Status Quo
The Darkness at The O2 Academy, Birmingham – 18th November, 2011
The Darkness at The O2 Academy, Birmingham
18th November, 2011
STATUS QUO ARE THE HARDEST WORKING BAND
According to the society, the veteran rockers performed to more than a quarter of a million fans this year, taking in nearly 30 venues on the journey. The reformed Cliff Richard and the Shadows were placed second with Take That in third. Coldplay and US band Kings of Leon also made the list.
REF: http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=1039499&c=1
Status Quo
Status Quo are an English rock band, who have had 60 chart hits, more than any other UK act, with an impressive 22 Top 10 entries. The band started life as the Scorpions in 1962, containing original members Francis Rossi and Alan Lancaster, who were then schoolboys, at Sedgehill Comprehensive School, Catford. Since these fledgling beginnings, there have been numerous line-up changes, until the moniker Status Quo stuck in 1970.
Rick Parfitt joined the band around the time the band took on a psychedelic direction, with 'Pictures of Matchstick Men' released in January 1968, reaching No.7 in the charts.
This turned out to be Status Quo’s only hit in the States. However, after the 2nd album ‘’Spare Parts’’ failed to chart, the band ditched the psychedelic sound in favour of a more rockier sound, and opted for a jeans/tshirt look that was their trademark in the 1970’s.
During the 1970’s, the band reached dizzy heights thanks to their lively gigs and constant touring, with hits such as ‘Down down’ (1975- and their only No.1), ‘Rockin’ all over the world’ (1977) and ‘Whatever you want’ (1979).
Status Quo are fondly remembered for opening Live Aid at Wembley 1985, with the crowd-friendly ‘’Rockin’ all over the world’’.
The 1990’s saw falling sales for the band, and Rick Parfitt underwent quadruple by-pass surgery in 1997, but went on to make a full recovery.
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In September 2005, Rossi and Parfitt made cameo appearances in the iconic soap opera, Coronation Street, where they played a gig at a wedding, and in 2007, they were watched by 63,000 people at Wembley Stadium at ‘The Concert for Diana’.
Their latest studio album ‘In search of the Fourth Chord’ was released on the band’s own Fourth Chord label in September 2007 in the UK, this was critically well-received but only moderately successful.
In December 2008, the band released their first Christmas single: ‘It’s Christmas Time’, their 75th single, which reached No.40 in the charts, and 2009 saw Status Quo play to an enthusiastic crowd at Glastonbury Festival.
Status Quo have appeared on Top Of the Pops more than any other group - 106 times- and have sold a momentous 118 million records worldwide. Status Quo continue to tour.
Wendy Gabriel
This information is provided as a brief overview and not as a definitive guide, there are other sources on the net for that. If however you have a story or information that is not generally known we would love to hear from you. Content@rokpool.com
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THUNDER
Once described (by themselves) as being the biggest rock 'n' roll band you've never heard of, Thunder are one of the great British rock acts (they sound like a cross between Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, The Rolling Stones and Bad Company - it's true). Having toured the world extensively since 1989, and released a huge body of records (both studio and live), they've notched up 18 top 40 UK hits. How? Not with massive Radio and TV support, no far from it, their success has been down to a combination of their reputation as a phenomenal live act, and the fanatical support of their ever growing fanbase.
Thunder have toured with acts such as Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Van Halen, Whitesnake, Status Quo, Deep Purple, Bryan Adams, ZZ Top, Metallica, the list goes on. They've won awards galore, including best Rock Vocalist (Danny Bowes - Burrn magazine Japan) and Best Live Rock Act by readers of Kerrang magazine UK.
Thunder formed in 1989, and released their debut album "Backstreet Symphony" in 1990, which went Gold. The follow-up "Laughing on Judgement Day" (which also achieved gold status), peaked at No. 2 in the UK album charts. Their legendary appearance in 1990 at Monsters of Rock at Donington cemented their place in the hearts of British rock fans. Twenty years later, after twenty top-50 singles and 9 studio albums Thunder have announced their retirement !!
Albums:
This information is provided as a brief overview and not as a definitive guide, there are other sources on the net for that. If however you have a story or information that is not generally known we would love to hear from you. Content@rokpool.com.
