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.
Dirty Water
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The water's getting deep
And I can't swim
Because it's dirty dirty water
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Many's the times I've asked you to say
Could it be you're wrong
To push yourself along
I say it's not a guess
You make yourself a mess
And get yourself in deeper water
Why do you think it's all wrong for you
Maybe it's in some things that you do
Baby it's allright
To stay out ev'ry night
If I could change your mind
I'd bring you back in line
To do the things you really oughta
Oh, oh, oh, oh
The water's getting deep
And I can't swim
And if I could then I'd come in
Oh, oh, oh, oh
The water's getting deep
And I can't swim
Because it's dirty dirty water
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, why do you think it's all wrong for you
Maybe it's in some things that you do
Baby it's allright
To stay out ev'ry night
If I could change your mind
I'd bring you back in line
To do the things you really oughta
Oh, oh, oh, oh
The water's getting deep
And I can't swim
If I could then I'd come in
Oh, oh, oh, oh
The water's getting deep
And I can't swim
Because it's dirty dirty water
Oh, oh, oh, oh
The water's getting deep
And I can't swim
Because it's dirty dirty water
The song "Dirty Water" by Status Quo talks about feeling stuck and lost in life. The lyrics and the repeated phrase "the water's getting deep and I can't swim" suggest the feeling of drowning in uncertainty and negativity. The singer is trying to encourage someone who is going through a rough time to take control of their life and make better choices. The lines "Why do you feel so bad day to day? Could it be you're wrong to push yourself along?" show that the singer is questioning the person's decision-making abilities and urging them to reflect on their choices.
The chorus emphasizes the idea that life is like dirty water, and if we do not take care of ourselves, we can easily be swallowed up by it. The song offers a message of hope, though. If the person can change their ways and make better choices, they will be able to come up for air and swim to safer shores. The song's use of water as a metaphor for life's challenges is powerful and relatable, and the catchy chorus makes it easy for listeners to sing along.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Expressing a feeling of concern
The water's getting deep
The situation is becoming more difficult
And I can't swim
I am unable to deal with the situation
Because it's dirty dirty water
The situation is complicated and unpleasant
Many's the times I've asked you to say
I have asked you many times to speak up
Why do you feel so bad day to day
I am curious about your persistent negative emotion
Could it be you're wrong
Is it possible that you have made a mistake
To push yourself along
By forcing things, you may be worsening the situation
I say it's not a guess
I confidently state that this is not a mere speculation
You make yourself a mess
Your actions have led to a chaotic situation
And get yourself in deeper water
Your decisions have further complicated the situation
Why do you think it's all wrong for you
What makes you believe that everything is against you
Maybe it's in some things that you do
Perhaps you need to re-evaluate your actions and decisions
Baby it's allright
It's okay to have fun and enjoy yourself
To stay out ev'ry night
It's okay to have a social life and go out
If I could change your mind
If I had the power to influence your thinking
I'd bring you back in line
I would steer you towards the right path
To do the things you really oughta
To do things that are necessary and beneficial
If I could then I'd come in
If I had the ability, I would help you
Because it's dirty dirty water
The situation is difficult and unpleasant
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Expressing a feeling of concern
The water's getting deep
The situation is becoming more difficult
And I can't swim
I am unable to deal with the situation
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Expressing a feeling of concern
The water's getting deep
The situation is becoming more difficult
And I can't swim
I am unable to deal with the situation
Because it's dirty dirty water
The situation is complicated and unpleasant
Oh, why do you think it's all wrong for you
What makes you believe that everything is against you
Maybe it's in some things that you do
Perhaps you need to re-evaluate your actions and decisions
Baby it's allright
It's okay to have fun and enjoy yourself
To stay out ev'ry night
It's okay to have a social life and go out
If I could change your mind
If I had the power to influence your thinking
I'd bring you back in line
I would steer you towards the right path
To do the things you really oughta
To do things that are necessary and beneficial
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Expressing a feeling of concern
The water's getting deep
The situation is becoming more difficult
And I can't swim
I am unable to deal with the situation
If I could then I'd come in
If I had the ability, I would help you
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Expressing a feeling of concern
The water's getting deep
The situation is becoming more difficult
And I can't swim
I am unable to deal with the situation
Because it's dirty dirty water
The situation is complicated and unpleasant
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FRANCIS ROSSI, ROBERT YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RagnarTheRed1
Status Quo is not like the other bands, they have always fun on stage and they are the best band ever, Long live Status Quo, Status Quo 4ever!! :D
@martinwalthert1709
I love Status Quo forever...!Beautiful Song!🎸 R.I.P. Rick Parfitt 🙏🕯⚘
@frankandert9249
Jo!!
@SFCBenny57
The fact that most U.S. rock fans (except yours truly) have totally missed the boat about these guys is hilarious and mystifying at the same time!
@harmonydaniels964
I blame that on the crabby radio stations here in Ameriaca, they never play any Quo over the air. Its the same crap over n over...I have heard enough "Stair way heaven " to last into etertinity. Thankfully I my friends in the U.K. told me about the Quo. What a great rock band , one of my all.time favorites now. I have so much more music.of theirs to hear n so much catching up to do. But what fun it will be.
@carlospereyra1978
cuantos años escuchándolos y cada día tocan mejor
@samstuian
Love the Quo.Been going to see the boys live since i was 10yrs old.I'm now 36. There concerts are like a big party,Lots of brilliant music,laughs and a whole lots of fun,fun,fun.
@ianmcleod3631
Now yah 50
@jlennon48
Great song love the lead break and harmonies are excellent, Parfitts chords make it.
@wkdwoman
love this song wish they would do it live more often