Status Quo still on form after all these years

Status Quo show no signs of the many years they have spent apart.

Prior to last year’s Frantic Four reunion tour, Status Quo’s classic line-up hadn’t played together for more than 30 years.

But founding member and bass player Alan Lancaster admits he was more worried about Rick Parfitt and Francis Rossi still being up to speed than himself and drummer John Coghlan.

“They had been playing in a different groove for many years,” said Alan, speaking from his home in Australia.

“John and I have still been playing those old Quo songs in other bands over the years.

“We wondered if they still had it and they did.”

Before last year’s gigs, Alan hadn’t played with Quo since their famous performance at Live Aid in 1985.

“I was devastated leaving the band at that time. It was a total way of life for me.

“I never got over it and neither had John after he left. “I lost 25 years of work overnight, including our intellectual property such as royalties.

“I thought Rick and Francis knew we weren’t getting anything, but they didn’t. It was the people who looked after us who were at loggerheads.”

So much time passed that Alan didn’t believe the Frantic Four would ever reunite. When they did, he had concerns.

“It was frightening. Would it still work? We had all changed so much.

“But it just felt right and we all gelled really nicely.”

This year’s tour has been billed as the final one, but Alan disagrees.

“I think that’s been the promoters,” he admitted. “It could be the last time but if it’s down to us we’ll do it again. We want to do more.”

Status Quo’s Frantic Four play 02 Academy in Glasgow on April 8 and 9.