Quo to give fans whatever they want

Legendary rocker Francis Rossi, frontman of Status Quo, has promised fans in the Midlands a show featuring all the band's favourites when they appear at Cannock Chase next month.

The 58-year-old spoke to the Express & Star ahead of their concert in the heart of the Chase forest on June 27.

The lead singer and guitarist, who has played in front of millions of fans since 1962, said he was looking forward to the gig, which has sold more than 3,000 tickets.

He said: "It's lovely to play to a crowd like that. I mean it's great to play in front of a sea of faces but when it starts to get past 40,000 you start wondering whether the bloke at the back, Mr 40,000, can actually see what's going on.

"Nobody learns how to perform at an arena of thousands, you have to learn how to be in front of the crowd."

For the fans at Cannock Chase next month Rossi, who lives in Surrey, promised a night to remember: "All the favourites and the ones they know will be in there. When we do these things we know that's what people want and they might not know the more obscure songs."

Referring to the idea of playing in a forest he said: "We have done some really weird gigs all over the world and they have been doing things like this in Europe for 30 years. I'm a very green person and I'm terrible for looking after trees, in a good way. If I'm out and see ivy on a tree I have to pull it off. People think it looks lovely but they forget it's actually killing the tree. I don't think I've been to Cannock Forest before, I'm not very social to be honest. I like to stay at home and don't go out a lot.

"In February I moved home for the first time in 30 years and I think a lot of my friends thought I was going to die in that house, that's just the way I am.

"It makes me angry when people talk about the rock 'n' roll life, I don't believe that lifestyle exists. Rock 'n' roll is the music – throwing TVs out of hotel windows, anyone can do that, but for me I always realised I'd have to pay for it afterwards. My stupidity was the drinking and the cocaine really."

After 40 years on the stage, Rossi admits: "The pony tail has got a life of its own almost. If I wasn't in Status Quo I think I would have shaved it off years ago but its part of the image now."

Tickets for the concert are priced at £30 and are available from the Forestry Commission at www. forestry.gov.uk/music