From Planet Rock.
Status Quo guitarist and vocalist Francis Rossi has marked the 35th anniversary of Live Aid today (13th July) by reflecting upon the momentous concert at Wembley Stadium.
After the Coldstream Guards band opened with the Royal Salute and a brief version of ‘God Save the Queen’, at one minute past midday on a gloriously sunny Saturday 13th July 1985, Status Quo were the first band to grace the Wembley stage.
Live Aid was Status Quo’s first concert since the conclusion of the End of the Road Tour in Milton Keynes in July 1984, which, in Francis Rossi’s own words, ended with everybody “coked-up and hating each other.”
Despite these fraught tensions within the band, Status Quo triumphed during their 14-minute set at Live Aid and had the 72,000 strong Wembley crowd bouncing as they performed ‘Rockin’ All Over The World’, ‘Caroline’ and ‘Don’t Waste My Time’.
Ultimately it proved to be Status Quo’s only show of 1985 and their final gig with bassist Alan Lancaster (except the reunion Frantic Four tour in 2013-2014) and drummer Peter Kircher in their ranks.
Reflecting upon Live Aid on the event’s 35th anniversary today, Francis Rossi said:
“Whenever Quo step onto a stage we strive to give it our best, no one audience or gig is more important than another to the band, but it is undeniable that the 13th of July 1985 was special. There were serious tensions in the band at the time, I arrived in some ways wondering how I’d been persuaded to turn up.
“Some of the other acts were interested in who was going to play last, to headline, whilst we decided to go on first so that we could be done and dusted. Turned out to be a great decision, it was Quo’s music that kicked things off as seemingly the whole world’s attention came to bear to on what Live Aid was trying to communicate.
“It was over in a flash and, whilst I’m not one for nostalgia or dwelling on past glories, at the time it felt important and thirty-five years later it still does.”
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- Status Quo - 12 Gold Bars - EX - UK - vinyl LP - £10.00, $12.00, €11.20 (New Item) (arrived 03-Feb-2023 17:01)on February 8, 2023 at 1:52 pm
STATUS QUO 12 Gold Bars (1980 UK vinyl LP featuring a compilation of twelve classic Quo hits, including Rockin' All Over The World, Down, Down, Roll Over, Lay Down, Whatever You Want & more. The picture sleeve shows mild wear & the vinyl remains in excellent condition with the odd light sign of play QUOTV1)
- Status Quo - The Technicolour Dreams Of - UK - 2-CD album set - £18.99, $22.79, €21.27 (New Item) (arrived 20-Jan-2023 10:11)on February 8, 2023 at 1:52 pm
STATUS QUO The Technicolour Dreams Of (2001 UK 51-track double CD set which collects together the entire 60s output of one of the greatest rock bands of all time, prior to their ascendancy as denim clad rockers, the band evolved out of the beat and Mod scenes of the mid 60s, taking in the poppier side of psychedelia along the way; including their early incarnations of The Spectres and Traffic Jam plus rare mixes and outtakes. The two discs come issued in the slim-double jewel case complete with the large fold-out picture sleeve inlay)
- Status Quo - Rocking All Over The Years - UK - 2-LP vinyl set - £15.00, $18.00, €16.80 (New Item) (arrived 13-Jan-2023 10:45)on February 8, 2023 at 1:52 pm
STATUS QUO Rocking All Over The Years (1990 UK 22-track double LP compilation, covering the period 1965-1990 & featuring all their Top Ten hits including Pictures Of Matchstick Men, Down Down & The Wanderer, gatefold picture sleeve. The sleeveshows light wear & the vinyl is Excellent with just faint signs of play)
- Status Quo - If You Can't Stand The Heat - 1st - UK - vinyl LP - £12.00, $14.40, €13.44 (New Item) (arrived 13-Jan-2023 16:44)on February 8, 2023 at 1:52 pm
STATUS QUO If You Can't Stand The Heat (1978 UK 10-track LP, filled with electric guitars & boogie spirit, complete with lyric inner, die-cut gatefold picture sleeve. The sleeve shows just a little light shelfwear & the vinyl remains in excellentcondition with few signs of play)
- Status Quo - Pictures: World Tour 2008-2009 - 40 Years Of Hits - UK - tour programme - £15.00, $18.00, €16.80 (New Item) (arrived 14-Jan-2023 15:23)on February 8, 2023 at 1:52 pm
STATUS QUO Pictures: World Tour 2008-2009 - 40 Years Of Hits (Official 2008 UK tour programme issued during the UK leg of their World Tour dates, featuring informative text and loaded with lots of great photographs including some from their showat Rochester Castle, includes a fold-out 2009 Calendar, nice glossy cover. The cover shows a few small patches of discolouration whilst all pages are intact)
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