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.
Over and Done
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I really thought we would have made it but now its gone
Can you look into my eyes and tell me that there's nothing wrong
I know you know it's not the same, it's not the same old song
It's over and over and over, I told you it's over and done
None of us are getting younger and we all want to be a millionaire
And when you stop to think about it, it seems unfair
And never understand the meaning of the love we share
It's over and over, I told you it's over, it's only fair
Oh it's over and over, I told you it's over and done
It's no good trying to make it better, you know it doesn't feel right to do
Everything we shared together would break in two
Can you hear what I've been trying to say? I wouldn't do you wrong
We've got to get it over now and learn to carry on
It's over and over and over, I told you it's over and done
It's over and over and over, I told you it's over and done
Oh it's over and over, I told you it's over and done
The main theme of Status Quo's song "Over And Done" seems to be breakups and moving on. The song opens with the singer apologizing for ending the relationship, admitting that he had hoped it would work out, but it's now over. He asks the partner to look into his eyes and tell him that he's okay with the break-up, but he can tell that things aren't the same as before. The chorus repeats that it's over and done, emphasizing that the relationship is permanently over.
The second verse discusses the idea that life is unfair and that people want to become wealthy but don't take the time to appreciate the love that they share with others. The singer suggests that it's essential to reflect on relationships and try to understand them better and that this process is necessary to move forward.
In the final verse, the singer acknowledges that trying to fix the relationship wouldn't feel right as things wouldn't go back to how it was, and it would end up breaking into pieces once again. He encourages his partner to listen and assures them that he would not do them wrong. Instead, they need to move past their relationship and learn to carry on with life.
Overall, "Over And Done" is an emotional song about the end of a relationship and the importance of coming to terms with it, growing and moving on. The lyrics remind us that sometimes break-ups feel necessary, and that acknowledging this is the best way to move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
I really didn't want to break it, you know I'm sorry its over and done
I had no intention of ending things, and I regret that it's over now
I really thought we would have made it but now its gone
I had high hopes for our relationship, but now it's ended
Can you look into my eyes and tell me that there's nothing wrong
I want to know if you truly believe that everything is okay between us
I know you know it's not the same, it's not the same old song
I'm aware that things have changed between us, and it's not like it used to be
It's over and over and over, I told you it's over and done
I keep repeating that it's over because I want us both to accept that fact
None of us are getting younger and we all want to be a millionaire
We're all getting older, and we all have dreams of financial success
And when you stop to think about it, it seems unfair
If you reflect on the reality of our situation, it can feel unjust
But if you never stop to think at all you'd never be aware
If you always avoid thinking about the hard truths, you won't be conscious of them
And never understand the meaning of the love we share
You won't comprehend how deep our love truly is if you don't confront the difficulties
It's over and over, I told you it's over, it's only fair
I'm acknowledging that I keep repeating that it's over, but it's important to accept and move on
It's no good trying to make it better, you know it doesn't feel right to do
I don't want to try to fix things because it wouldn't be genuine or natural
Everything we shared together would break in two
Our relationship would fall apart if we tried to force it to work
Can you hear what I've been trying to say? I wouldn't do you wrong
I hope you can understand my perspective and trust that I had good intentions
We've got to get it over now and learn to carry on
It's time to move past this and find a way to move forward
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ALAN CHARLES LANCASTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Michael Platter
this tune has so many positive vibrations...... incredibly
Tina La Barbera
My favourite Quo album . Love it
Paul Norton
An excellent song.
amauri verona
Buena rola muy movida como todas las de status quo!!!Gracias por compartir el video.
Andreas Hoffmann
One of many good songs from a great Quo Album!!!
Random crap short video's
Playing ''On the level'' for the very first time was like '' holy shit they just keep getting better and better'' still a timeless classic album nearly 50 years later ! Also hearing Alans bass was amazing
Raymond Hunt
Another class album track from the mighty Quo, Off no.1 Album and the album contains Quo's only no.1 hit single, it's criminal Quo never had many more no.1's, a national treasure, cheers boyz 🎸🎸🎤🎤🍺🍺🤘🤘🤘
Alan Strom
In the UK they had quite a few singles that reached No.2 on the charts.
The most under rated and under valued band in music history. I love them with a passion.
Tim Middleton
Love this song
Matt Rayner
Best fucking no nonsense band. Shit, I went out today in a denim jacket and jeans like I've been doing since I was 16, 40 years ago. YEAH!