TOTP
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
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