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(from scrapbook 1, pages 14-15)

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THE DUKE OF DENIM

Gimme that heads down, no nonsense... OPERA! says Status Quo's Francis Rossi

HOW DID all you Status Quo fans spend Christmas and New Year? Cranium tilting to the delights of Quo's mighty metal box of goodies no doubt. More to the point, what did the band get up to during the world's longest public holiday? Would it shock you to know that Francis Rossi, for one, spent his leisure hours nodding an appreciative head to 'Save Your Love' by Renée and Renato?

The Duke of Denim digging the grossest duo since Jan & Dean? Horrors! But Francis doesn't care what you think, The man who made heads-down, no nonsense boogie an art form, loves a good tune. He likes opera, the classics and music that is a million miles away from rock 'n' roll, The sharp witted Cockney is always loyal to his fans, but is determined to plough his own furrow. It is those characteristics of independence and romanticism that have helped him keep Status Quo a viable force in rock for nearly two decades.

Just before the holiday, when Britain shut down for a fortnight (to give Japanese exporters a sporting chance), I had a bit of a natter with Francis Dominic Michael Nicholas Rossi, renewing an acquaintance that goes back more than a few bars of 'Caroline'.

The band had just rounded off the otherwise highly successful 1982 with a bit of a row. It was their twentieth year in the music business and honours had been heaped on them from on high. When Prince Charles decided to see his first ever rock concert he chose Status Quo, bringing the royal presence to their charity show at Birmingham, screened twice by the Beeb, with the extra showing at Christmas.

They released the album set in November, in either a cardboard box or round metal tin, with one of the albums featuring live versions of Quo songs including 'Caroline' taken from the charity show. And that's when the sour notes were sounded.

The Musicians Union stopped them using a piece of footage from the film of the concert featuring 'Caroline' on 'Top Of The Pops'. The group were outraged, summoned a press conference to air their grievances, claimed the missing TOTP spot prevented the single from going higher in the charts and muttered dark accusations.

"Here's where it all gets libellous," said Francis as we discussed the matter. The irony is that Francis personally can't stand watching himself on TV anyway — "I won't watch the film, not if I can help it. I'm not into horror movies!"

Despite his modesty, he is still fuming about the apparently inexplicable decision of MU executives to stop the band promoting the single. "The record sold 100,000 — perhaps it was selling too well!" he hinted mysteriously. "l don't know why they wouldn't give clearance to the film — it was made by the BBC in the first place! The whole business is very smelly. It was selling really well but the single goes down a place instead of going up, so we couldn't go on Top Of The Pops anyway.

Another group who weren't selling as many went up a couple of places, while we went down. We couldn't get to the bottom of it. One guy said we shouldn't get preferential treatment because of the royalty business..."

How did Prince Charles react to Status Quo? Was it just another engagement for him, like meeting a team of native dancers at an independence celebration? Francis was convinced the future sovereign was really into rock 'n' roll.

"We had a quiet few words afterwards. He made lots of jokes - he's a lovely man. And the crowds loved him too. There was no need for us to play - he was going down a storm. He tore the place up."

But why wouldn't Francis watch this triumphant rock meets royalty performance on TV? "I don't like seeing myself on telly. I love doing things like Pop Quiz but I can't stand looking at myself for some reason. It's worse in Europe where the TV companies put a big monitor by the side of the stage so you can see yourself all the time. I get people to stand each side of me so I don't see me face while I'm playing."

Despite these touches of paranoia Francis was delighted with the rest of the year's work. "We had a very successful tour. I know the country has problems with unemployment and a lack of money but people still wanted to come out and see us. And of course we have our new drummer Pete Kircher who replaced John Coghlan. Pete can sing while playing and he's not just bashing those drums. I used to know Pete way back in 1970 when I used him on an album I made for John Cann, the guitar player."

Francis likes to branch out away from Quo by producing other artistes whenever possible and is currently interested in a singer who first came to him with demo tapes about two years ago. "I kept saying 'Come back when you've got something better' and he kept coming back. His name is Guy Johnson and he's very talented. I'm also helping two guys from Newcastle called Dave and Mike, who are into Sixties stuff."

Francis was born in 1949 and Status Quo have been hit making since way back in 1968 when they scored their first smash with 'Pictures Of Matchstick Men'. Ancient film clips of them performing the number shown on BBC TV last year, revealed Quo as a typically hard hitting Sixties' band, wielding great reserves of pimple power. A slump in popularity followed their initial breakthrough and I remember seeing a confused and somewhat disorientated Quo at a pop festival at the height of the Underground rock movement, still trying to find a new direction. Consolidation and success came with 'Down The Dustpipe' in 1970 and 'Caroline' in 1973 as they locked into a style and image that kept alive the spirit of rock during all kinds of changing fads and fashions.

And while others raved of Glam Rock, Punk Rock and all stations to the New Romantics, Quo kept their hair flying and the riffs rolling, as they unleashed such classic singles as 'Down Down' (1974), and 'Rockin' All Over The World' (1977) with matching albums like 'If You Can't Stand The Heat' and 'Rockin' All Over The World', enjoying massive sales.

Quo have been through the pop winds of change with their integrity intact and gone are the days when they'd bring out a record like 'Technicolour Dream' to keep up appearances. Says Francis: "The music I like and listen to stretches right across the board. I very much Ilke Abba and ELO, although you are not supposed to say that are you? Squeeze I liked until the silly buggers broke up. Yes, and I like Renée and Renato. It's funny - sometimes you can't say if you like someone for fear of what other people think. It's like The Nolan Sisters. You mustn't like them - must you? It's not good for your image. But I like them and songs like 'Save Your Love'. It's very operatic and I like opera. The guy has got a great voice. One of my favourite operas is 'La Boheme' (Puccini). I'm a punter - a fan, just like anyone else. Now somebody like John Peel wouldn't have played 'Pictures Of Matchstick Men' because it wasn't good for his image. But kids buy music and play it justbecause they like it."

Status Quo start 1983 with the same amount of hard work and dedication that has kept them close to their fans all these years. "I'll be doing some tracks with Guy Johnson and Mike and Dave until Quo starts rehearsals for the next LP on January 24. We'll be recording at Monserrat, at George Martin's studio. We don't go there for the scenery. We go there to work even though it's on a beautiful island. I try not to think too much about an album before we start work, otherwise it tends to lose spontaneity. We go out to make records to appeal to people.

"During the so called punk movement a lot of people were saying they didn't want success, they didn't want fame or money. 'We are street people,' they said. But really they did want to be famous, just like the rest of us in rock, They were just kidding the kids."

Francis is not impressed with 'movements' of any kind when everybody has to conform to certain dress and ideas. "I just think it makes it more difficult for new ideas in music to come through. People become very conformist and narrow. It's wrong just to like Heavy Metal music and nothing else, for example. But I don't believe the kids in the audiences are as rigid as the critics. Kids who are Status Quo fans will also go and see Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and the Carpenters. Our fans are completely fanatical about us. I've seen them with AC/DC stickers and badges. We could well be their favourite group, but it's wrong just to go for one group. Listen to lots of them, like me - listening to Abba and ELO! I really like Abba's last two albums.

"I tell you what - 'headbanging' really gets up my pipe. I saw an article the other day that described how kids were supposed to do it - really banging their heads against a wall. That's bullshit. I've never seen that happen anywhere. I've seen our fans nod their heads to the beat, but people are trying to convince others to go out and bang heads on walls. I've got one 11 year old and a 15 year old and I'm very concerned that kids could think this is the next craze."

But didn't Status Ouo start the whole headbanging, sorry, nodding, trip?

"Yes we started it, but that dates back to when it was very unfashionable to move at all on stage! Groups would just stand there and play their instruments - man. They took the piss out of us and called us a formation dancing team. The funny thing is — everybody does it now. It used to be considered very groovy to stand dead still 'Because I'm really a musician.'

"Some groups wouldn't even speak to their audience. But we started nodding and swaying to the beat and then saw some of the guys in the audience doing the same thing. So we went for it. Rocking and swaying together - it gave us more confidence. Good job I don't watch myself on TV or I might say 'My God, what a stupid man!' You know there is talk of us doing some smaller venues this year..."

Francis and the boys are obviously yearning to take part in the back to the roots movement that has affected such bands as Genesis who astounded fans by turning up unannounced at The Marquee. At least that was my first impression. But Francis went on to explain: "It's not a 'We wanna get back to the people' routine. There's no way I want to go back to playing cheesey ballrooms like we used to in the old days, with lousy dressing rooms. We'd just like to play smaller venues in towns we have missed out on, like Ipswich and Norwich. I like somewhere we can use a big lighting rig. I've got used to that and can't give it up now. But I think we need to play a few of the old Gaumonts, the 1600 seaters. Maybe we'll do that after the summer, but it is just talk at the moment."

And what about the perrenial question of America, where they still haven't quite become the superstars they deserve after 20 years. "You can't go on chasing a carrot like that all your life. We're successful here and in a lot of other countries all round the world. And we'll still be going for another 20 years yet!"

So there was no chance of the Quo men doing a Jam or a Who job on us?" If Jagger can go on doing it, so can I. And I'm definitely as fit as Keith Richard! It's funny — do you know I've never seen the Stones? Every time there is a Stones tour I miss it. Ah well, there's always next year."

But what did he think of the Who's decision to quit (which they may yet rescind now The Jam aren't around to worry them)?

"It's a shame but it seems that Townshend needs it. If he can't keep it up, then he should quit. But it's a bit sad for Kenney Jones. As for me - I've got a love hate relationship with rock 'n' roll. Sometimes it gets very painful, but then you go out on the road and meet the audiences again and hear them cheering... it's a great feeling. I wouldn't want to give that up."