After more than six decades of rock ‘n’ roll, Status Quo has taken their final bow. Last Friday (August 23), the legendary band wrapped up their European and UK tour with a show at Vivary Park in Taunton, Somerset. Earlier this year, frontman Francis Rossi hinted that this would be the band’s last tour, and now it seems official.
“I don’t think we will go again,” Rossi admitted in a recent interview, signaling that the iconic group might be retiring from the stage for good. This tour was a bittersweet finale for the band, whose journey began in 1962. Rossi also confirmed that their 2019 album, ‘Backbone’, will likely be their last, citing the struggles with modern streaming royalties as a major factor.
“It’s even worse than it was when we were all getting ripped off in the sixties. It makes you sound mercenary saying it, but it’s something we’ve sweated over and they’re giving you a quarter of a penny per stream? F**k you. So do I think there’ll be another Status Quo album? No, I don’t,” he said.
The band shared a heartfelt message with fans on social media: “That’s a wrap! You, the Quo Army, did us proud. Thank you to every one of you for coming out and supporting us on #SQ24 and all the tours that came before. Thank you, Taunton and goodnight.”
While the night didn’t feature a grand farewell speech, the significance of their final show in Taunton wasn’t lost on anyone. It was in Somerset where Rossi first crossed paths with Rick Parfitt, the band’s late guitarist who passed away in 2016. The moment was a fitting tribute to a band that has left an indelible mark on the history of rock music.
