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.
One Man Band
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I'm sreaming it's never clear to you
Can you hear me, am I wasting my time?
Am I working in a one man band?
When I'm lookin' straight into your eyes
Is there anyone home? You're tellin' me lies
Listen to me, are you wasting my time?
Lonely in a one man band
Words out of line, don't ever hurt you
Forever crying trying to turn you around
Woh, oh, oh, oh
Woh, oh, oh, oh
Woh, oh, oh, oh
Woh, oh, oh, oh
One man band
Anticipating what you're gonna do
Still waiting for a sign from you
Come together, are we wasting our time?
And I'll always be a one man band
I'll always be a one man band
It's lonely in a one man band
Woh, oh, oh, oh
Woh, oh, oh, oh
Woh, oh, oh, oh
Woh, oh, oh, oh
The opening lines of the song "One Man Band" by Status Quo suggest that the singer is facing communication issues with the person they are addressing. Despite talking or even screaming, the message doesn't seem to get through, and the singer wonders if they are living in a one-man band scenario where they are alone with their thoughts. The second verse takes a more confrontational approach, with the singer challenging the other person's honesty and urging them to listen to what they have to say. Despite these efforts, however, the singer feels lonely and unheard, reinforcing the idea of a "one-man band."
The chorus repeats the phrase "lonely in a one man band" and adds a sense of resignation to the singer's feelings. The bridge of the song reveals that the singer is still hanging on, anticipating a change or a sign from the other person. However, the final repetition of the chorus suggests that nothing has changed, and the singer will always be a one-man band.
Overall, "One Man Band" is a melancholic song about communication breakdown and loneliness in a relationship. The lyrics suggest that the singer is trying their best to connect with someone else, but their efforts are falling short. The metaphor of a one-man band reinforces this idea of being alone and carrying the burden of one's feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
When I'm talkin' nothing's getting through
Despite speaking to you, my words are not communicating my message effectively.
If I'm screaming it's never clear to you
Even if I raise my voice, you still fail to understand what I'm saying.
Can you hear me, am I wasting my time?
I'm questioning if my efforts to make you see my point of view are futile.
Am I working in a one man band?
I feel like I'm alone in this endeavor, trying to achieve something on my own without support or cooperation.
When I'm lookin' straight into your eyes
Despite trying to connect with you on a personal level, your eyes give me no indication that you understand or care.
Is there anyone home? You're tellin' me lies
I'm questioning if you're even listening to me, and I suspect that you may be deceiving me intentionally.
Listen to me, are you wasting my time?
I'm demanding your attention to determine if it's worth continuing to try and engage you in a meaningful way.
It's lonely in a one man band
Being solely responsible for something is a lonely experience, without collaboration, feedback or partnership.
Words out of line, don't ever hurt you
I've attempted to be honest with you, but my candor has not resulted in any change in your behavior.
Forever crying trying to turn you around
I've tried communicating with you, but it's resulted in me being frustrated and upset, without achieving any influence over you.
Anticipating what you're gonna do
I'm always thinking about what you might do, and it creates anxiety and stress for me.
Still waiting for a sign from you
I'm hoping for any indication from you that you're listening or interested in collaborating, but so far that sign has not come.
Come together, are we wasting our time?
I'm asking if working together is futile and pointless if it doesn't result in effective communication and collaboration.
And I'll always be a one man band
I will always feel like I am working alone, without any support or significant influence from others.
It's lonely in a one man band
Again, the experience of working alone is lonely and unfulfilling.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PHILLIP MALCOLM WILLIAMS, RICHARD JOHN PARFITT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
sean goodwin
Quite a good song. Imagine what the Frantic Four could have done with this!
Stuart Walker
Miss Quo, great music
Josh Tinkler
The Rhythm King
There he stands, legs apart with his Telecaster hanging Down Down
Caught in the spotlight for yet Another Game In Town
This is his moment and he is feeling mighty Fine Fine Fine
And the magic is complete when he hammers into Caroline
Thousands of people clapping and jumping to this thunderous beat
No need to be there If You Can’t Stand The Heat
Such a power coming from his side of the stage
Everybody is getting fired up and Don’t Think It Matters, the age
This feeling is only to be delivered by this One Man Band
It doesn’t care for explanation, everyone will understand
It never was a Slow Train which came down on his Railroad track
Pushed himself more than once Over The Edge but he always came Back To Back
And if he ever was in need for a Softer Ride or felt like a Lonely Man
He never lost his Tune To The Music and was Rocking On, Again and Again
But now, intro’s have fallen quiet and never again we hear the sound of an encore
He’s a Broken Man and the time has come that he Can’t Give You More
The Rhythm King is Too Far Gone, his loss has a massive impact
It is like a meteor coming down on Heavy Traffic and That’s A Fact
So Ends Another Life, he is now a High Flyer and can Shine On from above
Is There A Better Way to remember and celebrate his life than to play and enjoy his music with love
And that’s why the memory will not only be Living On An Island
No way, it is Rocking All Over The World and not too silent
It also means that the mighty Frantic Four will nevermore play and sing their rhymes
But they have given millions of people the joy of their life and far more than 4500 Times
April, Spring, Summer and Wednesdays, Rain or shine, one thing will be clear
I always will listen to and play the music of Status Quo for a day, a week, A Year
It makes me feel that Something’s Going On In My Head
And that way, you see, to me Rick Parfitt will simply never dead
Long live the mighty Rhythm King Richard John Parfitt
Thomas Jones
That's a really good poem
Martin Walthert
Status Quo forever....!🎸R.I.P . RICK PARFITT 🕯 💫 🙏🇨🇭
Dethmer Willems
Great!!!
Julian veld
0:40 so bueatiful start this song is amazing
status quo-all
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