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.
Rock
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Scooter in the house
Coming up with the incredible - the legendary - STATUS QUO
Whatever you want
Whatever you like
Whatever you say
You pay your money
Whatever you need
Whatever you use
Whatever you win
Whatever you lose. Come On
Whatever you want
Whatever you like
Whatever you say
You pay your money
You take your choice
Whatever you need
Whatever you use
Whatever you win
Whatever you lose
Stop start here we go again
On the mic I'm the luckiest man
Gonna get, gonna make your body sweat
Check my lyrical set and you will never forget
I'm the hardcore titan, a legend in time
Gonna rock to the rhythm with the lyrical run
On the microphone like a nuclear attack
Flashback going mad like the DJ's on the decks
Whatever you want
Whatever you like
Whatever you say
You pay your money
You take your choice
Whatever you need
Whatever you use
Whatever you win
Whatever you lose. Yeah
Whatever you want
Whatever you like
Whatever you say
You pay your money
You take your choice
Whatever you need
Whatever you use
Whatever you win
Whatever you lose
My name is MC Sauce
Rebel without a cause
I'm the king of slips
You better move your hips
Rigidy rigidy rock rigidy rock
Can't get enough
Rigidy rigidy rock
Coming hard and tough
I'm the hardcore titan, a legend in time
Gonna rock to the rhythm with the lyrical run
On the microphone like a nuclear attack
Flashback going mad like the DJ's on the decks
Whatever you want, Let me see you hands
Whatever you like, This is Michael, Rick and Rick
Whatever you need, Francis and the Screaming Lord
Whatever you win, Whatever you lose
Come On
Whatever you want, Jump only jump jump
I want you to scream
Whatever you like, jump only jump jump
I'm the lyrical machine
Whatever you need, Yeah yeah yeah I want you to shout
Whatever you win, Whatever you lose Watch Out
Come On
Whatever you want
Whatever you like
Whatever you say
You pay your money
You take your choice
Whatever you need
Whatever you use
Whatever you win
Whatever you lose
Right Now
Yeah
The song "Jump That Rock!" by the duo Scooter and the rock band Status Quo is an upbeat and energetic track with its focus on having a good time and letting loose. The lyrics talk about embracing choices and living in the moment, with lines like "Whatever you want, whatever you like, whatever you say" repeating throughout the track. They encourage listeners to jump and scream, to move their bodies and let the music take over.
The song's verses also feature boasts from the MC, with lines like "On the mic, I'm the luckiest man" and "I'm the hardcore titan, a legend in time." He encourages the listener to move and dance, while the guitar riffs and electronic beats propel the song forward. The chorus is a repetition of the same lines, encouraging listeners to embrace their desires and make bold choices.
Overall, "Jump That Rock!" feels like a fun and lighthearted tribute to letting loose and enjoying life.
Line by Line Meaning
Alright crew
The group is ready and wants the crowd's attention.
Scooter in the house
Scooter, another musical group, is present and acknowledged.
Coming up with the incredible - the legendary - STATUS QUO
The band introduces themselves with great enthusiasm and a sense of prestige.
Whatever you want
The band invites the crowd to express themselves without reservation.
Whatever you like
The band reiterates their permissive attitude towards individuality.
Whatever you say
The band emphasizes the importance of self-expression and being heard.
You pay your money
The band acknowledges that personal expression has financial costs.
You take your choice
The band recognizes that every individual has their own agency and must make their own decisions.
Whatever you need
The band encourages the audience to consider their needs first.
Whatever you use
The band acknowledges that individuals have personal preferences for what they use and how they use it.
Whatever you win
The band recognizes that success is different for everyone and their goals may vary.
Whatever you lose. Come On
The band encourages the audience to not be afraid of failure and to keep going.
Stop start here we go again
The band indicates that they are ready to start playing again.
On the mic I'm the luckiest man
The singer is happy to be performing and feels lucky to be there.
Gonna get, gonna make your body sweat
The singer is confident that their music will excite and energize the crowd.
Check my lyrical set and you will never forget
The artist invites the audience to appreciate their lyrics and remember them.
I'm the hardcore titan, a legend in time
The artist boasts of their musical abilities and wants the audience to acknowledge them as a legend.
Gonna rock to the rhythm with the lyrical run
The singer will perform with both intensity and skill.
On the microphone like a nuclear attack
The singer will perform with great force and impact.
Flashback going mad like the DJ's on the decks
The artist is eager to perform and create a memorable experience for the crowd.
Whatever you want. Yeah
The band once again encourages the crowd to be themselves and not worry about judgement.
My name is MC Sauce
The artist introduces themselves as 'MC Sauce.'
Rebel without a cause
The singer enjoys being rebellious and breaking social conventions.
I'm the king of slips
The artist is skilled at rhyming and making 'slips,' or poetic phrases.
You better move your hips
The singer invites the audience to dance and move along to the music.
Rigidy rigidy rock rigidy rock
The singer chants a rhythmic phrase for emphasis and hyping up the crowd.
Can't get enough. Rigidy rigidy rock
The singer continues to build hype and excitement for their music.
Coming hard and tough
The artist promises a powerful and intense performance.
Whatever you want, Let me see your hands
The band wants to see the crowd's enthusiasm and energy.
Whatever you like, This is Michael, Rick and Rick
The band introduces the members individually.
Whatever you need, Francis and the Screaming Lord
Another member of the band is introduced.
Whatever you win, Whatever you lose
The band emphasizes that the audience should be themselves and not worry about judgement.
Whatever you want, Jump only jump jump
The band wants the crowd to jump and have fun.
I want you to scream
The band wants the crowd to express themselves and make noise.
Whatever you like, jump only jump jump
The band repeats their desire for the crowd to dance and jump along.
I'm the lyrical machine
The artist is confident in their abilities as a wordsmith and performer.
Yeah yeah yeah I want you to shout
The band wants to encourage the crowd to be energetic and passionate.
Whatever you win, Whatever you lose Watch Out
The band acknowledges there may be risks in life and encourages the crowd to be cautious.
Come On. Whatever you want
The band encourages the crowd to have fun and be themselves.
Right Now. Yeah
The band acknowledges the present moment and wants the crowd to enjoy it.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDY BOWN, HANS BAXXTER, JENS THELE, MICHAEL SIMON, RICK JORDAN, RICK PARFITT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dan Lo
That intro sends a shiver up my spine and tells me that you can't manufacture rock music like this...
pechowiec13
Nic dodać nic ująć, po prostu super... Pozdrawiam.
amauri verona
Que mejor manera de recordarte Rick que escuchando una de tus geniales composiciones. Hoy hace1 año de tu partida. Descansa en paz Rick!!!
angel Martin
Incombustibles!!!!!!. Que gran grupo de rockeros!!!!. Positividad 100%
St Pauli
this by far the best footage on this tune.the energy is over the top.
Philip Menyweather
These guys are so good. Love it!!!!!
cjpalmi8
when a song gives you the shivers you know it's a great song
stopvideosplaymusic
SQ did not get all recognition they deserve here in North America. Amazing band ; just clean, crisp rock & roll.
ᴠᴧᴨᴛᴧᴃᴌᴧcᴋ
Now that's an amazing live performance.
Yvette Leerdam
An awesome band with awesome music that always makes me feel great !! Thanks guys xxy Yvette