Francis has done some naughty things lately, in my view. Firstly, I miss Rick. In fact I miss Rick to the extent that I thought Status Quo shouldn’t continue when he passed away. I am a long-term Status Quo fan since I first saw them in 1971 and I must have seen them at least 30 times since then, maybe even 40 or 50; I have lost count. I thought I couldn’t bring myself to go and see Status Quo without Rick, but there I was in the City Hall 
waiting to see what the new band was like. And secondly, Francis told us that the Last of the Electrics tour, would be just that; the last electric rock Status Quo tour. In fact, if you look at the ticket, you will see that the show was originally announced as an acoustic tour, Aquostic. Somewhere along the line, Francis decided to go back to the rock show. Now I was partly looking forward to the acoustic concert, but I was also secretly pleased that this was going to be a rock tour. Anyway, as I said, there I was, a little against my better judgement, sitting in my chair at the end of the row waiting for my first dose of the new Status Quo, with my carer Jackie.
The band are heralded onto stage with the usual drone, which leads into those opening chords of “Caroline” which always hit me emotionally and new guitarist, Richie Malone, does justice to Rick’s power chords. The set is a mixture of old favourites such as “Little Lady” and “Softer Ride”, and new (and now becoming classics in their own) “Creepin’ up on You” and (the mildly racist) “The Oriental.” The usual Status Quo medley of hits 
contains some other old favourites “Down the Dust Pipe” and “Railroad” and is swiftly followed by the loud, driving chords of “Down Down” and I know we are on the home strait now. They end with, as they always do now, “Rockin’ All over the World.” The encore starts with the classic “Don’t Waste My Time “from the equally classic album Piledriver, followed by (the little too middle-of-the-road/poppy for me) “Burning Bridges” and they finally end with, as always, “Bye Bye Johnny.” Well you know what, that was actually pretty good, and I forgive you Francis for all your recent naughty deeds (as referred to above). So Status Quo are back, and you know, they are actually pretty good. I even bought tickets to see them again at the Sage Gateshead later this year (if we ever get out of this crazy lockdown safely) and I am really looking forward to it. And…… I even rejoined the fan club. So, in the lyrics of “Beginning of the End”, “Happy days are here again.” 🙂
Setlist: Caroline; Something ’bout You Baby I Like; Rain; Little Lady; Softer Ride; Beginning of the End; Hold You Back; What You’re Proposing / Down the Dustpipe / Wild Side of Life / Railroad / Again and Again; Paper Plane; The Oriental; Creepin’ Up on You; Don’t Drive My Car; In the Army Now; Roll Over Lay Down; Down Down; Whatever You Want; Rockin’ All Over the World. Encore: Don’t Waste My Time; Burning Bridges; Rock and Roll Music / Bye Bye Johnny.
Vintagerock's Weblog. 
Posted by Hockey on April 13, 2020 at 11:26 am
I’m glad to hear you have been getting out to gigs again Peter, wishing you well from west Yorkshire, and hope we can all see some concerts in the not too distant future after the lockdown.
I also was of the opinion that Quo should have been put to rest when Rick sadly passed away, but I saw them on the ‘last of the electrics’ tour and they were still pretty good with Ritchie playing Rick’s part, and again as special guests to Lynyrd Skynyrd last year.
I read an interview with Francis where he said that of all the many drugs he’d taken over the years, there was nothing that could come anywhere near the feeling of playing his Tele’ through a wall of Marshalls to an adoring crowd and I could understand that as guitar player myself, so I totally understand why he’d want to keep the band going and I will also keep going to see them.
Great review, keep up the good work, I love dipping into your blog on a weekly basis to revisit some of my own memories.
best wishes, Mike
Posted by vintagerock on April 13, 2020 at 11:52 am
Thanks Mike
I also saw the last of the electrics tour, which makes me realise this may not be the 1st time I have seen the band without Rick. It just shows you how my memory is these days! Never mind I am not going to change the review now. The principle remains the same.
Thanks for your support and interest stay safe Peter
Posted by Michael Heatley on April 13, 2020 at 7:19 pm
Really enjoying your return! M
On Sun, 12 Apr 2020 at 19:20, Vintagerock’s Weblog wrote:
> vintagerock posted: “Francis has done some naughty things lately, in my > view. Firstly, I miss Rick. In fact I miss Rick to the extent that I > thought Status Quo shouldn’t continue when he passed away. I am a long-term > Status Quo fan since I first saw them in 1971 and I must ha” >
Posted by vintagerock on April 14, 2020 at 12:28 pm
Thanks Mike good to be back. I finally got my head round this disability thing, and hey I’m still me, so I am still going to do my blog now and bugger disability
Thanks for your support; it means a lot Peter
Posted by Pete on April 18, 2020 at 3:28 pm
I’ve been seeing Quo roughly every year since 1979. I was sad when I saw them on the 1984 End of the Road tour, and delighted when they came back. But as seemed to be the way with rock artists, splitting up doesn’t seem to mean that.
So I viewed Quo’s “Last Night of the Electrics” with some scepticism. Acoustic only, they said. Can’t do full on electric shows anymore, they said. Events however, overtook them. Rick Parfitt’s heart attack and retirement from the band, but I went to see them anyway. “Rhino” Edwards took Rick’s vocal parts. Oh, dear – someone forgot to warn them and Rhino can’t sing!
Since that show at the O2 Arena in December 2016 Rick died, So of course, it was back to the electrics as “we only wanted to do acoustic to accomodate Rick”.
So, let’s get this straight. In 1984, Quo weren’t really splitting up, just stopped touring (so they could split up and get rid of personnel). In 1986 they were back (having reformed and recruited new personnel). In 2016, they were going acoustic only – and in 2017 they were “plugged in and rocking”.
To those going to Quo gigs these days – have fun, and I sincerely hope you enjoy it. But Quo gigs are off the agenda for me. I refuse to be conned into this “splitting up – not spliiting up”, “unplugged – plugged in” lark.
Posted by vintagerock on April 18, 2020 at 5:18 pm
Hi Pete
I fully understand and respect your decision Pete. However, for me, I will continue to go now and then to see them. So I take what I can and what is left of Status Quo yes Francis has gone down in my estimation but, now and then, they play some old songs such as “Paper Plane” and I am back to the past, in the field at Reading or Lincoln in 1972, when they were playing “Is It Really Me” and “Gotta Go home”. Now and then Francis brings back glimpses of the past which makes it worthwhile. And hey as long as I can go and see the Rolling Stones, The Who and Status Quo I will take my chances!
Cheers Peter
Posted by Craig Jackson on July 9, 2020 at 5:43 pm
I absolutely loved the Quo as a teenager and I saw them a few times at the City Hall in the 70’s, and I say confidently they’re the loudest band I ever saw, I do remember going once with my mate Darren and his lass at the time and she was so freaked out by the volume that they did off after about half an hour, leaving me to enjoy the rest of the show on me tod! Saying that, you were never alone with the Quo army! But the albums started to seriously reek after Blue For You and it was over for me when John left. And then when Alan went, it just seriously wasn’t Quo anymore, just a Rossi solo project with Parfitt seemingly along for the ride. I did see them supporting Queen at Newcastle United in 86 and they were decent I guess, but so tame considering what a balls to the wall rock n roll band they’d been. Didn’t see them again until the Frantic 4 reunion a few years back, went down to Hammersmith and I was blown away by how good they were, reminded me just how class they were, such a buzz to see the gang one last time.
Posted by vintagerock on July 9, 2020 at 6:13 pm
Hi Craig I agree with you. You can’t beat Status Quo on a good night. Top rock ‘n’ roll band. Even now, with just Francis, there are glimpses of the top-class boogie band they can be. Happy days. I am back in the field in Reading in 1972! Cheers Peter