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.
It's All About You
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
see me howling at the moon
I can't decide to park or ride
I never know what the hell to do
Can't be going slow, better make a move
I better show I'm in, no time to lose
Whoa, it looks like nothing I can do
And I remember what you said
back in December, it messed my head
and every day, in every way
it's all about you
I've been in a strange place for someone new
it doesn't make me feel so good
I can't hide the hurt inside
I never knew it could be this way
I mustn't let it show, keep it to myself
No-one really cares I'm with someone else
Whoa, it looks like nothing I can do
And I remember what you said
back in December, it messed my head
and every day, in every way
it's all about you
I mustn't let it show, keep it to myself
No-one really cares I'm with someone else
Whoa, it looks like nothing I can do
And I remember what you said
back in December, it messed my head
and every day, in every way
Oh I remember when we met
and we surrender, we soon forget
and every day, in every way
it's all about you
The lyrics to this song by Status Quo express the feeling of being lost and unsure about where to go and what to do. The singer is standing in a crowd on a one-way street, howling at the moon while trying to decide whether to park or ride. They can't seem to make up their mind and they feel stuck. They know they can't go slow, and they need to make a move to show that they are in, even if they don't quite know what they are doing.
The song then takes a more emotional turn, as the singer remembers what someone said back in December, which deeply affected them. They are still hurting as every day, in every way, it's all about this person. They try to hide their hurt from others, knowing that they are with someone else, and that no one really cares. Despite this, the memory of this person lingers, and the singer can't seem to shake them off. The song ends with the singer remembering the time they met and surrendered to this person, even though now they may have forgotten, every day in every way, it's still all about them.
Overall, the song seems to be exploring themes of indecisiveness and grappling with unresolved emotions. The singer is lost, unsure of what to do, and laying it all out in front of listeners. The emotional pain expressed in the song is relatable, and the way the lyrics are delivered with the instrumental accompaniment makes for an impactful song.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm standing in a crowd on a one way street
I am among many people who all seem to be moving in the same direction, without any other option.
see me howling at the moon
I am trying to communicate or express myself in a way that may not make sense to others.
I can't decide to park or ride
I am indecisive and cannot choose between two options.
I never know what the hell to do
I constantly feel lost and uncertain about what actions I should take.
Can't be going slow, better make a move
I feel pressure to act quickly and not waste any time.
I better show I'm in, no time to lose
I need to prove that I am committed and ready to act.
Whoa, it looks like nothing I can do
Despite my efforts, it seems like there is no solution or change that can be made.
And I remember what you said
I recall something that was told to me in the past.
back in December, it messed my head
This past memory had an emotional impact on me, and perhaps still does.
and every day, in every way
This memory or person continues to affect my life in a significant manner.
it's all about you
This person or memory is the focus of my thoughts and actions.
I've been in a strange place for someone new
I am currently in an unfamiliar emotional state due to experiencing new relationships or situations.
it doesn't make me feel so good
This new experience is not making me feel positive or comfortable.
I can't hide the hurt inside
I am feeling emotional pain that is difficult to conceal or ignore.
I never knew it could be this way
This current situation is unlike anything I have experienced before.
I mustn't let it show, keep it to myself
I feel like I need to hide my emotions and pain from others.
No-one really cares I'm with someone else
I perceive that the people around me do not care about or take notice of my relationships.
Oh I remember when we met
I recall the moment when I first encountered this person.
and we surrender, we soon forget
Despite connecting with this person in the past, our relationship may have faded over time.
and every day, in every way
Regardless, this person still impacts my life and thoughts.
it's all about you
This person holds great significance in my life and decisions.
Contributed by Victoria B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jaime Alvarado
on Rain
great song ,,, !!!!!!!