about love
I'm sure that love would grow
I wanna be a big man, nobody putting me down
I wanna be a big man, yeah yeah
Look around, see if I'm wrong
It's only a show for those who don't belong
I wanna be a big man, yeah yeah
I wanna be a big man, yeah yeah
I know what I'm living for
But there ain't no guarantee
If I make a wrong move you could jump in my shoes
And that ain't no good to me
I wanna be a big man, yeah yeah
I wanna be a big man, yeah yeah
The lyrics of Status Quo's song "Big Man" are about the desire to be successful and respected. The singer of the song wants to be a big man, someone who is not put down by others. This desire is rooted in the need for recognition and validation. The singer sees success as the key to achieving this validation.
The first verse of the song highlights the singer's certainty about what they want to do and where they want to go. They are sure of their goals, and they are not afraid to assert them. However, this certainty is not met with enthusiasm by others, as the singer only gives a one-word answer when asked what they want to be. The second verse is about love and how it can be perceived as a weakness. The singer suggests that toughening up and being more assertive could lead to love growing.
The chorus repeats the desire to be a big man, with nobody putting them down. The bridge of the song highlights how success is often seen as a show for those who don't belong. It is a performance for others, and it can be difficult to achieve. The song ends with the singer acknowledging the risks of failure, but still wanting to pursue success.
Line by Line Meaning
I know where I'm heading for
I have a clear direction and purpose in life
I know what I wanna be
I have a specific goal and ambition for my life
When they asked me at school what I wanted to be
When people inquired about my aspirations during my schooling years
That was all they got from me
I only gave a vague answer or refused to answer
I wanna be a big man, nobody putting me down
I want to be successful and respected without facing any criticism or opposition
They say love is all you need
People claim that love is the only important factor in life
But everyone needs to know
However, it's a fact that everyone requires something different or something more than love
If you look a bit tough when you talk about love
If you display strength or resilience while addressing love, it may flourish better
I'm sure that love would grow
There's a possibility that love can develop and thrive if handled assertively
Look around, see if I'm wrong
Observe your surroundings and check if my statement is incorrect
It's only a show for those who don't belong
It's merely a facade or performance for people who aren't part of the in-crowd
I know what I'm living for
I have a definite purpose or objective in my life
But there ain't no guarantee
However, there's no assurance or certainty that my plans will succeed
If I make a wrong move you could jump in my shoes
If I commit an error, others could take advantage of my mistake or misfortune
And that ain't no good to me
That would be detrimental or unfavorable to my situation
Lyrics Š Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHARLES EDWARD DANIELS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Martin O'Brien
I bought this album when it was #1 in the charts. This was my favourite track on it.
Martin O'Brien
@Steven Lornie I didn't say it was a great track, just that it was my favourite on this album đ
Steven Lornie
lol really? Sweet jesus.
Shane Kelley
As used in the new Cinch advert with Rylan Clark.