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.
Halloween
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm out and about tonight
And out on the street ain't no place for me to be
Changing faces in different places
I'm everywhere you are
I'm looking for you, you'd better beware of me
'Cos I'm lonely (and it's Halloween)
And I'm lonely (it's Halloween)
I'm lo-o-o-o-one......
Running around but I still ain't found
Quite what I'm looking for
I'm dressed to kill but I only want to thrill somebody
Trick or treat, if you can't stand the heat
It's heisse, heisse, heisse
And only the lonely are in my sights tonight
'Cos I'm lonely (and it's Halloween)
And I'm only (nowhere to be seen)
'And I'm lonely (it's Halloween)
I'm lo-o-o-o-one.....
My smiling head creeps up on your bed
Glowing with desire
You'd better resign to give up without a fight
'Cos it's Halloween, you know what I mean
And even your bed ain't safe
When I'm through I'll be gone without a trace in the night
'Cos I'm lonely (and it's Halloween)
And I'm only (nowhere to be seen)
And I'm lonely (it's Halloween)
Halloween
The lyrics of Status Quo's Halloween create an eerie atmosphere, fitting for the spooky holiday that inspired the song. The lead singer, seemingly a lone figure on a mission in the dark, portrays himself as a person who is "lonely" but out "trick or treating" for a different thrill. He declares that he is "out on the street," "looking for" his prey who should "beware" of him, as he changes faces and places. The lyrics then suggest that the singer may have found his target, as he creeps up on a bed, "glowing with desire." The song ends with an ominous warning that the singer will disappear without a trace.
The lyrics of Halloween tap into the popular culture of the time and the fascination with the horror genre. The song was released in 1982, at a time when horror films had gained significant attention, and it's easy to imagine the song's lyrics could have been written for a horror movie soundtrack. The chorus of 'lonely' resonated with fans of the band worldwide, and the song became a Halloween staple in the UK for many years, played at nightclubs and parties.
Interestingly, the song has little to do with Halloween, other than referencing the holiday in the chorus. Instead, the lyrics implicate the singer as a dangerous person out on the prowl. It's also worth noting that the band Status Quo was famous for its catchy rock riffs and sing-along choruses, making the song difficult to forget once heard.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a chill in the air but I don't care
I'm feeling the cold breeze, but I'm not bothered by it.
I'm out and about tonight
I am outside, moving around tonight.
And out on the street ain't no place for me to be
Being on the street is not my ideal place to be.
Changing faces in different places
I am changing my appearance as I move from one place to another.
I'm everywhere you are
I am present everywhere you go.
I'm looking for you, you'd better beware of me
I am searching for you, but you should be cautious of me.
Cause I'm lonely (and it's Halloween)
I am feeling lonely, and it's because of Halloween.
And I'm only (nowhere to be seen)
I am alone and not visible to anyone.
And I'm lonely (it's Halloween)
I'm still alone, and it's still Halloween.
I'm lo-o-o-o-one......
I am desperately lonely.
Running around but I still ain't found
I am moving quickly, but I haven't found what I'm looking for.
Quite what I'm looking for
I am searching for something specific.
I'm dressed to kill but I only want to thrill somebody
I am wearing an outfit to impress, but all I want to do is excite someone.
Trick or treat, if you can't stand the heat
I am playing games and giving out treats, but if you can't handle the pressure,
It's heisse, heisse, heisse
then it's too hot for you to handle.
And only the lonely are in my sights tonight
I am targeting only those who are alone tonight.
My smiling head creeps up on your bed
I am sneaking up on your bed, with a sly grin on my face.
Glowing with desire
I am filled with an intense desire.
You'd better resign to give up without a fight
You should surrender without resistance.
''cause it's Halloween, you know what I mean
It's Halloween, and you understand the implications.
And even your bed ain't safe
Not even your bed is a secure place to be.
When I'm through I'll be gone without a trace in the night
After I'm done, I'll disappear without a trace of my presence.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN T. WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@oscarg.2349
Tomorrow is Halloween and I'm listening to it with headphones on as loud as it can be. Happy Halloween to all rockers out there. Long live Status Quo!
@simon201063
From Rick Parfitt's unreleased solo album, this ended up as a Status Quo B-side...heavy...
@kb3194
Even tho its from along time ago it still holds its own 👊 headphones on loud is a MUST
@Federer935
May be old but genius never fades - Rick was a real rocker with 100% spirit of rock! Anyone who doesn't rate this has no soul!
@kb3194
Federer935 so true..to me Rick WAS Status Quo 😎 their music will live on thats for sure
@joekauffman9690
This song should be on a horror movie!!!