Status Quo
Live Alive Quo

THE REVIEW

The Status Quo are one of the longest-running rock bands around, with almost thirty studio albums to their credit, they've managed to build a respectable career over time. Their origins date back to the distant 1962 as a rock & roll and beat group, then they turned towards psychedelia, followed by a decisive shift towards simple and straightforward boogie rock, a genre of which they became true standard-bearers. Great success especially at home, Status Quo are still one of the most loved bands in England. Much of the band's fame stems from their extraordinary live attitude; like other artists and bands, the Quo gave their best on stage. It was therefore no coincidence, nor a fallback, that in 1992 the famous English broadcaster Radio One decided to celebrate its first twenty-five years by organizing a great concert in which Status Quo were the main protagonists. The event took place at Sutton Park in Birmingham, attended by over one hundred thousand people. A large part of the same show, six tracks, was used to make up this live album, the band's third official release, while the last three tracks were from a previous performance in 1990 at Wembley Stadium. In addition to the album, released in November 1992, a VHS was also published, but it only contained the songs performed in Birmingham.

On that occasion, Status Quo once again demonstrated that they knew exactly what it meant to hold a great live act and they delivered an excellent performance. The Telecaster duo of Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt put on a show; the chemistry between the two was extraordinary, a guitar tandem that fears no comparison.

One of the peculiarities of their sound is indeed the ability of dialogue between the two guitarists, intertwining and an understanding that can, with the necessary differences, resemble that of the Young brothers in AC/DC, with Rossi in the role of lead guitar and Parfitt on rhythm. However, the two Quo are also the band's singers and even in that role they alternate magnificently, each with clear ideas on what to do and when. The rhythm section, composed of bassist John Edwards and the precise and incisive drummer Jeff Rich, is also excellent. Completing the picture are the keyboards and harmonica played by Andy Bown. A powerful rock-blues, tending towards hard rock, but never too mean, and always with an eye towards melody, punctuated by boogie rhythms and enriched by Rossi's excellent improvisations, a simple but winning formula, especially live. Nothing pompous, nothing superfluous, Status Quo are one of those bands capable of putting together an entire album with just three chords.

From the opener, the very famous "Whatever You Want", in one of its best versions, you know that good old rock will be the protagonist. Even though right after, a moment of relative calm arrives, with the more subdued and melodic "In The Army Now". The party atmosphere returns with the dancey and fun "Burning Bridges". Then it's the turn of "Rockin' All Over The World", composed by the great John Fogerty, but made famous by Status Quo, who gave the song new life, essentially making it their own. This is followed by the free-spirited ride of "Caroline", rock'n'roll in Chuck Berry style. The songs follow one another without breaks, with the usual riffs and four-four time signature. The climax comes with the "Roadhouse Medley", twenty minutes of pure enjoyment; the group dusts off the old Doors classic and mixes in a bunch of other tracks, both their own and cover pieces, like the well-known "The Wanderer", and create an epic medley. Great vocal performance by Parfitt, while Rossi gives his best, unleashing solos that shine for inventiveness and melodic taste. Bown's harmonica gives the whole thing the right blues atmosphere. The same track in the single edit version will then be added as a bonus on the remastered CD. Here the first part ends, the remaining three tracks - funk rock "Don't Drive My Car", the boogie anthem "Hold You Back", and the pure rock and roll of "Little Lady" - as already mentioned, come from Wembley 1990 and further confirm what has already been heard, with another extraordinary audience that, judging by the screams and applause, seems to genuinely enjoy the performance of the English band in the capital.

In short, a more than appreciable live album, at times surprising, engaging and vital music that fulfills its task well, which is healthy and simple rock and roll entertainment. Certainly much better than many other live albums from musicians with far more famous names. When it's time to play and give it their all, Status Quo don't disappoint; they are a guarantee, one of those bands that has made stages around the world their home. Their basic rock, made of mountains of riffs and sweat, may not be of high artistic value, perhaps nothing particularly memorable or historic, but in the end, who cares, as the Stones sang, it's Only Rock and Roll, but I like It.