Status Quo

 Well, I suppose tastes change over the years. At one time, if you could have cut me it two I'd have 'Status Quo' written through me like a stick of rock. They were I think the first band I got into and I loved them with a passion! I well remember my excitement when the album 'Whatever you want' came out. This was the first new album since I became a fan, I recall the anticipation of getting it, would I like it? To this day I get a frisson of excitement when a band I like bring out a new album! It's great!   

The single released from the album ( the title track) I thought was brilliant, it charted well too! The other release was 'Living on an island,' rather different and mellow for the Quo, but of course I liked it!   

I first saw them live on 26th May 1981 at the Wembley Arena with my friend Alan. I had built it up so much that I was heading for a fall! They were good, but not as good as I'd hoped they'd be, well I've seen them another 6 times since then. The most I've seen any band to date. They changed line up's until only two of the original members remained. 2016 was the last time I saw them or wanted to see them and I'll tell you why. 

Rick Parfitt the guitarist had lived the live of a rock n roll star and it inevitably caught up with him. He retired ill off this tour, his place being taken by his son. Parfitt senior was very very ill. The only other original member (of the so called Frantic Four, keyboard player Andy Bown was always rather behind the scenes so never really included in the line up which unfair to be honest!)  was Francis Rossi. It was very strange to us that he didn't mention his rock n roll buddy of over 50 years ,once during the gig! They'd grown up together, they'd travelled the world together, they were the heart and soul of a very successful rock and roll band and Rossi said nothing about his old friend. No, 'We'll play this one for Rick,'  or anything like that. It felt wrong and it felt bad and disrespectful of his old friend. It just wasn't right. Sadly just a couple of months later Parfitt died. It made me decide that it would be the last time for me to see the Quo. They continued to tour and release albums ( pretty dreadful ones tbh)  and have finally knocked it on the head, though Rossi is now on a solo tour which is music and chat. I have no wish to see him which is a shame. I'll just stick to playing the old barnstormers.