The Quo must go on

DE-RRANG! The sound of Francis Rossi's Fender Telecaster, cranked up to ear-splitting volume, shatters the silence.

He tears out the beginnings of a 12-bar boogie, tries a few notes of flashy lead, then drills out a few more chords.

Drummer Matt Letley decides to get in on the action too, unleashing a flurry of paradiddles, cymbal crashes and thunderous bass pedals on the room.

"Alright, alright," grumbles Rick Parfitt as he tries to give A-Listed his full attention. "I can't hear myself think here."

In a band where wind-ups have been part of the fabric for more than 40 years, there's only one possible outcome...

The words are no sooner out of his mouth when, behind him, there's an almighty roar as four fifths of Status Quo burst into four separate songs at once. At deafening volume.

This is Shepperton Studios in Surrey, spiritual home of the British movie industry - blockbusters like The Omen, Ridley Scott's Alien and The Elephant Man were all shot here - and location of some of rock's most legendary screen performances.

Seen The Who blast through Baba O'Riley in The Kids Are Alright? That was filmed in this exact spot. Led Zeppelin's Song Remains The Same? The bits that look like Madison Square Garden but aren't were done here too.

Today it's the site of Status Quo's final production rehearsals for their annual winter tour - a fixture in the band's calendar for a decade or more and a must for fans of heads-down, no-nonsense boogie.

It calls in at Glasgow's SECC and Aberdeen's AECC next month but, right now, despite the fact they've done it dozens of times before, it's looming large.

"The British tour is always more stressful than any other," admits Francis. "About three or four months ago, we were in a gig and I could see something was troubling Rick. I said to him, 'Are you thinking about the British tour?' and he said, 'Yeah'. I told him, 'Me too'.

"It's difficult. I'd just like to stop worrying about it. But it's a big thing for us. Even after all this time. It's really important to make sure it's exactly right so the fans who come along to see us have an experience they won't forget."

READ THE FULL INTERVIEW IN OUR DIGITAL VERSION OF A-LISTED

STATUS Quo play Glasgow's SECC on Sunday December 13 (Tickets: 0844 395 4000) and Aberdeen's AECC on Tuesday December 15 (Tickets: 0844 477 9000).

This article has 1 comment