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.
Stones
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But, I've just gotta get me away, from here
So long gone, I'm lost in time
Looking for an answer, waiting for a sign
Stones in my head, stones in my head
I don't know how to break stones in my head
The gloves, that I'm wearing are made of my skin
No-one knows what I'm tryin' to hide
But when I start breaking you'll see through my eyes
Stones in my head, stones in my head
I'm trying hard to break stones in my head
It's cold out here, still I'm feeling fine
'cos no one's gonna ask me to come on inside
I don't wanna know but I guess I do
'cos maybe these stones are made out of you
Stones in my head, stones in my head
I really wanna break stones in my head
I'm moving on, I don't know where
But, I've just gotta get me away, from here
So long gone, I'm lost in time
Looking for an answer, waiting for a sign
Stones in my head, stones in my head
I don't know how to break stones in my head
Stones in my head, stones in my head
I really want to break stones in my head
The song "Stones" by Status Quo is a poignant expression of the desire to escape a state of emotional and mental stagnation. The lyrics describe a feeling of being trapped in one's own mind and the struggle to break free from negative thoughts and emotions. The metaphor of "stones in my head" serves to convey the weight and suffocating nature of these emotions that the singer is trying to overcome.
The first verse sets the stage for the themes of the song, with the singer declaring his need to "get me away from here" and find a new direction. However, he is also lost in time and searching for answers or signs to guide him. The chorus emphasizes the difficulty of this process, with the repeated line "I don't know how to break stones in my head" conveying a sense of frustration and helplessness.
The second verse delves deeper into the emotional turmoil the singer is experiencing, with the gloves he wears made of his own skin symbolizing a defense mechanism that ultimately keeps him isolated and alone. The line "but when I start breaking you'll see through my eyes" suggests that breaking down these barriers will ultimately bring him closer to others and to a more authentic version of himself.
The final verse returns to the theme of escape and the need to move on, but with a new layer of complexity. The singer is "feeling fine" despite the cold, but also acknowledges that the stones in his head may be made out of others, suggesting that personal growth and healing requires acknowledging the ways in which others have contributed to our pain.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm moving on, I don't know where
I am leaving this place without knowing where I am headed
But, I've just gotta get me away, from here
I need to escape this place
So long gone, I'm lost in time
I have been away for so long, and it feels like time has passed me by
Looking for an answer, waiting for a sign
I am searching for a solution and waiting for a signal to lead me there
Stones in my head, stones in my head
I am burdened by my thoughts and worries
I don't know how to break stones in my head
I am uncertain of how to relieve myself of these burdensome thoughts
I'm reaching out, I don't feel a thing
I am attempting to make a connection, but it is not working
The gloves, that I'm wearing are made of my skin
I am trying to protect myself, but it is causing me harm
No-one knows what I'm tryin' to hide
I am keeping my struggles and burdens to myself
But when I start breaking you'll see through my eyes
When I finally break down, you will see the pain I've been hiding
It's cold out here, still I'm feeling fine
Although the external environment is harsh, I am able to cope
'cos no one's gonna ask me to come on inside
I am alone and no one is inviting me in
I don't wanna know but I guess I do
I am hesitant to explore the root of my problems, yet I cannot avoid it
'cos maybe these stones are made out of you
Perhaps my worries are connected to a specific person or experience
I really wanna break stones in my head
I am determined to alleviate myself of these mental burdens
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ALAN LANCASTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Richard Swinson
This was my first quo album. And I’m still listening
JC
Such an underrated song.
Graham Lander
This album takes me way back absolutely love it....many a night listening to it...just Fabulous catching tune..
Wayne Millward
Great build up to the so ng with rhe keyboards from Andy bown. Then the guitars, bass and drums come in great start!! The drums drive this track along from start too finish. Great vocals from Alan Lancaster a very underated track from the album from a great album!! 🎸🎸🎶🎶👍👍👌👌😎😎.
telesanchez
Good album. Not quite top 5, but the cover is a bloody good eye-catcher.
William Alan Webb
One of their greatest songs.
Alan Strom
This is so corny and daggy. I love it.
Written by most people's fave QUO member.
Alan Lancaster.
GrandadNorth
RIP Alan Lancaster :(
Bertus Brouwer
2020 still like it
Smile4theCam
Nuff had that sense for special tracks. Here Stones, on Never too late it was Mountain Lady, on Whatever it was High Flyer, ... still some good tracks in the later years (Quo died when Spud left)