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.
Lies
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I had another smoke after another joke and then I couldn't take any more
I't didn't change a thing, not any single thing, when someone tried to tell me for sure
I heard another voice that said I wasn't in a dream
I read a word or two about everything
I never knew the way that it oughta have been
They never told me a thing about it
I never did know a thing about it
And the times that I tried are the times that I find they don't show today
But you make me feel so good
I woke up after four, still lying on the floor, and waiting to be carried away
I woke up once again, a little after ten, will things be any better today
I't doesn't change you see, it only changes me, well someone tried to tell me I'm sure
I'm gonna hear a voice and know it isn't in a dream
I'm gonna read the lines and get a look between
I never knew the way that it oughta have been
They never told me a thing about it
I never did know a thing about it
And the lies in the eyes of a thousand eyes, they won't go away
And the times that I tried, are the times that I find they don't show today
But you make me feel so good
I'm going back to school, I'm gonna check the rule, and see if I get carried away
I'm going back again, I'm gonna try again, don't listen what the people might say
I't doesn't change a thing, not any single thing, well someone tried to tell me for sure
I'm gonna hear a voice and know it isn't in a dream
I'm gonna read the lines and get a look between
I never knew the way that it oughta have been
They never told me a thing about it
I never did know a thing about it
And the lies in the eyes of a thousand eyes, they won't go away
And the times that I tried, are the times that I find they don't show today
But you make me feel so good
I'm gonna hear a voice and know it isn't in a dream
I'm gonna read the lines and get a look between
I never knew the way that it oughta have been
They never told me a thing about it
I never did know a thing about it
And the lies in the eyes of a thousand eyes, they won't go away
And the times that I tried, are the times that I find they don't show today
And the lies in the eyes of a thousand eyes, they won't go away
And the times that I tried, are the times that I find they don't show today
And the lies in the eyes of a thousand eyes, they won't go away
And the times that I tried, are the times that I find they don't show today
And the lies in the eyes of a thousand eyes, they won't go away
And the lies in the eyes of a thousand eyes, they won't go away
The Status Quo's song Lies talks about the singer's addiction to drinking and smoking, and how they are unaware of the consequences of their actions. The lyrics convey the singer's perspective of their addiction and subsequent realization that they need to change. The singer is describing their attempt to break free from their addiction, but they struggle with the lies that are in "a thousand eyes," a metaphor for the societal pressures that encourage and normalize such addictive behaviors.
The singer wakes up drunk and lying on the floor, wondering if things will be any better today. They decide to go back to school and "check the rule," implying they want to regain control of their life, but are unsure how to proceed. Addiction and substance abuse are a recurring theme throughout the song, but it's evident that the singer is trying to overcome their addiction and reclaim their life.
Overall, the song's message is about the struggles of addiction and how the societal pressure can encourage such behaviors. The singer eventually tries to fight their addiction, realizing it's not the way things "oughta have been." The song ends with the singer acknowledging that the lies they believed in are not true, and they are determined to make a change.
Line by Line Meaning
I had another drink after another drink and then I tried to crawl to the door
I drank to the point of being incapacitated and was unable to exit normally
I had another smoke after another joke and then I couldn't take any more
I smoked to the point of being overwhelmed and unable to handle the situation
I't didn't change a thing, not any single thing, when someone tried to tell me for sure
Despite someone trying to tell me what was right, I refused to accept the truth
I heard another voice that said I wasn't in a dream
I heard a voice that reassured me that what was happening was real and not a dream
I read a word or two about everything
I read a brief overview about certain aspects of my situation
I never knew the way that it oughta have been
I was unsure of how things should have been handled or what was expected of me
They never told me a thing about it
No one informed me of the situation or provided me with guidance
And the lies in the eyes of a thousand eyes they won't go away
The deception of many people is pervasive and will not disappear
And the times that I tried are the times that I find they don't show today
My efforts to change the situation were fruitless and left no visible impact
But you make me feel so good
Despite the difficult circumstances, being with you makes me happy
I woke up after four, still lying on the floor, and waiting to be carried away
After passing out, I regained consciousness on the floor and was unable to get up
I woke up once again, a little after ten, will things be any better today
The next morning, I awoke past the point of feeling hungover and wondered if my situation would improve
I'm gonna hear a voice and know it isn't in a dream
I will hear a voice that confirms that what is happening is real, not just a dream or hallucination
I'm gonna read the lines and get a look between
I will read more thoroughly and pay closer attention to find the truth between the lines
I'm going back to school, I'm gonna check the rule, and see if I get carried away
I will educate myself and review the proper procedure to avoid getting overwhelmed by the situation again
I'm going back again, I'm gonna try again, don't listen what the people might say
I will attempt to address the situation again despite others telling me it is hopeless
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BERNARD JOHN FROST, BRIAN MCGEE, CHARLES BURCHILL, DEREK FORBES, FRANCIS ROSSI, JAMES KERR, MICHAEL JOSEPH MACNEIL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
John Mcevoy
This album reminds me of my youth. I love it. Just good oul rock n roll FUN....
Odog Q
My cousin and I loved this song so much reminds me of our good times together he's in heaven now and I'm still alive but our spirits are together forever
Roland Pratt
One of their very best
bumble1612
I was 18 when I bought the album on vinyl, at 58 I'm bouncing around my kitchen right now, brilliant album and the memories!!!!!!!!
Heavy Herti
Yes. Good old childhood days, long long ago, where did it go. One of there best albums. Typical Quo. Guitars. Drums. Less keyboard. Always loved that special sound on the album.
And i always will love Quo. There's no life without Quo!
Martin Campbell
This was the album that got me into quo I was 12years old I'm 53 now and still heard banging to qou,I seen all line ups,but frantic 4 was best you can't beat the original lineup
Nigel --
I always had a lot of time for some Quo.
Maria Kennedy
Cleaning up and bopping away :):):)
Kristian Yrjölä
Great!!!
Stephan Freund
Ein geiles Lied