artist.artist

Status Quo

English psychedelic, later hard rock and pop-rock band formed in 1962 (1967 onwards under this name). In 1962 Alan Lancaster (bass) and Francis Rossi (guitar - known as during the band's early years) founded the band in South London. Their first name, 'The Paladins', changed through The Spectres (2), The Traffic, and The Traffic Jam (2) with a lineup by 1966 of Lancaster, Rossi, John Coghlan (drums) and Roy Lynes (keyboard). In 1967, the band was renamed "The Status Quo" and Rick Parfitt (guitar) joined. Their first hit, "Pictures of Matchstick Men", was released. "The" was dropped from band name in 1969, known thereafter as "Status Quo" The band's psychedelic pop sound became more blues and blues rock influenced over the next few years and Lynes left in 1970. Their first album for Vertigo ("Piledriver", 1972) was the first to focus on the guitar-dominated boogie-rock that defined their most successful years. In 1982, Coghlan quit and was replaced by new member Peter Kircher. Andy Bown, a multi-instrumentalist who had been playing with the band since 1976, was then also shown as a full member of the band. In 1984 the band announced that they were breaking up before going on their "End of the Road" Tour. However, in 1985 they reunited and were the first band to play at the the multi-national "Live Aid" show. In 1986, a line-up of Rossi, Parfitt, Bown, John "Rhino" Edwards (bass) and Jeff Rich (drums) released "In The Army Now" which would be the last of a run of 13 consecutive UK Top Ten albums. The band's recorded output slowed after the 1980s with only three albums of new, original material released each decade but they remained a popular live act in the UK and European markets. In May 2000, Rich quit replaced by Matthew Letley. Letley himself departed in 2013 and was replaced by Leon Cave. Parfitt died in 2016, having already stepped down from live work due to ongoing health issues, being variously replaced on stage by Freddie Edwards, (son of 'Rhino' Edwards), and Irish guitarist Richie Malone (2). Following Parfitt's death, Malone was confirmed as his full-time replacement. Status Quo released their last studio album in 2019 and their last live gigs were a series of UK summer concerts in 2024. Despite no further confirmed activity on the horizon, Rossi refuses to categorically state that the group has disbanded.