TOP TEN: The Best Songs Of Status Quo

This band was formed in 1962 as The Scorpions by Francis Rossi (vocals, lead guitar) and Alan Lancester (bass guitar, vocals) with London classmates Jess Jarwoski (keyboard) and Alan Key (drums). Key was replaced in 1963 by John Coghlan and the band renamed themselves to The Spectres. When Rossi, Lancester and Jarwoski left school, Jarwoski left the formation and was replaced by Roy Lynes (who stayed in the band until 1970). They met Rick Parfitt who at that time played for a band called The Highlights. After 3 singles failed to reach the chart they first called themselves Traffic but were forced to rename to Traffic Jam to avoid confusion with Stevie Winwood s band. Then they recruited Parfitt (vocals rhythm guitar) and named themselves Status Quo. They had released the single Matchstick Man just prior to Parfitt s arrival to the band. The song became their only song in the USA to reach the Top 40 of the charts, pea