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.
Is There A Better Way
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is there a better way
Is there a better way ahead
Or just another day
Theres got to be a way
To make a better day
Im gonna find away
Youre never gonna be the one to hold me down
Youre never gonna be the one to hold me down
There never was a better way with you around
No matter what I do
Do what you got to do
But do it now because the the time
Is running out on you
Youve got to find a way
To make a better day
Youve got to live and learn
To fight another day
Im never gonna be the one who put you down
Im never gonna be the one who put you down
You never know there may be someone in the crowd
There may be someone in the crowd
Is there a better way
Is there a better way
Is there a better way ahead
Or just another day
Maybe youll never know
A better way to go
Ive got a feeling
You dont really want to know
Ill never let you be the one to hold me down
Ill never let you be the one to hold me down
There never was a better way with you around
There never was a better way
Ill never let you be the one to hold me down
Ill never let you be the one to hold me down
There never was a better way with you around
There never was a better way
The song "Is There A Better Way" by Status Quo suggests that there must be a better way in life than what people are currently experiencing. The repetitive chorus asks if there is a better way ahead or if life is just going to be another day. The singer is asking if there is something more purposeful than the routine they have grown used to.
The verses suggest that the singer is going to find a better way in life and make a better day for themselves. They express that they won't let anyone hold them down, and they won't be the one to put anyone else down either. The song encourages open-mindedness and the pursuit of personal growth.
Overall, the song seems to suggest that it's up to individuals to find a better way in life, and that it is achievable. The song's repetitive structure reflects the message that looking for a better way can feel like an endless task, but it is worth it in the end.
Line by Line Meaning
Is there a better way
The singer is questioning whether there exists a more advantageous or productive path to take
Is there a better way
Re-emphasizing the inquiry of the previous line, as the singer continues to search for a preferable option
Is there a better way ahead
Further specifying the potential direction in which the singer hopes to find a superior path
Or just another day
Acknowledging the possibility that, instead of discovering a more beneficial alternative, the artist may simply have to continue on as usual
Theres got to be a way
Asserting a belief that a more favorable choice does indeed exist
To make a better day
Clarifying the intended goal of discovering a better way: to improve the quality of life
Im gonna find away
Affirming the singer's determination and commitment to seeking out this more advantageous path
To make a better day
Restating the objective in discovering a better way
Youre never gonna be the one to hold me down
Addressing a person or group of people who have not been supportive and may have tried to limit the artist's potential
Youre never gonna be the one to hold me down
Repeating the above statement to emphasize its importance
There never was a better way with you around
Implying that the presence of the aforementioned unsupportive person or people has hindered the search for a better way
No matter what I do
Acknowledging that the artist has attempted various approaches and strategies to overcome the obstacles presented by the unsupportive person or people
Do what you got to do
Encouragement to take whatever actions necessary to achieve the desired outcome
But do it now because the the time
The singer feels an urgency to take action, recognizing that opportunities may be limited
Is running out on you
Further elaborating on the previous line by specifying that delays may ultimately lead to missed opportunities
Youve got to find a way
Directing the imperative to someone else to find a better way
To make a better day
Restating the objective in discovering a better way
Youve got to live and learn
Encouraging the listener to gain experience and knowledge through trial and error
To fight another day
Implying that the pursuit of a better way may require perseverance and resilience
Im never gonna be the one who put you down
Assuring the listener that the artist is not out to discourage or disparage them
Im never gonna be the one who put you down
Repeating the previous statement for emphasis
You never know there may be someone in the crowd
Suggesting that there may be a supporter or ally among those who are observing the situation
There may be someone in the crowd
Re-iterating the statement for emphasis
Maybe youll never know
Acknowledging that there may be some aspects of life which remain unknown or unclear
A better way to go
Referring to an improvement in life direction or decision-making
Ive got a feeling
Expressing a strong intuition or hunch
You dont really want to know
Implying that the singer believes the listener may not be receptive to their intuition or advice
Ill never let you be the one to hold me down
Re-stating the artist's determination to break free from those who have been unsupportive or limiting
Ill never let you be the one to hold me down
Repeating the statement for emphasis
There never was a better way with you around
Re-affirming that the aforementioned unsupportive person or people have not offered a helpful or constructive contribution to the search for a better way
There never was a better way
Noting that despite the difficulties and obstacles, the singer has not yet found a more favorable path
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ALAN CHARLES LANCASTER, FRANCIS DOMINIC NICHOLAS ROSSI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alan Cooper
Who needs Slayer when other metal bands are lining up to butcher this? Take your pick:
Raven
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4nDCfokXQU
Lake Of Tears
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSPZvXzEt6s
Godslave
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8oQP5vlhR8
All prove that adding more metal doesn't always make things better - respect to Godslave for the Quo tribute album as a whole though 😎
I'm giving The Baboon Show some credit for instead stripping it back to its punk elements, a more worthy effort...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2159hA7DehU
Ray Woods
This is my favorite all-time Status Quo song.
Ronnie Acerra
I don’t blame you. I often see myself opening a show with it. Especially now with rock making a slight comeback over here in the states. I bet if an American band did an album of all their ‘heavies’ they could become a rock sensation!!! Is there a better way?
Erik
What a song. What an album. What a band. The Frantic Four had no match. Best line up ever. You will never see or hear a better rock band than QUO in its prime with the Hello , Quo, Live, On the Level and Blue For You albums. Thanks guys
Ged Bill
@Michael Allen Brian May is god on guitar and even Clapton is astounded by his skills !
Ged Bill
@Michael Allen I must mention Queen's Roger Taylor as he is a brilliant drummer, also the late Phil Taylor from Motorhead what a fantastic drummer he was.
Michael Allen
@Ged Bill agreed on most of them... Definitely Mick Tucker, then in no particular order... Brian Downey (Thin Lizzy), Ian Paice (Deep Purple) Stewart Copeland (The Police) Alex Van Halen (Van Halen), there are numerous others that are worth a mention, but they are the ones that stand out to me as very good drummers.
Michael Allen
@Ged Bill no mate, old mate Richie Blackmore leaves Brian May for dead.... May is good guitar player, Richie is the maestro!!!
Richard Clark
Have you not heard of Piledriver?? No better pair of songs in the quo oeuvre than Don’t waste my time and Big fat mama.
Tony Dean
What a vastly underrated band and song. Thank you Alan Lancaster.
lukas marzell
Mid 70s hardrock with some punk influence. The middlesection after second chorus is one of their wildest moments. Legendary
Rick musta play this song with full energy where ever they perform it, great rock song