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(from scrapbook 1, page 5)

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Status Quo/Sunderland

THE MANAGER of the Empire wanted to stop the gig after the first number on Quo's opening night of their British tour. Apparently people don't usually stand on their feet in Sunderland or try and rush the stage.

They did on Sunday even before Quo came on stage and, much to the dismhay of the afore-mentioned manager, stayed there and in the aisles for the whole set.

The band's following is now phenomenal (every gig on the tour sold out). Their command absolute, and with it has come a self-assured cockiness.

Alan Lancaster in particular has come to the fore though it has to be said that Rossi is still the main man.

The set was surprisingly well balanced - "Backwater", "Just Take Me" from the Quo album - " Railroad" from "Dog Of Two Heads" and the melodic "Claudie" from "Hello".

"Claudie" is the closest they come to subtlety or taste. The rest of the music is very basic ear bashing, very bawdy. Witness those magic lines in "Rollover" - "Rollover, lay down and let me in".

The audience, giving the collective impression of a jean jamboree convention (Levi Strauss, Wrangler and Brutus out in force) loved every minute and aped every movement.

So if Rossi and Parfitt stood legs akimbo, bottoms out and head back so did they, often with disastrous results, being precariously balanced on their seats. Still what's a bit of discomfort when Quo are on stage and the music is mesmerising you?

They did "Caroline" as an encore (after the roadie had untangled the leads from the guitars of Rossi and Parfitt) and one can only wonder what damage was done to the place as even those in the top tier of the theatre leapt about.

A successful gig.

Julie Webb