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.
Creepin
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You got a giggle when you talk
I like the way you talk
You got a wiggle when you walk
Nothing you can do, sure as one and one is two
I'll be creepin' up on you.
I'm gonna be your man
Be your pretty little thing
Your puppet on a string
Nothing you can do, sure as one and one is two
I'll be creepin' up on you
Gonna write a little letter
Poetry for two
Send you pretty flowers
Creepin' up on you
Gonna write a little letter
Poetry for two
Send you pretty flowers
Gonna take a little time
Before I make you mine
But I'll bet you anything
You're gonna wear my ring
Nothing you can do
Sure as one and one is two
I'll be creepin' up on you
Nothing you can do, sure as one and one is two
I'll be creepin' up on you
Nothing you can do, sure as one and one is two
I'll be creepin' up on you
In this song, the singer is expressing his admiration and desire for a particular woman. He is drawn to the way she moves and talks, and he sees himself as slowly but surely making his way into her life. The repetition of the line "Nothing you can do, sure as one and one is two" emphasizes the idea that his pursuit of her is inevitable, and suggests a sense of possessiveness. The singer speaks with confidence, proclaiming that he will be her man and that she will be his "pretty little thing" and "puppet on a string." He speaks of sending her flowers and writing poetry, all as part of his plan to win her over.
The lyrics of this song can be interpreted in different ways, depending on one's perspective. On the one hand, it can be seen as a romantic love song, with the singer expressing his deep feelings for the woman he desires. On the other hand, the repeated assertion that there is "nothing you can do" suggests a sense of entitlement and even coercion, and the line "you're gonna wear my ring" suggests an expectation of commitment on the part of the woman. Thus, the song can also be seen as a somewhat creepy and controlling expression of desire.
Line by Line Meaning
I like the way you walk
I am attracted to your bodily movements and mannerisms as you move
You got a giggle when you talk
I find it endearing and joyful when you laugh and speak
I like the way you talk
I am pleased with the way you communicate through your words and tone
You got a wiggle when you walk
I find it amusing and intriguing when you move in that certain way
Nothing you can do, sure as one and one is two
It is inevitable that I will eventually make my advances towards you, despite anything you may do
I'll be creepin' up on you.
I will be gradually and secretly approaching you with romantic intentions
I'm gonna be your man
I intend to become your romantic partner and fulfill that role for you
You'd better understand
It is important for you to comprehend and accept my intentions towards you
Be your pretty little thing
I hope to become the attractive and desirable partner in your life
Your puppet on a string
I am willing to fulfill your desires and demands in the relationship
Gonna write a little letter
I plan to express my affection through written words
Poetry for two
I will create poetic literature that reflects our relationship
Send you pretty flowers
I will give you gifts of flowers to express my fondness for you
Gonna take a little time
I understand that it will take patience and time in order to successfully court you
Before I make you mine
I will need to demonstrate my commitment and prove myself as a worthy partner before being in a relationship with you
But I'll bet you anything
I am confident and willing to wager that we will end up together
You're gonna wear my ring
I envision us being engaged and married at some point in the future
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: JOHN EDWARDS, RICK PARFITT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Peter JP Critchley
Quo back on nodding terms with all that made them a great band. This album is fantastic. My head is going strong.
Alan Strom
This is one of Rick Parfitt's best Rockin' songs, I think Alan Lancaster would like this one too.
Heavy Traffic is an awesome album!!!!!!!!
Beatrice Peter
Have I ever told you guys ,cannot get enough of this ...
Harmony Daniels
Love it ..
Beatrice Peter
Oh,my,I haven't been listening to this in quite some time...
Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoy it ...Especially that my man is sending me pritty flowers ...
Freddy King
this song is Status Quo in the Flesh! :-))
Beatrice Beatrice
Never mind all tht comments
They are rocking
Светлана Бобко
This song looks like Rain!
Ulrich madsen vædelund
big Alpha is playing that number Yeahhh Ceep rocking
mandolingrass
Is it me or does the riff in this have similarities to Fleetwood Mac/Danny Kirwans track like it that!?