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.
Frozen Hero
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
another night with the the big fat zero
Another night, another night
another night for the frozen hero
it's getting tight, it's getting tight
it's getting tight for the mis-fit no-no
you gotta light, give me a lucky light
Another night down in the hole
with all the weirdos
another day, day in the life
of a hero
'cause we're up there beggin'
over down here rotting in a hole
do they call this living
do they call this rock and roll
they say it's well good money
but it just don't feed the soul
my soul
I get a fright, I get a fright
and every hour is a nightmare daydream
I gotta hide, I gotta hide
I gotta hide in the human smokescreen
It isn't right, it ain't right
it isn't right that it's all in my face
Another fight, another bloody fight
another fight it's an urban rat-race
Down at the tube, stuck in the queue
here at the station
what might he do,
how could you change the situation
'cause we're up there beggin'
over down here rotting in a hole
do they call this living
do they call this rock and roll
(call this rock and roll)
they say it's well good money
but it just don't feed the soul
my soul
Another night, it isn't right
another night for the big fat zero
It's getting tight, awful tight
it's getting tight for the mis-fit no-no
You got a light, give me a light
you got a light for the midnight hobo
another night, another freaking night
another night for the frozen hero
Another night down in the hole
with all the weirdos
another day, day in the life
of a hero
'cause we're up there beggin'
over down here rotting in a hole
do they call this living
do they call this rock and roll
(call this rock and roll)
they say it's well good money
but it just don't feed the soul
my soul
The song "Frozen Hero" by Status Quo is a portrayal of the struggles that many musicians face while pursuing their dreams. The lyrics represent the artist's feelings of being stuck and unable to break free from the ordinary, leading an unfulfilled life. The track starts with the singer expressing his frustration as he spends another night with nothing to show for his efforts – a feeling of being a big fat zero. The reference to the frozen hero may be pointing at how the artist feels trapped and wishing for a way to defrost and break free.
The song continues with the artist speaking about his life as a musician, and how it feels like he is stuck in a hole with a bunch of weirdos. He speaks of how the money may be good, but it does nothing to feed his soul, leaving him feeling empty inside. The lyrics also touch on how difficult it is to stay true to oneself and avoid getting sucked into the "urban rat-race" and chasing the fame and money. The song ends with the singer expressing how he feels like a "frozen hero" with "another day in the life" representing the constant daily struggle of making ends meet.
Overall, the song is a critique of the music industry, and how it can chew up and spit out artists, leaving them feeling like they are stuck and unable to break free from the cycle.
Line by Line Meaning
Another night, another night
Repetitive nights of the same empty existence.
another night with the the big fat zero
Another night with nothing to show for it.
Another night for the frozen hero
Another night where the singer feels stuck and unable to move forward.
it's getting tight, it's getting tight
Feeling suffocated and trapped in one's current situation.
it's getting tight for the mis-fit no-no
The outcast is feeling the pressure of society's judgment and rejection.
you gotta light, give me a lucky light
Asking for hope or a way out of the darkness.
you got a light for the midnight promo
Asking for a chance to succeed in the music industry.
Another night down in the hole
Another night spent feeling trapped and hopeless.
with all the weirdos
Surrounded by other societal misfits and outcasts.
another day, day in the life
Another unfulfilling day in the artist's monotonous life.
of a hero
Despite feeling helpless and trapped, the singer still sees themselves as a hero for persevering.
'cause we're up there beggin'
Feeling like less of a rock star and more like a beggar.
over down here rotting in a hole
Feeling forgotten and left behind by the industry and society in general.
do they call this living
Questioning whether this kind of existence can be considered truly living.
do they call this rock and roll
Wondering if the harsh realities of the music industry line up with the glamorous perception of rock and roll.
they say it's well good money
Despite the hardships, being promised financial success.
but it just don't feed the soul
Feeling empty despite financial gain.
my soul
The emptiness and dissatisfaction is affecting the singer to their core.
I get a fright, I get a fright
Feeling scared and overwhelmed by the reality of what the singer is facing.
and every hour is a nightmare daydream
Feeling like they are living a nightmare that they can't wake up from.
I gotta hide, I gotta hide
Feeling like they need to run away from their problems, but not sure how to do so.
I gotta hide in the human smokescreen
Using the distractions of society to mask their pain and struggles.
It isn't right, it ain't right
Feeling that the situation is unfair and unjust.
it isn't right that it's all in my face
Feeling like their struggles are constantly being thrown in their face and impossible to ignore.
Another fight, another bloody fight
Feeling like they are constantly battling to get ahead and be seen in the industry.
another fight it's an urban rat-race
Feeling like the competition in the industry is fierce and cutthroat.
Down at the tube, stuck in the queue
Depicting a feeling of being stuck and stagnant in the music industry, waiting for their break.
here at the station, what might he do
Wondering what the artist can do to change their situation and improve their lot in life.
'cause we're up there beggin'
Feeling like the industry owes them something, but not receiving what they feel is deserved.
over down here rotting in a hole
Feeling like they are being left behind while others prosper.
another night, another freaking night
Another night passes without any real progress or change.
You got a light, give me a light
Desperately seeking any kind of hope or help from those around them.
you got a light for the midnight hobo
Looking for a way to break into the music industry and achieve success.
'cause we're up there beggin'
Continuing to feel like the industry owes them something and isn't giving them what they deserve.
'cause we're up there beggin'
Continuing to feel like the industry owes them something and isn't giving them what they deserve.
over down here rotting in a hole
Feeling left behind and unimportant compared to others in the industry.
do they call this living
Questioning if this kind of life can be considered living.
do they call this rock and roll
Wondering if the hardships of the industry are truly in line with the spirit of rock and roll.
they say it's well good money
Being promised financial rewards despite the struggles and hardships.
but it just don't feed the soul
Feeling empty and unfulfilled despite financial success.
my soul
The emptiness and dissatisfaction is affecting the artist to their core.
Contributed by Liam M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jaime Alvarado
on Rain
great song ,,, !!!!!!!