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.
Not At All
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's like watching the river flow
Might be shallow, may be deep
I won't lose any sleep, no, oh no
Not at all will I take a fall for you
Not at all 'cause you want it all
And you try it on like a sad old song
How you carry on and on?
I won't worry, I won't fret
Are you really that lonely yet?
If you listen, what you hear
Is it somebody saying so, oh no
Not at all will I take a fall for you
Not at all 'cause you want it all
And you try it on like a sad old song
Don't you think it's wrong
How you carry on and on?
Not at all will I take a fall for you
Not at all 'cause you want it all
And you try it on like a sad old song
Don't you think it's wrong
How you carry on?
Not at all will I take a fall for you
Not at all 'cause you want it all
And you try it on like a sad old song
Don't you think it's wrong
How you carry on?
Not at all
The lyrics of "Not At All" by Status Quo explore the theme of self-respect and standing up for oneself in a relationship. It's a song about a relationship that is one-sided, with one person wanting it all without giving anything in return. The singer is clear that they will not take a fall for their partner and will not compromise their values or lose themselves in the relationship. The lines "Might say yes, might say no, it's like watching the river flow" suggest that the singer is unsure about the relationship and is taking a passive approach, letting things unfold naturally. However, they won't compromise their own principles, even if it means walking away from the relationship altogether.
The chorus of the song repeats the message that the singer will not be taken for granted or manipulated. The line "you try it on like a sad old song, don't you think it's wrong how you carry on and on?" suggests that the partner is using the same tactics repeatedly to try and manipulate the singer into doing what they want, and it's becoming tiresome. The singer is firm in their stance, refusing to let their partner walk over them. It's a song that encourages others to stand up for themselves in relationships and not let others take advantage of them.
Line by Line Meaning
Might say yes, might say no
I am uncertain and indecisive about my answer
It's like watching the river flow
The situation is fluid and constantly changing
Might be shallow, may be deep
The situation could be simple or complicated
I won't lose any sleep, no, oh no
I am not worried or concerned about the outcome
Not at all will I take a fall for you
I will not sacrifice myself for your benefit
Not at all 'cause you want it all
You have selfish and unrealistic expectations
And you try it on like a sad old song
You are repeating a tired, worn-out routine
Don't you think it's wrong
I believe your behavior is inappropriate and misguided
How you carry on and on?
I am frustrated and annoyed with your persistence
I won't worry, I won't fret
I refuse to become anxious or stressed about this situation
Are you really that lonely yet?
I am questioning why you are behaving so desperately
If you listen, what you hear
I am suggesting that you pay attention and reflect
Is it somebody saying so, oh no
Perhaps someone else has already told you what I am saying
Not at all
I am firm in my stance and will not change my mind
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BERNARD JOHN FROST, FRANCIS DOMINIC NICHOLAS ROSSI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Joakim Rognedal
this song was very good
Bob Bobuss
This song kicks ass
stolty11
long live the quo.
Simon Grönholm
the drummer is Jeff Rich who played in Quo from -86 to -00
SpudAlmighty
Ah the narrow mind of a Quo fan.
Paolo Bertocchi
xxx, >+++ magic staus quo that's all folks!!!
MarekAd
This song is good, one of better from this era...but Perfect Remedy is probably the worst album they ever made. I don´t like the sound that reminds me mainstream of eighties.