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.
Where I Am
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What is this thing that is constantly happening to me, yeah
'Cause when you hold me tight, oh how it feels so right
Yeah and I know where I am
If I should cry, let me cry
My tears are crying a lullaby
'Cause when I hold you tight, oh how it feels so right
Changes in me, learning to be
Everything that I just silently wanted to see
'Cause when I'm all alone, everything that I own
Lets me know where I am
Give to me what you can
I'll give you all I command
The lyrics in Status Quo's song Where I Am speak to the idea of finding oneself through the love and support of another person. The first few lines serve as a plea for understanding from a lover, asking for clarity on what is happening between them. However, the following lines offer reassurance that when the two of them are together, in each other's arms, everything feels right and the singer knows where they are emotionally. The chorus emphasizes that even if the singer were to cry or otherwise express vulnerability, they know that they are in the right place because of the comfort and connection they feel with their partner.
The second verse delves more into the personal growth that can happen within oneself through a supportive relationship. The singer mentions changes that they have undergone and becoming the person they have always quietly wanted to be. Perhaps this is because the relationship has given them the confidence to be themselves, or because the partner has provided encouragement along the way. The lyric "everything that I own lets me know where I am" could be read in a few ways - it could be that the material things the singer owns serve as markers of their personal progress, or that even when they are alone, they feel a sense of home and self-assuredness that comes from the relationship.
Overall, the song seems to be a celebration of finding internal peace and happiness through connection with another person. The lines "give to me what you can, I'll give you all I command" suggest a reciprocal partnership in which both people give what they can to support each other.
Line by Line Meaning
Let me know, let me see
I want to understand what is constantly happening to me
What is this thing that is constantly happening to me, yeah
I am curious about the situation that keeps occurring in my life
'Cause when you hold me tight, oh how it feels so right
When you embrace me closely, it brings me joy and happiness
Yeah and I know where I am
I feel grounded and reassured of my current location in life
If I should cry, let me cry
Allow me to express my emotions in that way if I feel the need to
My tears are crying a lullaby
My tears are a way of soothing myself to sleep
'Cause when I hold you tight, oh how it feels so right
The warmth of your embrace brings me comfort and solace
Yeah and I know where I am
I am aware of my place and position in this moment
Changes in me, learning to be
I am evolving and growing as a person and discovering who I am
Everything that I just silently wanted to see
I am seeing and experiencing everything I've been wanting, even if I didn't voice it aloud
'Cause when I'm all alone, everything that I own
When I am by myself, everything I possess reminds me of my position and purpose
Lets me know where I am
It helps me understand my place and my direction in life
Give to me what you can
Provide me with what you are capable of giving
I'll give you all I command
I am willing to give you all that I am capable of, in exchange for what you can provide
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RICK PARFITT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Chris Montignani
I’ve always thought that Status Quo’s early material was without doubt their best and this track is a Quo classic for sure .. I have several copies of this fantastic album and each and every track is an absolute gem.
Alain Pesnel
M’y favourite band for ever
blimpy61
By the time I get my thoughts together, this song will be over!
Rik Parmentier
So, then can play it all over again, until you did ;-).
MrTrueblue1873
This song reminds me of a missed chance........
Tihomir Martinov
Thi is one of the best songs ever... not only Status Quo best... but best songs EVER!!!
Peter Dahlén
Indeed, extremely underrated song.
Di Massimo
Agree!
Michael Curran
I don't think myself that this song is a very good song, it's too slow and I don't recall any bands or groups doing it in the seventies when the Quo were at their best!
Alan Baird
Lancaster and Parfitt were Quo.....fucking beautiful!