Status Quo at Wolverhampton Civic Hall

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Sun 03 Dec 2017

The term 'Status Quo' is Latin for maintaining the current state of affairs but in the world of Status Quo the band everything is changing. Having been left shell-shocked by the untimely death of guitarist Rick Parfitt on Christmas Eve, 2016, band members have reconsidered their future and decided to radically cut back on touring activities.

In 2018, they will only perform a series of summer shows and festivals, meaning that next year, for the first time in around 30 years, there will be no traditional Quo winter tour of Europe or Christmas shows in the UK.



Fans will have to make the most of the 2017 UK Christmas tour, 'Plugged In: Live and Rockin'!', which begins at Manchester Apollo on November 26 and concludes at London's Eventim Apollo on December 8. Quo perform at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on December 3, their first time back at the venue since the 'Frantic Four' reunion gigs in 2013 and 2014. As a tribute to Rick, the setlist will include two of his best-loved classics, Don't Drive My Car and Little Lady.



Comments frontman Francis Rossi: "%%This year has been one of change and reassessment following the sad death of Rick. Although Rick had already retired from touring for six months before he died, it was still a major shock and my immediate reaction was to honour existing contracts and then knock it on the head.
''However, since then I have become increasingly confused as I realised just how much I was enjoying touring with two vibrant young guys in the band, guitarist Richie Malone and drummer Leon Cave. They have given us old guys a good kick up the backside and whilst it could never be the same as with Rick in the band, it is different now but in an exciting and vibrant way that I can't fully explain.%%''



Francis adds: ''%%The 2017 gigs have been absolutely incredible and spirits are high, but we do now need some thinking time to consider all of the options now on offer for 2019, which could well include the recording a new full on Quo rock album.
%%
''We would love as many fans as possible to come and really help us make some noise on this year's dates as we definitely won't be touring in 2018. This is a massive change for us, and I know that the Quo tour has become a traditional part of the festive season for many fans."

The Christmas tour usually takes place in UK arenas but smaller venues were selected for the 2017 gigs as they were originally planned to be acoustic. That's now been changed and it will be a full-on electric show.



Francis says that fans want 'plugged in' gigs, so that is what they're going to get.''Rick's passing was a huge blow. Much of what we had planned was envisaged initially to accommodate what would be right for him; those sands have obviously shifted. Now everything has changed. The band is not the same – it can't be and shouldn't be – and the plan has changed too. We're still listening to the fans, we always have, and we're hearing that this is what they still want. We're going to give it to them."



For those who want to hear Quo in full arena glory, the 1982 album Status Quo: Live at the NEC has been reissued in a deluxe format. One of the band's most famous and talked about gigs – profits were donated to the Prince's Trust - this re-release features the whole show on two discs. Taking place in the presence of Prince Charles, with part of the show broadcast live on BBC television, the highlight is a 23-minute version of 4500 Hundred Times.

**Status Quo 2017 winter tour dates:

Nov 26: Apollo, Manchester;
Nov 27: City Hall, Sheffield;
Nov 29: St David's Hall, Cardiff;
Nov 30: Hexagon, Reading;
Dec 2: International Centre, Bournemouth;
Dec 3: Civic Hall, Wolverhampton;
Dec 5: Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow;
Dec 6: City Hall, Newcastle;
Dec 8: Eventim Apollo, London.**

#bands
#concerts
#music
#music -venues
#near_birmingham
#pop_culture
#shows
#west_midlands
#wolverhampton
#december
!date 03/12/2017 -- 03/12/2017
%wnbirmingham