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(from scrapbook 2, page 40)

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STOCK CHECK
Rick Parfitt from Status Quo runs through a list of all the rubbish he's collected over the past 20 years...

HOW MANY PAIRS OF JEANS DO YOU HAVE?

Now you're asking! I've completely lost count, to be honest with you. I go through my wardrobe of jeans once a year and see which ones are totally past it, and which ones I can get a few more months out of. I probably keep a running total of about 70 or 80 pairs on the go at any one time.

I've been asked a few times why we haven't been sponsored by any of the big labels... We did approach a major manufacturer of jeans some time ago and invited them to use us in their advertising... but they didn't want to know!

The only other thing we've done like that was to put out jeans with our own label on them - "Quo Jeans" - and that idea didn't last long! Honestly, we withdrew them after a week, they were a disaster, really terrible quality, so now we just buy our own and suck to making records.

HOW MANY RECORDS DO YOU OWN?

None. Seriously, I don't have any records because I don't have a stereo at the moment. I have had records obviously, but over the last few years I've fallen out with a number of ladies, or they've fallen out with me, and that means that my records are scattered around various locations over the south of England.

I have built up two big collections of albums, and lost them both. Either I leave and the records stay behind, or the ladies go and take the records with them! These days it's easier to have cassettes and a cassette player, so that's what I do.

HOW MANY CARS DO YOU OWN?

I'll have to think about this one, now let me see... er, none actually, because I don't drive! Well no, I do drive but I'm banned at the moment so I have a little Renault 5 and my girlfriend drives me around in that. It's great for getting round London traffic in, it nips in and out really nicely.

I used to be a bit of a car collector. I had a Corvette Stingray, a Porsche Turbo, a Mercedes 450 SLC, a Studebaker Sawk, a Messerschmidt, and a Volkswagen Scirocco, all at the same time.

I used to enjoy coming out of the house in the morning and, depending what sort of day it was, or what mood I was in, choosing what car to drive that day, but now I realise that all you really need is just one nice car to get around in.

HOW MANY RECORDS HAVE YOU MADE?

I have to say I've lost count of the singles, but I think we've done about 20 albums, maybe 21, I'd have to check on that. That includes the live ones, and there are a fair number of bootlegs we've seen on our travels around the world, but I've no idea now many there are.

HOW MANY GUITARS DO YOU OWN?

About 10 at the last count. They're mostly Fender guitars, which are the kind that Francis and I normally use on stage and on records, but I've got some made by Gibson, and Washburn. I'm not really a 'collector' in the sense that I buy rare or unusual guitars, I have got quite a few, but I do play them all at various times. They're used as tools of the trade if you like.

I've got one rare guitar, a Fender Telecaster, which was made in 1960, which I use a lot. The old Telecasters have a really good sound, so they're quite sought-after, and they can be stolen if you don't look after them. I take very great care of mine, I'd be heart-broken if I was without it.

HOW MANY HOURS' SLEEP DO YOU NEED?

Well, I actually need about six or seven, but that's when I can actually get to sleep. I find that when i lie down I start thinking about things and what worries I've got and what worries I haven't got.

I also find myself thinking of ideas for songs when I'm in bed, so I have to get up and write them down. It's no use thinking, 'I'll remember it in the morning' because you never do, it has to be captured right there and then.

That means a few more hours working out lyrics or strumming on my guitar, so it can be a while before I get to sleep.

HOW MANY SUITCASES DO YOU TAKE ON TOUR?

I always used to take two, but I find I've got stuff in those, and in a shoulder bag, and a flight bag, and no matter what you want, it's always in the last bag you open! Not only that, it makes packing a royal pain, so this next tour will be different.

I'm going to get one huge portable trunk and bung everything in that, so it'll be really easy to find things. Well, that's the theory anyway.

HOW MANY HOURS DO YOU WATCH TELEVISION?

That depends on what's on, and what I've got to do. If there's sport on, like the Commonwealth Games or something like that, I can sit and watch it all day. That and cricket. I like to watch the Test Match when it's on.

HOW MANY YEARS ARE THERE LEFT IN STATUS QUO?

I've no idea! You tell me, because I just don't know. I suppose the old cliche about as long as you still enjoy it is a good one for the band.

We're having fun. We still like playing live, and we're enjoying working in the studio, so I guess we've got a few more years yet.

People have been telling us we're past it for so long, maybe no-one will notice when we finally do stop, but it won't be for a good while yet.