Status Quo: Mighty Innovators of 70s Rock

by Andrew L Cope

Status Quo were one of the most successful, influential and innovative bands of the 1970s. During the first half of the decade, they wrote, recorded and performed a stream of inventive and highly complex rock compositions, developed 12 bar forms and techniques in new and fascinating ways, and affected important musical and cultural trends. But, despite global success on stage and in the charts, they were maligned by the UK music press, who often referred to them as lamebrained three-chord wonders, and shunned by the superstar Disk Jockeys of the era, who refused to promote their music. As a result, Status Quo remain one of the most misunderstood and underrated bands in the history of popular music. Cope redresses that misconception through a detailed study of the band’s music and live performances, related musical and cultural subtopics and interviews with key band members. The band is reinstated as a serious, artistic and creative phenomenon of the 1970s scene and shown to be vital contributors to the evolution of rock.

160 pages, Paperback

Published September 30, 2020

Reviews

[Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great and detailed discussion of the early stages of the band. It mentions the really early stuff, but the focus begins in earnest around 1969, and a run of albums beginning with Ma Kelly’s up to Blue For You (although the the really detailed stuff which focuses on “hard rock” innovation kind of ends at the “Quo” album).

Some of the musical theory was over my head, but overall it’s an accessible book.

It’s great to see descriptions about those little nuances and complexities that I’ve heard through multiple listens to the early albums: this book gives credence to the reality that the band were far from one-trick ponies.

A follow up to this would be good, as it ends by mentioning other artists that were influenced by Quo, but because of the timing, these are acts contemporary to the early/mid-70s.......I think they had a longer lasting influence, in punk and the second wave of heavy metal with bands like Iron Maiden, Def Leppard and even Guns n Roses to some extent (thinking of melody-based solos).