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.
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Status Quo Lyrics
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And we were riding down the dusty road
I took a turn around the dusty track
And said I'm never ever coming back
Aw, but baby come and ride with me
Come on and ride like it used to be
I know you like the way it feels
Riding high on a pair of wheels
Let's ride, let's ride, let's ride
Take me up and won't you come on, let's ride
It took me twenty-five thousand miles
A new starter and a pair of tyres
When at last I realised the end
Was coming up around the bend
I turned around and scraped my boots
And headed back again towards my roots
The wind was blowing through my hair
And the sun was shining everywhere
Let's ride, let's ride, let's ride
Take me up and won't you come on, let's ride
A little loving goes a long, long way
And it called me back again
Now I know which way to go
I'm never ever gonna ride alone
So baby come and ride with me
Come on and ride like it used to be
I know you like the way it feels
Ridng high upon a pair of wheels
Let's ride, let's ride, let's ride
Take me up and won't you come on, let's ride
Let's ride, let's ride, let's ride
Take me up and won't you come on, let's ride
The lyrics of "Let's Work Together" by Status Quo convey the message of unity and the importance of working together to achieve a common goal. The song begins by stating that when people stand together, they are strong and unstoppable, but when they are divided, they are vulnerable and likely to fail. The call to action for people to come together is emphasized in the repetition of the phrase "Let's work together."
The lyrics also acknowledge that life is not always easy, and obstacles can make the journey uphill. However, the solution to these difficulties is not to further divide ourselves but to work together towards a solution. The final verse encourages people to spread happiness and make someone smile, emphasizing that the smallest acts of kindness can make a significant impact.
Overall, "Let's Work Together" is a song that highlights the importance of togetherness, unity, and cooperation in achieving success and making the world a better place.
Line by Line Meaning
Together we'll stand
We need to come together and stand as one to succeed and overcome challenges.
Divided we'll fall
If we remain divided and separated, we will not be able to overcome challenges and succeed.
Come on now people
This is a call to action for everyone to come together and work towards a common goal.
Let's get on the ball
Let's get started and begin working towards our goal.
And work together
The only way to succeed is to work together and collaborate as a team.
Come on, come on
An encouragement to take action and start working together.
Now now people
An additional encouragement to take action and to work towards the common goal together.
Because together we will stand
When we work together, we will be able to overcome any challenge and succeed.
Every boy, every girl and man
Everyone, regardless of gender or age, needs to come together and work towards the common goal in order to succeed.
People, when things go wrong
There will be challenges and setbacks, but we need to continue working together to overcome them.
As they sometimes will
Challenges and setbacks are a natural part of life and we need to be prepared for them.
And the road you travel
The journey towards success may be difficult and challenging.
It stays all uphill
The journey towards success is an uphill battle and requires hard work and dedication.
Oh well now, two or three minutes
Time is not a concern when it comes to working together and achieving a common goal.
Two or three hours
The time spent working towards a common goal is insignificant compared to the benefits gained from success.
What does it matter now
Time spent working together is trivial compared to the success achieved together.
In this life of ours
In our lives, it is important to work together towards a common goal and make a difference.
You know together we will stand
Collaboration and teamwork is crucial for success.
Oh well now, make someone happy
One of the benefits of working together is being able to bring happiness and joy to others.
Make someone smile
By working together, we can improve the lives of those around us and bring joy to others.
Let's all work together
It is important for everyone to work together, regardless of their differences, to achieve a common goal.
And make life worthwhile
By working together and making a difference, we can make life more meaningful and fulfilling.
Come on you people
Another call to action for everyone to work together towards a common goal.
Walk hand in hand
In order to succeed, we need to work together and support each other.
Let's make this world of ours
By working together, we can make the world a better place.
A good place to stand
By working together, we can create a better future for ourselves and future generations.
Well now together we will stand
The key message of the song is that by working together, we can overcome any challenge and achieve success.
Every boy, girl, woman and man
Everyone has a part to play in working together towards common goals and achieving success.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ALAN LANCASTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jackhardam8577
Rick is quo....quo is Rick....brilliant voice....brilliant writing....the best rhythm guitar player on this planet....now in heaven...Rock In Peace Rick....
@alanstrom2221
Totally agree mate. I've been a fan since 1968, when as a 7 yr old I heard the piercing lead guitar opening Matchstickmen.
@alanstrom2221
Correct.
@davidrunyon5103
As a 60 year old guitar player of 50 years I cant begin to express my joy at watching and listening to the "Quo" still givin it their all and havin a good time doin it ! Thanks guys !
@adgg577
I'm only 30 years of age, but I've been the biggest Status Quo fan ever since my mate took me to Blackpool watching them when I was about 12. I've been banging their tunes out on my old Fender Telecaster ever since. I don't think I'll ever get over Rick passing away but it's awesome that we've got videos of him like this at his best. 🤘 RIP Rick!
@pariscortez3020
Rick Parfitt the Legend of Status Quo! Thank you very much Rick! Rock on in heaven!!!
@gerardvanleeuwen9456
Yeah, Rick was/is King !!
@tormodfraser3664
Best Quo song for a long, long time. Miss Rick, miss my yearly Quo gigs. All very sad. Let's Rock!
@alanstrom2221
Remember the great times with Rick and QUO!!
@ibwintherjrgensen1074
Oh, Rick, we miss you. Such a voice, such a look, such a rhytm!