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.
Rain
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How can I give what I gave before
How can you tell me that you want me to stay
How can I stay when I'm trying to say
That I can't live without the rain
Yes I can't live without the rain
How can I feel what I'm trying to feel
You're always shouting about the doubt in my eyes
But I can't answer 'cause my eyes are so dry
Now I can't live without the rain
Yes I can't live without the rain
Now I can't live without the rain
That's falling on my head
Rain that's falling on my head
Rain that's falling
Rain that's falling
Rain that's falling on my head
I started thinking back to you know when
I'd like to send a line but then again
How can I write you when there ain't no light?
I'm feeling tired tonight but that is all right
Now I can't live without the rain
Yes I can't live without the rain
The song Rain by Status Quo seems to be about a person who is struggling with their emotions, trying to reconcile their need for rain, or the tough emotions that weigh them down, with the desire to move on from them. The lyrics suggest that the singer is searching for something, yet they cannot see clearly or express themselves fully. They feel stuck in a situation where they are unable to give what they used to, or to stay where they are, and the doubt in their eyes is creating tension in their relationships. They acknowledge that they cannot live without the rain, or the difficult emotions, and it seems to be causing them frustration and confusion.
Throughout the song, the singer seems to be struggling with their emotions and how to express them. They seem to be questioning how they can continue to move forward when they are feeling so weighed down by their emotional turmoil. The references to the rain could be interpreted as a metaphor for depression or sadness, and the need to experience those emotions in order to move on.
Overall, the lyrics are powerful and deeply emotional, capturing the internal struggles that many people face when trying to move forward from difficult circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
How can I see what I'm needing for
I don't understand what I want or need in life
How can I give what I gave before
I can't give the same thing as before
How can you tell me that you want me to stay
You want me to stay but I can't see why
How can I stay when I'm trying to say
I can't stay when I need to express myself
That I can't live without the rain
I need the challenges and hardships in life to grow and appreciate the good times
Yes I can't live without the rain
Rain is necessary for my personal growth
How can I feel what I'm trying to feel
I don't know how to express my emotions
How can I move when I'm heel to heel
I feel stuck and can't move forward
You're always shouting about the doubt in my eyes
You can see that I'm unsure and hesitant
But I can't answer 'cause my eyes are so dry
I can't explain myself because I'm emotionally drained
Now I can't live without the rain
Rain is necessary for me to grow and move forward
That's falling on my head
The challenges and hardships are constantly present in my life
Rain that's falling on my head
The struggles in life are weighing me down
Rain that's falling
The challenges in life are constant
Rain that's falling on my head
I am constantly faced with adversity
I started thinking back to you know when
I'm reflecting on past memories
I'd like to send a line but then again
I want to reach out but I'm hesitant
How can I write you when there ain't no light?
I can't communicate when I can't even see my own path
I'm feeling tired tonight but that is all right
I'm exhausted from the struggles but I know it's necessary for growth
Now I can't live without the rain
I need the challenges in life to keep growing
Yes I can't live without the rain
Rain is necessary for my personal growth and development
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RICK PARFITT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jaime Alvarado
great song ,,, !!!!!!!
@Samurai-ss5qs
How can I see what I'm needing for
How can I give what I gave before
How can you tell me that you want me to stay
How can I stay when I'm trying to say
That I can't live without the rain
Yes I can't live without the rain
How can I feel what I'm trying to feel
How can I move when I'm heel to heel
You're always shouting about the doubt in my eyes
But I can't answer cause my eyes are so dry
Now I can't live without the rain
Yes I can't live without the rain
Now I can't live without the rain
That's falling on my head
Rain that's falling on my head
Rain that's falling
Rain that's falling
Rain that's falling on my head
I started thinking back to you know when
I'd like to send a line but then again
How can I write you when there ain't no light?
I'm feeling tired tonight but that is all right
Now I can't live without the rain
Yes I can't live without the rain
@goranquo4573
Rock music straight from Heaven, nobody can beat real FF Quo...
@jonasmeier417
This rhythm, these riffs! Status Quo really feel Rock'n'Roll. One of the best Rock'n'Roll songs ever written and played.
@crownprinceofgroovy
As one of the few Americans who listened to Status Quo, I really enjoyed their performance at the now demolished Ford Auditorium in Detroit, Michigan on April 13, 1976.
@vinaymulukutla358
They never really took off in the US but have a following out there. They are absolute superstars here in the UK though.
@dazauto1400
Alan Lancaster's bass playing is pure magic.
@Tirano666
RIP ----- ALAN LANCASTER
@jackfint9042
What a song. Underrated geniuses, this is top drawer 👍
@BlueBeeMCMLXI
Under-what? You were not there. 12 Gold Bars...
@philipdowns6723
One of the best and heaviest of the quo classics.