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.
Paper Plane
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I turned my back away towards the sky
I closed my eyes to look for something
Saw myself as really nothing
Then I realised my butterfly
Wasn't really up there with me
We all make mistakes, forgive me
Would you like to ride my butterfly
Riding on a long blue paper plane
Getting seasick, sorry once again
Landing strip is getting nearer
Hope the foglifts, make it clearer
Then I realized my paper plane
Wasn't really up there with me
We all make mistakes, forgive me
Would you like to ride my paper plane
Riding in a three grand Deutche car
A to be is often very far
Home is near, but such a long way
Legs and heads all feel the wrong way
Then I realized my Deutche car
Is only there to get me somewhere
Even so I really do care
Would you like to ride my Deutche car
The lyrics to Status Quo's song "Paper Plane" are reflective of the disillusionment and dissatisfaction of the modern world. The song begins with the main character daydreaming about escaping reality by riding a big white butterfly. As the character closes their eyes and looks for something, they realize that they are really nothing and that their butterfly is not really there. The lyrics capture the idea of chasing an impossible dream and coming up short.
The second verse moves into a blue paper plane that makes the character seasick. As they pan out and look at their life, they realize that their paper plane is also not real and that they have made a mistake. The fog represents confusion and not being able to see reality clearly, and the landing strip symbolizes the end of the illusion.
The final verse is about a three grand Deutche car, where the main character is trying to get somewhere. However, they realize that the car is only a tool to get them to their destination and that they care more about the journey than the vehicle that takes them there. The song speaks to the idea that material possessions do not bring happiness and that the journey is more important than the destination.
Line by Line Meaning
Riding on a big white butterfly
I am happy and carefree, living my life without a care in the world.
I turned my back away towards the sky
I ignore the troubles of the world and focus on living in the moment.
I closed my eyes to look for something
I search for meaning and purpose in my life.
Saw myself as really nothing
I am aware of my insignificance and mortality.
Then I realised my butterfly
I suddenly realize that my carefree attitude may be misguided.
Wasn't really up there with me
My previous perspective was not rooted in reality.
We all make mistakes, forgive me
I acknowledge that I am human and may make mistakes.
Would you like to ride my butterfly
I invite you to join me in my carefree lifestyle.
Riding on a long blue paper plane
I continue to live my life carefree, enjoying my experiences.
Getting seasick, sorry once again
I acknowledge that my lifestyle may not be for everyone and apologize for any discomfort I may have caused.
Landing strip is getting nearer
I am approaching a moment of realization or self-discovery.
Hope the foglifts, make it clearer
I hope that my moment of realization is enlightening and helps me see things more clearly.
Then I realized my paper plane
I suddenly realize that my carefree lifestyle may not fulfill me in the long run.
Wasn't really up there with me
My previous perspective was not rooted in reality.
We all make mistakes, forgive me
I acknowledge that I am human and may make mistakes.
Would you like to ride my paper plane
I invite you to join me in my carefree lifestyle.
Riding in a three grand Deutche car
I have upgraded my lifestyle to include more worldly possessions.
A to be is often very far
My desire for success and achievement is difficult to attain.
Home is near, but such a long way
I may have material possessions, but I still feel unfulfilled.
Legs and heads all feel the wrong way
My body and mind are out of sync and I feel restless.
Then I realized my Deutche car
I suddenly realize that material possessions do not bring true fulfillment.
Is only there to get me somewhere
My possessions serve a practical purpose, but do not necessarily bring happiness.
Even so I really do care
I still care about my possessions, but acknowledge their limitations.
Would you like to ride my Deutche car
I invite you to join me in my pursuit of material possessions, but caution that they may not bring true happiness.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: FRANCIS DOMINIC MICHAEL NICOLA ROSSI, ROBERT KEITH YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
laroudoune
Riding on a big white butterfly
I turned my back away towards the sky
I closed my eyes to look for something
Saw myself as really nothing
Then I realized my butterfly
Wasn't really up there with me
We all make mistakes, forgive me
Would you like to ride my butterfly?
Riding on a long blue paper plane
Getting seasick, sorry once again
Landing strip is getting nearer
Hope the fog lifts, makes it clearer
Then I realized my paper plane
Wasn't really up there with me
We all make mistakes, forgive me
Would you like to ride my paper plane?
Riding in a three grand Deutsche car
A to B is often very far
Home is near, but such a long way
Legs and heads all feel the wrong way
Then I realized my Deutsche car
Is only there to get me somewhere
Even so I really do care
Would you like to ride my Deutsche car?
sec ysb
4 blokes. One lead guitar, one rhythm, one bass, drum kit. Stack of Marshall amps. 👍🇦🇺 Nothing beats this !
Mad Dog
You've just distilled life long happiness in one comment, bro
Flag Wanker
Fucking brilliant quote
Tim Macpherson
Quo didn't do lead guitar, that's 1 of the things that made their sound different. I grew with them, other heavy rock bands made a big feature of lead guitar, & sometimes keyboards & drum solos, Quo didn't, and for many at the time it was a big attraction.
John Hetherington
Apart from watching paint dry of course.
Mad Dog
@John Hetherington That's very rude! There's some great paint out there....
John Wilson
One of the best band's that ever lived ,nobody can say anything else ,absolutely brilliant
Andy Matthews
So sad about alan, another brother gone.😢😢😢😥😥😥😥😥😰😰
Pedro Delboy Gomez
organització r
Joe G Kearns
We'll never see their like again. Great music, great guys