It is fair to say much text written about Status Quo focuses on their peak success in the 1970s. The transformation from psychedelic pop makers into denim-clad rockers who rocked the world with loud gigs, number-one albums and a string of memorable singles is a story told a thousand times. However, the post frantic four years, and in some cases post Live Aid and Lancaster, are rarely given the attention they deserve.
The 1980s was a somewhat strange era for Status Quo. What started as a continuation of what had gone before, ended with a new lineup trying to evolve and fit with the trends of an ever-changing world. The music, facts and mythology of this era divided hardcore fans, some of which weren’t happy with the direction. This has meant a neglect of certain pieces of the puzzle when evaluating this era. This new book, by bassist, arranger, composer and educator Greg Harper, serves to highlight a decade in the band’s career that can get lost in the shuffle. (pun intended)
Part of the expansive Decades series of books from SonicBound Publishing, Status Quo in the 1980s features a chronological telling of the events of the decade. Each chapter follows the same pattern. Firstly it discusses the album released in the year in question, listing all the basic details. Then there’s a deep dive into the backstory, with snippets from the archive and newly conducted interviews with band members to fill the gaps. These appear in the form of quotes, used to further the story.
Greg does a great job of providing context for most things, and mentioning later events should they be relevant. Many of the stories I was familiar with, but there were things I hadn’t heard. Francis Rossi, John Coghlan, Andy Bown and John Rhino Edwards have done many interviews, but the appearance of Jeff Rich (Quo’s drummer between 1986 and 2000) is fascinating. Along with Rhino, Jeff helps to bring new colour to a period rarely tackled with such depth and enthusiasm.
An issue with books that feature snippets of new interviews with band members, is that not all members are still around to tell their side of the story. Rick Parfitt passed in 2016, and Alan Lancaster in 2021. Had they been able to participate, their up-to-date insight may have fleshed out a few lesser touched points the author wanted to cover. However, the author did his research and included quotes from past interviews featured in tour programmes, television, magazines and online; So Rick and Alan were still heard.
Greg also gives an objective analysis of each recorded track on the album. I’ve done this for the Quo-Cast many times as a fan, but Greg comes at it from a musician’s point of view. I’ve heard many of the tracks tens of times, and the writer nails it; There were even elements he talked about that even I hadn’t noticed. This makes it a resource for fans who may want to know how a specific popular track came about, or just see their favourite obscure track represented. I, for example, skipped ahead to read insights on their recording of Another Shipwreck from the 1988 album Ain’t Complainin’.
Conclusion:
As a hardcore fan of the band for over 25 years, I felt there was a nice balance of what was featured. The big well-documented events that crop up in interviews, such as Live Aid and End of The Road are covered at a reasonable length, but the real gem is the focus on the smaller details. There are sections throughout the book dedicated to solo projects undertaken by band members during this period. There are short bursts of focus on significant gigs and personal moments.
I would say this book was primarily intended for fans of the band, but it isn’t entirely exclusive. The detail is deep in some parts, but not so deep that a non-fan couldn’t pick it up. At just over 120 pages of text, it’s a relatively quick read too. If you’re a fan of Quo’s 1980s era, this will be a fun purchase for you.
If you’re a casual fan who wants an overview, you’d be better off purchasing one of the many autobiographies that exist. Francis Rossi’s book I Talk Too Much is his most recent telling of his life story.