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.
Lonely Man
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What on earth are you looking for?
You're protection is quite clear
And you're never really near
Will you ever find what you are looking for?
Seeing others on the shelf
Only thinking of yourself
Will your pockets ever burn?
Will you ever find what you are looking for?
Look at the sky, why do you cry?
What do you see? Your misery
Look at the sky, why do you cry?
What do you see? Your misery
Lonely man, you're on your own
Find someone to take you home
A friend is what you need
Would you mind if it was me?
Maybe then you'll find what you are looking for.
Will you ever find what you are looking for?
The lyrics to Status Quo's song "Lonely Man" tell the story of a man who is searching for something, but doesn't seem to know exactly what it is. He is depicted as being isolated, standing alone on the shore, looking out into the distance, and consumed by his own thoughts. The song introspectively questions whether the man will ever find what he is looking for. The chorus repeats the question, drawing attention to the theme of desperation and the man's sense of futility as he searches for meaning in his life.
The second verse adds layers to his characterization by suggesting that he is self-centered and perhaps unaware of how his actions affect others, resulting in his loneliness. His self-absorption has made him isolated and unfulfilled. The lyrics encourage him to reach out to others, to find a friend who can help him find what he is looking for. The chorus then repeats with the same sense of melancholy and frustration, emphasizing the man's continuing sense of isolation.
Line by Line Meaning
Lonely man upon the shore
An unhappy man is standing alone on the beach
What on earth are you looking for?
What exactly are you searching for?
You're protection is quite clear
You seem to be guarded, with protective walls up
And you're never really near
You're emotionally distant or inaccessible
Will you ever find what you are looking for?
Do you think you'll ever discover what you're searching for?
Seeing others on the shelf
Observing others from afar
Only thinking of yourself
Selfish motives and actions
Will you ever start to learn?
Are you open to acquiring knowledge and wisdom?
Will your pockets ever burn?
Will you ever experience financial hardship?
Will you ever find what you are looking for?
Do you wonder if you'll find what you're looking for?
Look at the sky, why do you cry?
Suggesting that the man is sad, and the sky might be a reason why
What do you see? Your misery
Misery and pain within yourself
Lonely man, you're on your own
A reminder that he must find his way alone
Find someone to take you home
Find someone who can offer comfort and companionship
A friend is what you need
A loyal companion would be beneficial
Would you mind if it was me?
Asking if the lonely man would accept friendship from the singer
Maybe then you'll find what you are looking for.
Possibly, friendship will lead to finding what you've been searching for.
Will you ever find what you are looking for?
A final question wondering if you'll ever find what you've been searching for.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ALAN LANCASTER, RICK PARFITT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Seansaighdeoir
This is a quality track. Has a place of its own like nothing else they've done. Base and vocals are perfect.
williamgeorgefraser
The best Quo song of all. What a pity we don't have a video of them playing this live. The way this builds up from acoustic to full-blown rock is just incredible.
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 then QUO in its prime with the Hello , Quo, Live, On the Level and Blue For You albums. Thanks guys.
Ian Crockert
Brilliant Band
mark murphy
Bands evolve sometimes for the better sometimes not, I stopped listening to Quo after ‘Blue for you’ I just felt the direction & personal changes were wrong, but for 5 or 6 years previous the frantic four were untouchable, the live shows caused near riots & the ‘hello’ ‘quo’ & ‘on the level’ albums are masterpieces
Richard Burton
mark murphy Funny, I was exactly the same.
Tony Gabis
That's interesting, I gave up after Blue For You too! I thought they were finally getting a bit "samey" and going through the motions. I guess the advent of punk made them sound a bit dated all of a sudden too.
Mick Ronson
I gave up after Hello when the whole denim thing became a bit of a cliche and I had a more sophisticated image to pursue!
Steve Cooney
I have to agree with everything you have just said furthermore I think Francis Rossi ( and I once had a memorable Evening with him) has turned the new Quo into his backing band and when Rick had his cardiac arrest and subsequently died Status Quo died too, those are my heart felt feelings about a British institution
Harry Derksen
Spot on Mark!