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.
Old Time Rock & Roll
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll sit and listen to 'em by myself
Today's music ain't got the same soul
I like that old time rock 'n' roll
Don't try to take me to a disco
You'll never even get me out on the floor
In ten minutes I'll be late for the door
Still like that old time rock 'n' roll
That kind of music just soothes the soul
I reminisce about the days of old
With that old time rock 'n' roll
Won't go to hear them play a tango
I'd rather hear some blues or funky soul
There's only one sure way to get me to go
Start playing old time rock 'n' roll
Still like that old time rock 'n' roll
That kind of music just soothes the soul
I reminisce about the days of old
With that old time rock 'n' roll
Call me a relic, call me what you will
Say I'm old-fashioned, say I'm over the hill
Today's music ain't got the same soul
I like that old time rock 'n' roll
Still like that old time rock 'n' roll
That kind of music just soothes the soul
I reminisce about the days of old
With that old time rock 'n' roll
Still like that old time rock 'n' roll
That kind of music just soothes the soul
I reminisce about the days of old
With that old time rock 'n' roll
Rock 'n' roll
Soothes the soul
Days of old
The lyrics to Status Quo's song "Old Time Rock And Roll" are an ode to the golden age of rock and roll music. The singer expresses his love for the music of the past, which he finds more soulful than the contemporary music of his time. He refuses to go to a disco or listen to tango music, preferring instead to listen to blues or funky soul. He reminisces about the days of old when he would sit and listen to old records by himself, and he longs for the comfort and simplicity of that time.
The lyrics also express a defiance of societal expectations and a rejection of modern culture. The singer proudly declares himself a relic, refusing to be labeled as old-fashioned or over the hill. He finds that the old time rock and roll speaks to him in a way that modern music cannot, and he revels in the nostalgia and comfort that it provides.
Overall, the lyrics to "Old Time Rock And Roll" are a celebration of a bygone era of music and a rejection of contemporary culture. They express the singer's longing for a simpler time and his belief in the enduring power of rock and roll music.
Line by Line Meaning
Just take those old records off the shelf
Let's listen to classic rock music
I'll sit and listen to 'em by myself
I prefer to enjoy this music alone
Today's music ain't got the same soul
Modern music lacks the passion and emotion of old rock 'n' roll
I like that old time rock 'n' roll
I am a fan of traditional rock music
Don't try to take me to a disco
I am not interested in dancing to pop music
You'll never even get me out on the floor
I refuse to dance to modern music
In ten minutes I'll be late for the door
I am not going to stay at this place for long
Still like that old time rock 'n' roll
I continue to enjoy classic rock music
That kind of music just soothes the soul
This music has a calming effect on me
I reminisce about the days of old
I fondly remember listening to this music in the past
With that old time rock 'n' roll
This genre of music has a special place in my heart
Won't go to hear them play a tango
I am not interested in listening to Latin music like tango
I'd rather hear some blues or funky soul
I prefer blues or funk music over other genres
There's only one sure way to get me to go
Playing classic rock music is the only way to convince me to attend a concert
Call me a relic, call me what you will
I know people might think I am outdated or old-fashioned
Say I'm old-fashioned, say I'm over the hill
I acknowledge that some people might consider me obsolete
Rock 'n' roll
This genre of music
Soothes the soul
Brings peace and comfort to the listener
Days of old
The past, especially the time when classic rock music was popular
Contributed by Allison M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Flavio Renan
Banda: STATUS QUO
Origem: LONDRES (Inglaterra)
Álbum: FAMOUS IN THE LAST CENTURY (FAMOSO NO ÚLTIMO SÉCULO)
Lançamento: 05/04/2000
Produção: MIKE PAXMAN
Composição: GEORGE JACKSON/TOM JONES
Gravadora: UNIVERSAL
Vocal/guitarra solo: FRANCIS ROSSI
Guitarra base/vocal: RICK PARFITT
Baixo: JOHN EDWARDS
Teclado/gaita: ANDY BOWN
Bateria: JEFF RICH
ROCK AND ROLL DOS VELHOS TEMPOS
Há pouco peguei aqueles velhos discos da estante
Eu vou sentar e ouvi-los sozinho
A música de hoje em dia não tem a mesma alma
Eu gosto desse rock n roll dos velhos tempos
Não tente me levar para uma discoteca
Nunca vai conseguir me tirar do chão
Em dez minutos eu estarei na porta
Eu gosto do rock n roll dos velhos tempos
Ainda gosto do rock n roll dos velhos tempos
Esse tipo de música só acalma a alma
Relembro os velhos tempos
Com aquele rock n roll antigo
Não vou ouvi-los tocar um tango
Prefiro ouvir alguns blues ou funky de alma velha
Há apenas uma maneira de me fazer ir
Tocar o velho rock n roll
Chama-me de relíquia, chama-me do que quiseres
Diga que eu sou antiquado, diga que estou sobre colina
A música de hoje não tem a mesma alma
Eu gosto do rock n roll dos velhos do tempos
Ainda gosto do rock n roll antigo
Esse tipo de música só acalma a alma
Relembro os velhos tempos
Com aquele rock n roll antigo
Valter Paiva
Esta música maravilhosa é feita com alma minha juventude ouvia música maravilhosa
Cliff Wheeler
I first saw Status Quo at the California Ballroom in Dunstable 25th October 1968 and became a lifelong fan. One of the finest rock bands of all time. So sad Rick isn’t with us anymore. Great seeing Jeff Rich in this clip, Quo’s greatest drummer. I believe he left the band to become a drum teacher.
Paul Evans
These guys are one of the few bands that I like to hear doing covers. They were a really great band. R.I.P. Rick Parfitt.
Robert Wiesler
This is real music
Absolutely fantastic
A fantastic version of this song
Quo at its best
RIP Rick, You will never be forgotten
Joan Maiorano
Five of the most talented rock musicians ever
Den Listige
@Joan. Absolutely!
travelingwilbury6
The Quo have done really well on this one, they've taken a great song and made it their own, while still keeping the essence of the original one in. Kudos!
maggie taylor
Love them the vibe WATCHING them live is AMAZING
Charleston Heston
The greatest rock band the world has ever seen and I am 87 and listen to them every day and ------ the neighbors.
Colin Bryan
Me too. It’s what keeps us young and rockin.