The first single from Francis's new solo album, "The Accidental", got its first airing on the Vernon Kay Show on BBC Radio 2 on 5th November.
The single, "Something In The Air (Stormy Weather) / Go Man Go", features Leon Cave on drums and the album is due for release on 30th January 2026.
Revisit the November 2025 event list
Francis was interviewed by Classic Rock and the interview was published on their website on 20th November, titled ""When I left the band, I should have stayed left": Francis Rossi has some regrets about Status Quo's 1985 reunion" and penned by Fraser Lewry.
In this controversial piece, Francis talks about his upcoming album, "The Accidental", and how the creative control is something he really wishes he'd had with post-1985 Quo. The full interview is due out early in 2026, but this prelude is transcribed below for reference.
"Earlier this month, Status Quo frontman Francis Rossi announced his new album, The Accidental. Written with family friend Hiran Ilangantilike and solo show partner Andy Brook, it's a return to a rock sound that's been largely absent from his solo records thus far.
Most importantly for Rossi, The Accidental finds him in charge, and he likes it. Now the frontman wishes he'd seized complete creative control of Status Quo when they reformed for Live Aid in 1985 after playing their farewell show in Milton Keynes the year before.
"This is something I should have done years ago," Rossi tells Classic Rock. "And I mean years ago. It's something I intended to do after the End Of The Road tour [in 1984] when I did In The Army Now.
"This is a terrible thing to say, but when I left the band, I should have stayed left. It suited one person in management for Status Quo to continue, and also many others. We were the goose that laid the golden egg; each year was a massive turnover. Looking back, I probably begrudge them that, but that's how the world goes.
"So yeah, I should have dictated some time back. But I was too wimped-out to do it and I lacked the confidence, and of course these two guys - Hiran and Mr Brook - would have been too young. This time there was nothing to stop me."
The full interview will appear in the January 2 issue of Classic Rock, and finds Rossi discussing late guitarist Rick Parfitt's contributions to Status Quo, his previous criticisms of the much-loved "Frantic Four" reunion, and the chances of further live activity from Status Quo.
The Accidental will be released on black vinyl, crystal-clear vinyl, CD and digital formats on January 30, and pre-orders are available now.
Revisit the November 2025 event list
Andy Bown released "Out There: A Deep Space Love Story", a joint effort with Russell Hoban, on 21st November.
Andy explained how OUT THERE came about on his website, as follows.
"I first met Russell in the mid-nineties when our sons attended the same school. I was a little in awe of such a successful novellist but when sharing a bottle of wine one afternoon he suggested we try and write a song together, I jumped at it. It was then that I read Riddley Walker. I was blown away and never looked back.
Over the ensuing three or four years that song gradually morphed into a mind-bending operatic deep-space love story; a musical with cojones. We recorded a few demos and, pleased with the way it was going spent a little time attempting to find development funding. Short story: Brick wall.
So Russ went back to his typewriter and I went back on the road with Quo and we thought no more about it.
Sadly we lost Russell in 2011.
Early on this year my memory was severely jogged by an email from Roland Clare to whom Russell had given a cassette tape of the demos way back when - and 2025 being Russ's centenary year Roland was trying to organise celebrations. He thought this weird song stuff might interest Hoban fans. That was food for thought. Hmm... maybe.
Luckily all the original files were still lurking in the bowels of Mike Paxman's studio and we went through them. We liked what we heard. A lot. We went to work. Mike gave it the sonic French kiss of life. It lives, it breathes.
We thought - let's get it OUT THERE!"
The album was available in both CD and 12" vinyl formats from AndyBown.com.
Revisit the November 2025 event list
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