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.
The Way I Am
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ain't ashamed of whatever I've been
Seen the good times, lived the bad times
Now I'm looking at the shape I'm in
Ain't got no money, ain't got no degree
But I got me somebody, she's taking care of me
And she told me that she wants me
Again and again and again and again and
I can see it in her eyes
She never tried to make me cry
She wants me for the way I am
I used to be so that I did not know
Take the chances when they came my way
Now I live like there's no tomorrow
And what is gone belongs to yesterday
Don't got no big car, ain't got no jet plane
But I got me that one thing they can never take away
'Cause she told me that she loves me
Over and over and over and over and
She understands the way I am
I can see it in her eyes
She never tried to make me cry
She wants me for the way I am
Well I ain't got everything money can buy
But I've got everything that I need to get by
'Cause she told me that she loves me
Forever and ever and ever and ever and
She understands the way I am
I can see it in her eyes
She never tried to make me cry
She loves the way I am
She understands the way I am
I can see it in her eyes
She never tried to make me cry
She wants me for the way I am
The lyrics of Status Quo's song "The Way I Am" speak to the idea of a person being content with who they are despite not having everything they may have wanted in life. The singer accepts that they have been cheated and mistreated in the past, but they are not ashamed of their experiences. They have seen both good and bad times and are now assessing their current situation. The singer acknowledges that they do not have financial stability or a degree, but they have a partner who loves and cares for them. The partner understands their situation and accepts them for who they are. The singer realizes that they used to miss opportunities that came their way, but they now live life to the fullest, knowing that what is gone belongs to yesterday. The final verse highlights the fact that the singer may not have everything that money can buy, but they've got what they need to get by, and most importantly, they have someone who accepts them for who they are.
The song speaks to the idea that happiness and fulfillment come from within, and material possessions cannot bring true happiness. The singer seems to have come to terms with their circumstances and is content with their life. It's important to accept ourselves for who we are and appreciate the people who love us for who we are.
Line by Line Meaning
I been cheated, been mistreated
I have experienced dishonesty and betrayal in the past.
Ain't ashamed of whatever I've been
I don't regret my past experiences or actions and am not embarrassed by them.
Seen the good times, lived the bad times
I have experienced both positive and negative events in my life.
Now I'm looking at the shape I'm in
I am reflecting on my current situation.
Ain't got no money, ain't got no degree
I don't have a lot of wealth or a higher education degree.
But I got me somebody, she's taking care of me
I have a partner who is supporting me.
And she told me that she wants me
My partner has expressed her desire for me.
Again and again and again and again and
She has said this multiple times.
She understands the way I am
My partner accepts me for who I am.
I can see it in her eyes
I can tell through her expression and demeanor.
She never tried to make me cry
My partner has never intentionally caused me emotional pain.
She wants me for the way I am
My partner loves and desires me as I am.
I used to be so that I did not know
I used to be unaware or ignorant about certain things in life.
Take the chances when they came my way
When opportunities presented themselves, I would seize them.
Now I live like there's no tomorrow
I currently live in the present and enjoy life to the fullest.
And what is gone belongs to yesterday
I don't dwell on the past or hold grudges.
Don't got no big car, ain't got no jet plane
I don't possess expensive material possessions like fancy cars or private jets.
But I got me that one thing they can never take away
I have something invaluable that cannot be taken away from me.
'Cause she told me that she loves me
My partner has expressed her love for me.
Over and over and over and over and
She has repeated this multiple times.
Forever and ever and ever and ever and
Her love for me is everlasting.
She loves the way I am
My partner has a strong affection for me as I am.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN EDWARDS, JEFF RICH, MIKE PAXMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
DigitalUnderground
I can always relate this song to my other half and my mam :) Never realised this was written by Jeff Rich and Rhino. Great song! Thanks for the upload!
status quo-all
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Françoise Lesage
Waowwwwwwwwww
status quo-all
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Steve Quinn
Possibly the worst Album the mighty Quo have ever done.