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.
Stay the Night
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can anybody care enough for them to tell
It's taken me forever but finally you came
I had to look no further than any other man
Don't look back over your shoulder
'cause the love that you found
That you found darling, yeah
All you got to do is stay the night
All you got to do is stay the night
All you got to do is stay the night
Whatever is the matter, d'you think you've had enough?
So hang on that bit longer, with me it won't be tough
And don't you know I'm waiting, I have been for so long
So if you're feeling better we're off and we'll be gone
Don't look back over your shoulder
'cause the love that you found
That you found darling, yeah
Use it and stay the night
All you got to do is stay the night
All you got to do is stay the night
All you got to do is stay the night
In Status Quo's song "Stay The Night," the first verse begins with a question - "Has anybody here seen my way to heaven?" - which could refer to the singer's search for love or for a deeper meaning in life. The second line asks if anyone cares enough to help him find it. The verse goes on to say that it took the singer a long time, but he finally found someone (presumably a love interest) and didn't have to search any further.
The chorus then comes in, urging the person the singer is addressing not to look back or second-guess their newfound love. It implores them to use this love they've found and "stay the night." The next verse reassures the person that the singer is there for them, even if they're struggling. The singer has been waiting a long time for this person, and if they're feeling better, the two of them can leave together.
Overall, the song seems to be a plea to give love a chance and not let fear or hesitation get in the way. It hints at the fact that finding love can be a long and difficult journey, but encourages the listener to seize the opportunity when it presents itself.
Line by Line Meaning
Has anybody here seen my way to heaven?
The singer is asking if anyone knows the way to heaven, possibly indicating a feeling of being lost or directionless.
Can anybody care enough for them to tell
The singer is seeking guidance and help from a caring individual who is willing to provide advice or answers.
It's taken me forever but finally you came
Despite a long wait and seemingly endless searching, the singer has finally found someone who they have been looking for or who has brought meaning to their life.
I had to look no further than any other man
The person the artist has found is unique and special, and they didn't need to search for them among other people as they stand out on their own.
Don't look back over your shoulder
The artist is encouraging their partner or the person they are addressing to not dwell on the past or any regrets they may have had.
'cause the love that you found, That you found darling, yeah
The love that the person has found is special and worth focusing on, as it is indicative of something important and valuable to hold onto.
Use it and stay the night
The singer is urging their partner or the person they are addressing to hold onto the love that they have found and to stay with them for the night.
All you got to do is stay the night
The artist is trying to simplify the situation and is asking the person to stay with them, without making it more difficult than it has to be.
Whatever is the matter, d'you think you've had enough?
The artist is trying to address any issues or obstacles that may be preventing their partner or the person they are addressing from fully committing to them.
So hang on that bit longer, with me it won't be tough
The artist is offering support and comfort in the face of any difficulties or obstacles that their partner or the person they are addressing may be facing.
And don't you know I'm waiting, I have been for so long
The singer is revealing that they have been waiting for their partner or the person they are addressing for a long time, indicating a deep level of commitment and devotion.
So if you're feeling better we're off and we'll be gone
The artist is providing an out for their partner or the person they are addressing, indicating that they will leave together only if the other person is truly ready and committed to the relationship.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JULLY BLACK, LASHAUN OWENS, KARRIEM MACK, SIDNEY ANTHONY MILLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tomyelectronic
A very "poppy" Intro then tuning into the classic Quo-Boogie. All in all nice listening to it. This is one of the Quo songs no one ever talked about. A song only die-hard-fans of Quo would be able to mention right. So it's cool to hear after a very very long time in 2022. Compare it with the hard rockin "All through the night" which is a rarely known Quo Song, too! Greetings from germany.
Dave Cochrane
Lovely song - wish they'd developed it a bit more, it's like they quit writing it before it was finished. A middle-8 plus Rossi's usual trademark of writing a guitar solo around different chords to the normal tune - that would've fleshed it out nicely, instead of fading it out with a keyboard improv. But these were very strained times for the band.
John Stringer
Couldn't agree more. Thought it was quite a good idea for a song and had great melodies but just didn't go anywhere. It's like Rossi and Frost just got bored before they finished it and just faded it out. Ends up just sounding like an album filler. Shame