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(from scrapbook 2, page 43)

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LIVE AND ROCKING!

The music scene changes so quickly that it's a remarkable achievement if a band manages to last two years - never mind eighteen! Status Quo are just such a band - they've just celebrated their eighteenth anniversary! Not only have they managed to stay around for so long, they've managed to stay at the top.

A Jackie Pop Special on Status Quo.

FRANCIS ROSSI, the group's lead guitarist and vocalist, explained to us why he thought they were still so popular. "A lot of people say that there's a renewal of interest in heavy rock - but I don't think that's really true.

"I think that heavy metal fans are very loyal, and while there is a general decline in the number of records being bought, there is no decline in the number of rock records being sold.

"And so they show up more in all the charts, which makes it look as though there is a revival.

"I'm delighted to see so many new bands, like Saxon and Iron Maiden coming through. But we have many loyal fans who have stayed with us over the years and, because we're often on television and in the papers, we're always picking up new generations of fans."

One reason why Status Quo have kept their fans is because the band have always rewarded their loyalty with an extensive annual tour. Last year, though, they didn't go out on the road.

"We thought we should have a rest," Francis said. "It was getting to the stage where we were having no breaks at all, from recording to touring to recording again.

"We had no time to ourselves, and decided that a break would give us all a chance to refresh ourselves."

FRANCIS firmly believes that the rest was good for the band. "It meant that we had a lot of time to prepare our last album, and to write a lot of new songs. We didn't have to rush to get enough material for the LP, and as a result we had more than we needed.

"We were able to be much more selective than usual and I think that shows in the quality of our writing. In fact, we reckon we'll have another album ready by next month or March."

"Just Supposin'" is, in the band's view, the most satisfying LP they've recorded for a number of years.

"We had a problem with that one, because when we released our album 'Rockin' All Over The World' our fans told us that it was far too clinical and controlled, and that it wasn't like a Status Quo release at all," Francis told us.

"Yet that album sold more copies than anything else we'd ever released! What could we do?

"So, on our last album we tried to keep the technical quality of 'Rockin' All Over The World' but at the same time try to capture the loud and exciting atmosphere of our earlier albums, like 'Piledriver.'

"We think we managed to achieve that, although a record can never be as exciting as a live performance."

That excitement will be shared by thousands on the band's forthcoming tour, and they're looking forward to it as much as their fans.

"There are good and bad things about touring," Francis told us, "but once you get on stage and you feel all the atmosphere coming back at you, it's worth it. We like to play venues where the audience can stand up, but there aren't many in Britain.

"We also like big venues that hold about five thousand people, because the feeling is right for our music. But, if you go for somewhere bigger it becomes impossible to reach everyone at the back!"

So make sure you get a ticket right down at the front!

Image caption: Left to Right: Alan Lancaster, Francis Rossi, John Coghlan, Rick Parfitt.