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.
Mad About the Boy
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's never in a hurry and I know the reason why
She's got her Daddy's and her fingers in some pies
She makes a double of a trouble with her lies
She says, Oh I'm mad about the boy
She says, Oh I'm mad about the boy
She says, Oh I'm mad about the boy
She's always late to meet me and she always has to go
To make another entry at another coolie show
She is a dirty little lady but I know
She only has to say the chorus and I go
She says, Oh I'm mad about the boy
She says, Oh-oh-oh I'm mad about the boy
She says, Oh I'm mad about the boy
Don't tell me your troubles
I've got troubles that would make you scream and shout
Don't tell me your troubles
I've got troubles I will tell you all about
No I don't take a drink, no I won't take a drink
But I sure take some ups and some downs
You makes me so weary
You pick me up to put me down
Don't tell me your troubles
I've got troubles that would make you scream and shout
Don't tell me your troubles
I've got troubles I will tell you all about
No I don't take a drink, no I won't take a drink
But I sure take some ups and some downs
You makes me so weary
You pick it up and put me down
You never have to worry and you never have to try
You're never in a hurry and I know the reason why
You got your Daddie's and your fingers in some pies
You makes a double of a trouble with your lies
You say, Oh I'm mad about the boy
You say, Oh-oh-oh I'm mad about the boy
You say, Oh I'm mad about the boy
The song "Mad About the Boy" by Status Quo talks about a lady who never worries nor tries and is always in a hurry. She is described as having her fingers in some pies and making trouble with her lies. Despite all these negative attributes, the singer of the song is madly in love with her, and she only has to say the chorus for the singer to go running back to her. In the song, the lady in question never has time for the singer, and anytime she meets him, she always has to leave to attend another "coolie" show, implying that she's involved in shady deals.
The second verse of the song shows how uninterested the lady is in the singer's troubles. She claims to have her own troubles that would make him scream and shout. She refuses to take a drink but takes the ups and downs that life throws at her. In the last verse of the song, the singer wonders why this lady is different from him; she never worries, is never in a hurry, and always has her fingers in some pies, but despite all of these, he is madly in love with her.
Line by Line Meaning
She never has to worry and she never has to try
She never puts in any effort and never has to face any difficulties in her life.
She's never in a hurry and I know the reason why
She always takes her time because she has everything handed to her.
She's got her Daddy's and her fingers in some pies
She has connections and is involved in many things to get what she wants.
She makes a double of a trouble with her lies
She causes twice the amount of problems because she can't tell the truth.
She says, Oh I'm mad about the boy
She claims to be infatuated with a particular guy.
She's always late to meet me and she always has to go
She never prioritizes spending time with me and always has other engagements.
To make another entry at another coolie show
She attends various events and parties to show off her status.
She is a dirty little lady but I know
She has a questionable reputation and behavior, but I'm still with her.
She only has to say the chorus and I go
She only needs to express her affection to make me forget about her wrongdoings.
Don't tell me your troubles
I don't want to hear about your problems.
I've got troubles that would make you scream and shout
My own issues are severe enough to cause extreme emotional distress.
I've got troubles I will tell you all about
I am willing to share my difficulties with you if you want to hear them.
No I don't take a drink, no I won't take a drink
I don't seek solace in alcohol and won't turn to it.
But I sure take some ups and some downs
I experience highs and lows in life like everyone else.
You makes me so weary
Your behavior exhausts and frustrates me.
You pick me up to put me down
You lift me up before bringing me down emotionally.
You never have to worry and you never have to try
You never face any difficulties in life and everything comes easily to you.
You're never in a hurry and I know the reason why
You always take your time because you know you can get what you want eventually.
You got your Daddie's and your fingers in some pies
You have connections and are involved in many things to get what you want.
You makes a double of a trouble with your lies
You cause twice the amount of problems because you can't tell the truth.
You say, Oh I'm mad about the boy
You claim to be infatuated with a particular guy.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: FRANCIS DOMINIC MICHAEL NICOLA ROSSI, ROBERT KEITH YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alanstrom2221
I and a lot of QUO supporters would disagree with your statement.
Sure they went a bit soft in '77 & '78 and returned with 3 great Rock albums in '79, '80 & '81
Then Coghlan and Lancaster left the band due to the dictatorship of Rossi. Very sad.
Rock til you drop was brilliant.
Heavy Traffic is awesome!!!!
In Search of the 4th Chord is fantastic!!!!!!!
Quid Pro Quo is amazingly great!!!!
Bula Quo has great Rock songs amongst the Jungle tunes and the Ska track.
Get your head out of your arse and listen to the ever changing sounds of THE QUO.
@user-xo3wb7yu9e
Quo at their peak. Long haired, loud and clear, powerful as hell and the famous quo stride with all their guitar cables tangeld up to a big, black ball....what a wonderful part of my youth. Day after the gig I started adding rivets on my jeans
@williamgibson4053
Quo at the height of their game. I don't even mind the triple denim. Shit, I looked the same and didn't I feel fine and dandy.
@alfredocristovamdesouza1129
sonzeraaa !!!!!
@jerrymuzak4534
don't tell me ya troubles......................
@jerrymuzak4534
@MrGunboat78
ROCK ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@TheCornishCockney
NO FUCKIN ABOUT !!
Its Quo.
@kevinjames7012
Last of the great albums by Quo! All down hill after that.
@alanstrom2221
I and a lot of QUO supporters would disagree with your statement.
Sure they went a bit soft in '77 & '78 and returned with 3 great Rock albums in '79, '80 & '81
Then Coghlan and Lancaster left the band due to the dictatorship of Rossi. Very sad.
Rock til you drop was brilliant.
Heavy Traffic is awesome!!!!
In Search of the 4th Chord is fantastic!!!!!!!
Quid Pro Quo is amazingly great!!!!
Bula Quo has great Rock songs amongst the Jungle tunes and the Ska track.
Get your head out of your arse and listen to the ever changing sounds of THE QUO.
@paulcleaver6677
what ever you want was a great album but not not quite as good as 73 - 76 - Just supposing and never to late!! you seriously cant compare them m8
@TheCornishCockney
I once heard (from a rec co exec) that ZZ Top were the American Quo.
I think thats an unfair comparison,Quo are much better than that.