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.
I Wonder Why
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wasted my time over you
It isn't the first time, it won't be my last
Could be the best time, don't take it so fast
I wonder if you're feelin' too
The way I've been feelin' for you
Still dream about you, but that's not enough
I wonder why, it ain't fair
I wonder why, it ain't fair
Sitting alone at the end of the day
Stuck here surrounded by hills
Can't find an opening door any more
Though I try
Thank you, my friend, from beginning to end
It sure is about overdue
Hasn't it changed? Oh, so better arranged
I call it a blessing, no messing around
I wonder if you're feelin' too
The way I've been feelin' for you
Tell me the best way and I'll take me there
It sure is about time, I don't think it's fair
I wonder why, it ain't fair
I wonder why, it ain't fair
Sitting alone at the end of the day
Stuck here surrounded by hills
Can't find an opening door any more
Though I try
Take time and trouble, but only to find
I wasted my time over you
Hasn't it changed? Oh, so better arranged
I call it a blessing, no messing around
I wonder why, it ain't fair
I wonder why, it ain't fair
I wonder why, it ain't fair
I wonder why, it ain't fair
The song "I Wonder Why" by the British rock band Status Quo is about a person who feels like they have wasted their time on someone who doesn't reciprocate their feelings. The lyrics describe how the singer has tried to make things work with this person, but has ultimately been let down. They wonder if the other person feels the same way, but are left to stand alone, dreaming about what could have been. The song has a melancholic tone, and the repetition of the phrase "I wonder why, it ain't fair" captures the sense of frustration and disappointment that the singer is feeling.
The lyrics also touch on the theme of change, as the singer notes that things have "changed" and are "better arranged" after thanking their friend for their support. However, despite this, they still feel stuck and unable to move forward, as symbolized by the image of being "surrounded by hills" and unable to find an opening door. Overall, the song captures the bittersweet feeling of realizing that a relationship isn't going to work out, even when you've put in all the effort you can.
Line by Line Meaning
Take time and trouble, but only to find
I put in effort and time, but it was all for nothing
I wasted my time over you
I spent too much time and energy on you
It isn't the first time, it won't be my last
This has happened before and it will happen again
Could be the best time, don't take it so fast
This could be great, but let's not rush into it
I wonder if you're feelin' too
I wonder if you feel the same way I do
The way I've been feelin' for you
The intense emotions I have for you
Stand at my window, the sun's coming up
I'm alone, watching the sunrise
Still dream about you, but that's not enough
Thinking about you isn't enough for me
I wonder why, it ain't fair
I'm questioning why this isn't fair
Sitting alone at the end of the day
I'm by myself at the end of the day
Stuck here surrounded by hills
I feel trapped and isolated
Can't find an opening door any more
I can't find a way out of my situation
Thank you, my friend, from beginning to end
I appreciate your help throughout this journey
It sure is about overdue
It's been long overdue
Hasn't it changed? Oh, so better arranged
Things have improved and are much better now
I call it a blessing, no messing around
I consider this to be a fortunate and positive turn of events
Tell me the best way and I'll take me there
Give me directions and I'll go wherever I need to
It sure is about time, I don't think it's fair
It's been long enough and I feel that it's not fair
I wonder why, it ain't fair
I'm still questioning why this isn't fair
Contributed by Claire E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Chris Davies
Contender for worst quo song ever surely no redeeming features whatsoever
Erick AC
Do some research, this song is not by Quo, they only included it on the album as if it were from the group.