Status Quo fans face reality as Francis Rossi auctions iconic stage eq | UK | News
Fans of legendary rockers Status Quo have had fears that the band’s days of rockin’ all over the world confirmed after frontman Francis Rossi put all their stage equipment up for sale.
The distinctive white-cased row of Marshall JCM 800 amps are among the historic ‘backline’ that gave the band it’s distinctive sound are to go under the hammer – giving fans the chance to buy their own part of rock history.
But they will need deep pockets with estimates for the sale takings at Gardiner Houlgate auctioneers in Corsham, Wilts, on December 3 expected to top £45,000
Much of the equipment being sold is, according to the band, “almost still warm” from its final outing on a mammoth European tour this summer that culminated in Taunton, Somerset, in August at what Francis Rossi hinted would be the band’s last ever show.
Quo previously quit the stage in 1984 and subsequently sold-off their huge backline of Vox amps and had to borrow a set the following year to open Live Aid.
In recent decades their new backline became fundamental to the band’s look and sound with the white covering on the amplifiers created by Marshall specifically for the band – with the aim being that it would better reflect light shows than the traditional black.
Also included in the sale are many items from Rossi’s home studio in Surrey, as used to record both Quo albums and his own solo albums.
Rossi, 75, said: “This equipment has lived a life but can still deliver at the top of its range.
“All these items have been used directly by the band, have travelled miles with us and got an outing most recently at the August 23 show in Taunton in the UK.
“This is the real deal. This phase of Quo is over and it is time to pass these pieces on to our fans.”
Auctioneer Luke Hobbs added: “Status Quo are a British rock institution so it’s with mixed feelings that we’re auctioning their equipment.
“However, the sale will give Quo’s fans a chance to buy a piece of British rock history. We’re expecting a lot of interest.”
Founded in 1962 and adopting the name Status Quo in 1967, the band carved out a niche in the British rock scene for blues-based boogie with hits such as Caroline, Paper Plane, Whatever You Want and number one smash Down Down.
They are officially recognised as the most successful British chart act of all time having recorded more than 50 Top 40 singles and over 20 Top 10 albums.
Twenty two of the band’s singles reached the Top 10 in the UK Singles Chart while 57 reached the Top 40, and with the release of the album “Aquostic (Stripped Bare) in 2015,” Status Quo become one of only 50 acts to earn 500 weeks or more on the Official Albums Chart.
