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.
Blue Eyed Lady
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How come you're all alone
I've been asking
No one seems to know
To whom do you belong
Little Blue eyed lady
The band are really moving
Little lady
You're still sitting down
Excuse me if you will
Little Blue eyed lady
The party's nearly over
Your eyes still read the same
Are you looking
For one who never came
Are you a passing cloud
Or a new found baby
Little new found baby
How come you're all alone
I've been asking
No one seems to know
Are you a passing cloud
Little Blue eyed lady
The song "Blue Eyed Lady" by Status Quo is a catchy tune with a melancholic undertone that revolves around the mysterious "blue-eyed lady". The lyrics of the song begin with the lead singer questioning the reason for the woman's loneliness, as he sees her sitting still while other people at the party are moving and grooving. He asks her whom she belongs to, and why she's all alone.
As the song progresses, the lead singer continues to speculate on the woman's situation. He asks if she's looking for someone who never came, or if she's a passing cloud or a new found baby. The reference to "passing cloud" hints at the idea that the blue-eyed lady is transient, fleeting and may not stay around for long. On the other hand, the reference to "new found baby" suggests that she may be a recent addition to the social circle and is still seeking her place therein.
The lyrics are also noticeably repetitive, with the lead singer repeatedly asking the woman why she's alone and who she belongs to. This repetition acts as a metaphor for the blue-eyed lady's isolation, suggesting that she may be trapped in a loop, unable to break free from the loneliness that surrounds her.
Overall, "Blue Eyed Lady" seems to offer a poignant and empathetic commentary on the pervasive loneliness that can afflict even those in the midst of crowds. The song's catchy melody and driving rhythm, combined with its poignant lyrics, have made it a hit with Status Quo's fans.
Line by Line Meaning
Little Blue eyed lady
The singer addresses a young woman with blue eyes.
How come you're all alone
The singer notices her solitude and wonders how she came to be alone.
I've been asking
The singer expresses his curiosity and desire to know more about her situation.
No one seems to know
The artist has been attempting to gather information, but has not been successful in doing so.
To whom do you belong
The artist questions who she belongs to or is with.
Little Blue eyed lady
The singer addresses the woman again, repeating the visual description.
The band are really moving
The singer observes the energetic performance of the band.
Everyone is grooving around
The artist notes the lively atmosphere around him.
Little lady
The artist addresses her affectionately again.
You're still sitting down
The artist notices that she is not participating in the festivities and is sitting alone.
Excuse me if you will
The singer politely asks for her attention.
Little Blue eyed lady
The artist addresses her with the same endearment as before.
The party's nearly over
The singer informs her that the party is drawing to a close.
Your eyes still read the same
The singer notices that despite the party dying down, she still appears melancholic.
Are you looking
The singer wonders if she is searching for something specific.
For one who never came
The artist proposes that she could be hoping for someone who did not show up.
Are you a passing cloud
The artist depicts her as a transient entity, perhaps emotionally fleeting.
Or a new found baby
The singer suggests that she may be an innocent or youthful newcomer to the scene.
Little new found baby
The singer combines two previous endearments and addresses her with a slightly altered description.
How come you're all alone
The artist reiterates his initial question, expressing concern for her solitude.
I've been asking
The artist repeats his attempts to gather information, possibly out of a concern for her wellbeing.
No one seems to know
The artist restates his frustration with being unable to find answers.
Are you a passing cloud
The singer repeats the previous description, drawing attention to her perceived transience.
Little Blue eyed lady
The artist addresses her once again with the same endearing description.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
Written by: ALAN LANCASTER, RICHARD PARFITT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ally Dodd
One of the best rock intros ever! And the song never lets up. Always wanted to tell the writer that. Too late. Alan Lancaster RIP.
Andrew Harkins
Absolutely amazing band, seen them loads of times at Apollo Glasgow, incredible live band. Voted best live rock band to play there by Rock Radio ,so underrated by some of the snobby music press.
Armando Hermoza
One of the greatest rock and roll songs of all times! Right up in the tradition of Chuck Berry and the Rolling Stones. Parfitt´s perfect rhythm guitar, Rossi´s inspired guitar lick, Lancaster's unrelenting bass line, the simple yet beautiful topic of a lonely teenage girl!! Everything adds up to perfection.
Michael Platter
Hello is an awesome Status Quo album - every song is well done, i love the early Quo tunes
david james
Love this album , Your musical tastes wanders up and down the years then you get older , You think that your musical tastes develop to more sophisticated sounds . But fuck me , This is Rock N Roll .
Dean Stanley
The quo album I go to time and time again an absolute stormer well worthy of its Number 1 position 👍
Wayne Dunn
Great memories for an aging rocker of 60 still rockin and wont stop til i drop
Alan Hails
Hello and piledriver the two best rock albums of the generation. fact
Smile4theCam
Word! Thread closed!
Alan Hails
I went to see quo on the hello tour and I was deaf for a week afterwards. Best live concert ever