Live At The Marquee - A Chancer's Guide to Status Quo

Status Quo play Live At The Marquee on Sunday July 12th

Status Quo was formed in 1962 under the name "The Scorpions" by Francis Rossi and Alan Lancaster at Sedgehill Comprehensive School, Catford, along with classmates Alan Key (drums) and Jess Jaworski (keyboards).

By 1967, the group had discovered psychedelia and changed their name to Traffic, but were forced to change again and by late 1967, the band became The Status Quo and in January 1968 released the psychedelic-flavoured "Pictures of Matchstick Men".

1977's Rockin' All Over the World's title track, a minor hit for its writer John Fogerty, became one of Status Quo's most enduring anthems with sales remaining high throughout 1980's. Status Quo's final appearance with the Kircher line-up opened the Live Aid charity event at Wembley in July 1985.

In 2005 Rossi and Parfitt made cameo appearances in the long-running ITV soap opera Coronation Street in a storyline which involved them being sued by the notorious layabout Les Battersby, and performing live at his wedding as compensation.

In April 2012, Status Quo announced they were shooting their first feature film, over several weeks in Fiji. A 90-minute action comedy, entitled Bula Quo!, taking its name from the islanders' traditional Fijian greeting, and also referencing the title of the band's best-selling album, Hello!.

The band has seen a number of changes in the line-up over the years. Nevertheless, the nucleus of the band has been stable: Guitar players Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt have been with the band since it changed its name from Traffic Jam to The Status Quo in 1967. Current keyboarder Andy Bown first recorded with the band in 1973 and joined in 1976 while bass player John Edwards replaced original member Alan Lancaster in 1986. Roy Lynes, the original keyboarder, left Status Quo in 1970. Leon Cave joined in 2013 and is the fifth drummer of the band. All previous drummers, including original member John Coghlan, played with Status Quo for more than a decade with Pete Kircher (1982–1985) being the only exception.

Lancaster and Coghlan did two reunion tours with Parfitt and Rossi in 2013 and 2014.

This is Status Quo's first appearance at Live At The Marquee.