Status Quo at Thanks Jimi Festival: British rock and the hits “Down, Down” and “Caroline”

Half a century on stage, 23 years spent on tour, 43 albums, more than 60 songs in the British charts, over 100 singles released and more than 6,000 concerts played worldwide to 25 million people. A band who have broken every conceivable record will join the attempt that has made Wrocław widely known as the European Capital of Guitar. After helping to set a new (!) Guitar Guinness World Record, they will play a full-length concert for fans of good old rock!

Status Quo’s beginnings date back to 1962, when thirteen-year-old Francis Rossi and his contemporary Alan Lancaster formed Scorpions, a band playing straightforward beat music. After several changes of name and musical direction, the group turned towards psychedelia. In 1967, now called Status Quo, they recorded the breakthrough track “Pictures of Matchstick Man”, which brought them immense popularity. Their hit debut album, “Picturesque Matchstickable Messages from the Status Quo”, released the following year, consolidated the band’s position. After “Spare Parts”, Status Quo radically changed their style and image against the record label’s objections. T-shirts, long hair, torn jeans and trainers, straightforward compositions with elements of hard rock and boogie: at the time, it was a real revolution.

After several years of relentless club touring, the band had built a loyal audience. Fourteen albums released between 1972 and 1982 reached the British top five, with four going to number one. Hits such as “Down, Down”, “Whatever You Want” and “Caroline” established them as rock legends, and their career was crowned by a performance at the Live Aid charity concert. Their song “Rockin’ All Around The World” became the event’s anthem.

Released in summer 1986, “In The Army Now” became wildly popular not only in Europe but also in the Soviet Union, where the title track became a protest song against the totalitarian regime’s war policy. Three more decades of hit albums and constant touring consolidated the band’s unique place in rock history. Other legends slowed down or retired, but Status Quo never eased off for a moment, celebrating successive anniversaries and attacking the charts with new songs. Along the way, they inspired hundreds of acts, including AC/DC, Metallica and Muse.

One thing is certain: this phenomenal band will give a phenomenal concert! It will be one of the last chances to hear Status Quo in their full rock incarnation. After 2016, the musicians will perform only acoustic concerts.

Status Quo will appear on 1 May at the Concert of Stars accompanying the Guinness Guitar Record attempt. Further artists will be announced soon. Tickets go on sale on 10 February at 12.00. As every year, discounted admission will be available for guitarists taking part in the record attempt.

See you in Wrocław – European Capital of Culture 2016!

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