Interview - Status Quo's Francis Rossi

They've been rockin' all over the world for more years then they care to remember. And tonight (Friday, July 15, 2011) , Status Quo will be rockin' all over The Quarry Park, in Shrewsbury, when they entertain 7,000 fans.

The band's concert starts at 7.30pm, with gates opening at 6pm, and the band are planning a greatest hits set, with a liberal sprinkling of tunes from their latest album, Quid Pro Quo.

Francis Rossi, who founded the band in 1962 with Alan Lancaster, says: "I'm very much looking forward to it.

"We're very pleased with the new album. It seems pacier than usual to me, it seems to have a much better bottom end than usual.

"Every project you work on feels really good, though in retrospect sometimes they are not. When we were doing the promo on the new album, people were telling me it was the best we have done. It would be great if everybody loved it."

Rossi has kept pace with the changing fads and fashions of the recording industry, to remain a fans' favourite.

"Years ago the instincts used to be in tune with the fans. But things have changed so much, particularly radio. You also have to convince record dealers to sell them for you.

"We used to know that a song would be top 20 or not higher than seven and usually we'd be right. It's trickier to gauge these days.

"A lot of people from my generation want to hang on to the way things were done, but you have to change with the times. What's the point? It's just a bit silly. You wouldn't use a horse if you've got a car."

Rossi is at a loss to explain the reasons for his band's success, or fathom why fans return to them time and time again.

"I don't really know why people return to us over and over again. I never thought it would last this long.

"I can remember being 12 and being frightened and thinking it seemed imposisble. Even being in a band didn't seem possible, let alone longevity.

"I believe in all that positive manifestation of stuff. I never say thinks like 'Why did this happen to me?' Why shouldn't it happen to me. You can't afford to think like that."

Rossi has a paradoxical relationship to playing live. "There's stress involved in playing live. Then I go and do it and love it.

"When I'm not playing, I want to play and when I'm about to play I get quite nervous about it.

"It's all that I've ever known, ever since I was young."

Tonight's gig forms part of IML Concerts' 11th season of Summer Picnic Concerts. The outdoor events are hosted throughout the UK – including a Music of Queen spectacular at Shugborough, Staffordshire last week – and visitors are encouraged to bring along a picnic.

Each concert has a relaxed format with doors opening at 5pm.

The music begins at 6.30pm with the main act at 8.30pm.

At around 10.30pm the shows are rounded off with a £10,000 grand firework display finale.

* Tickets for Status Quo at The Quarry cost £40 for adults and £20 for children, on the gate.

Andy Richardson