Barry French… Saw Rory Gallagher in concert at the Brighton Dome in the early 1970’s.
Totally amazing gig from one of the worlds finest blues guitarist.
Pete Fisher… my mate John Davis took this photo at Brighton Dome – could be the same concert…
Peter Thomson… That must have been the first of the 2 gigs they did in ’73 on the pier. The second was courtesy of Ace Promotions. The performances were so different I was convinced for a long time I’d seen 2 completely different bands. Anyone feel the same?
Alan Esdaile… That’s right Pete, they did play again on the 28th July 1973 which I think was the one I went to. Mind you they would have also sounded completely different a few years earlier when they played The Cobweb.
Julie Morris… I was at one of the 1973 concerts – can’t remember which one – great concert!
Martin Waghorne… I was at the second concert.
supplied by Mick Mepham
Lesley Brown… I saw them twice on the pier. I didn’t realise it was the same year though.
Keith Veness… Was there great night So many great nights on the pier
Pete Fisher… I remember watching those wooden floorboards bend under the weight of all those stomping boogieing people and hoping they didn’t cave in…one of the tightest bands I’ve ever seen, probably at their best back then…
poster source: http://www.leehawkins.com Ad supplied by Sarah Harvey
Sarah Harvey… Must admit this one rather took me by surprise when I came across it. February 1st, 1969.
Phil Gill… From the words ” personal appearance” It looks like that might have been a Status Quo meet and greet rather than a gig.
Mick Knights… Status quo did play there not sure if it was the witch doctor or cobweb, but it was when pictures of matchstick men was a hit.
Sarah Harvey… I was wondering the same as you Phil about the ‘Personal Appearance’ bit…..but it would be nice to clear this one up….did they play or did they just show their faces?
John Storer… I’m thinking that the words “Personal appearance by” was an attempt to make the Quo look a bigger, more popular, band than they actually were at the time. By Feb 69 they had had top ten hits with “Pictures of Matchstick Men” and “Ice in the Sun”, but their next single “Technicolour Dreams” (released in September 1968) had flopped miserably, failing to reach the Top 60. Feb 69 saw the release of their 5th single “Make Me Stay A Bit Longer” and that also failed to chart. Those were the days when you were only as big as your last single. Like many bands, they were on the road pretty much non-stop. In January 69 they had been the support band for Small Faces on a short tour of Germany. Their set list still included a fair number of cover versions of songs by other acts, including Little Richard and The Beatles. They even did a cover of Vanilla Fudge’s cover of the Supremes “You Keep Me Hanging On”. Two days before the Cobweb “appearance””, they had been in Manchester recording a session for the BBC. During the week after, they played gigs at Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Ross-on-Wye. Later that month they were 3rd on the bill to The Move and Spencer Davis Group at the Royal Albert Hall It would be another 13 months before they had another hit – “Down The Dustpipe” – which marked a change in their image from psychedelic dandies to denim-clad rockers. 1970 also saw the release of the rather excellent “Ma Kelly’s Greasy Spoon” album, followed in 1971 by “Dog of Two Head”. Neither album, however, caught the attention of the record-buying public and both failed to chart. The change in their fortunes came in 1972 with the “Piledriver” album and the “Paper Plane” single. This started a 17 year run of unbroken hit singles and albums, by which time they had almost become a self-parody.
I was only 12 in Feb 1969 so what do I know, but I’m guessing that their appearance at the Cobweb was a gig. It certainly features in their gigging history. Like many others, I tend to regard Quo as a bit of a joke these days, but those 3 early 70s albums mentioned above still sound bloody good today … and their cover of The Doors “Roadhouse Blues” on “Piledriver” is, for me, better than the original
Caz Simpson… I remember the GoGo competition, I even remember the semi finalists but I can’t remember the name of the winner. The prize was a holiday in Spain and she asked Ginger for the £30 instead! He obliged.
Poster Supplied by Mick Mepham.They returned to Hastings to film at the Blue Reef Aquarium for the film ‘Bula Quo’.
John Storer… Remember this gig well … there was a huge buzz of excitement around the town when it was announced. Quo did not disappoint and, if memory serves, they finished with a blistering version of The Doors “Roadhouse Blues'”. Andy Bown Band were also very good. He had been a member of The Herd with Peter Frampton and had then gone on to form the excellent but little-known Judas Jump along with The Herd’s drummer, Henry Spinetti (son of Victor). Their 1970 album, “Scorch” is one I picked up for a pittance down the Old Town and still play occasionally today. These days, Andy is a member of … Status Quo!
Tony Court-Holmes… got very drunk nothing new there but that was before real ale how my life has changed ha ha
Jim Hobbs… Great gig, the room was packed. The Quo were great and I was also impressed by Andy Bown, who also played with the Floyd on some of their live shows.
Kevin Carlyon… Slightly before my time of doing the printing for Ace Promotions and Joe Morowski!!
Yvonne Cleland… Can’t remember what they did now, but I do remember that they did three encores….
Pete Fisher… I remember seeing them on the pier and being thoroughly impressed not to say blown away. I really thought the wooden floor was going to cave in any minute, people were jumping and dancing so much…
Ralph Town… Andy Bown, of course,wrote and sang the theme to Supersonic pop show and the childrens tv series, “Tarot”.Now playing in the Quo 
Colin Bell… Andy Bown supporting Quo, that was a bit of nepotism. Andy had unofficially joined Quo that same year playing keyboards on their recording sessions, one big happy family!
Supplied by Barry French
supplied by Barry French
Who remembers going to this?
Nigel Goodman… Sat at home with windows open listening
Sandra Cunningham… Yes brilliant night xx
Dawn Leaney… Remember it well!
Virginia Davis… Yes. Went to all three nights that year.
Tony Davis… I went with my wife Claire and think i spent most of the evening bouncing up and down with my hands on her shoulders. Very short set from what I remember but did enjoy it
Graham Belchamber… Yes excellent night
Mick May… Yes good night
Wendy Weaver… Very short set but brilliant. Danced a lot had a really good night.
Mike Mitchell…. Seem to recall the crowd were still calling for an encore as their bus, watched their bus leaving…
Steve Thorpe… Was there, they played some tracks from Rockin all over the world I seem to remember
Here’s a short clip from Andrew Clifton…
Clifford Rose… Yes – I took my son and he become a Quo fan.
Conan Howard… I could hear them in St Leonards that night , I sat in my back garden and enjoyed it.
Keith Veness… We were there. Was a great Gig
Nigel Ford… Yes, Cathy & I were there, still have the beer plastic cup, I think. Haven’t been since.
Rark Modrigues… I remember hearing it all around town! The volume meant you couldn’t escape it! Back in the day when they put on established acts at the festival, which entices the non drinker and slanting the pendulum in the direction of “music”. In my opinion of course
Willie Wicking… Marshled that night with Hastings Bonfire was a great night remember that huge black coach turning up wow what a treat for our town
Thanks to Matt Thomas for suggesting this.
MTV 1981 – 1991
July 13th, 1985, At 12.01 Status Quo started the ‘Live Aid’ extravaganza, held between Wembley Stadium, London and The JFK Stadium, Philadelphia. The cream of the world’s biggest rock stars took part in the worldwide event, raising over £40million. TV pictures beamed to over 1.5bn people in 160 countries made it the biggest live broadcast ever known. Artists who appeared included Paul McCartney, Phil Collins, The Who, U2, David Bowie and Mick Jagger, Queen, Tina Turner, The Cars, Neil Young, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Bryan Adams, Hall and Oates, Lionel Richie and Led Zeppelin.
supplied by Barry French
Mike Curtis….I was glued the the TV, astounded by the professionalism by all who took part, blown away by Queen and Dire Straits! And Quo.
Mick Mepham….I think I was still in Western Road then but that’s as far as my memory goes ….
Matt Thomas…I was working in the shop and all the punks and metalhedz kept asking for records to be played whilst i was trying to listen to the concerts on the radio lol
Alan Esdaile….Same as Matt but taped it all and watched when I got home. Queen were excellent.
Jim Breeds…..Living in West Kirby on The Wirrall. Watched it all through. Taped the whole lot on VHS. Never played the tapes. Bought the DVD when it came out more recently. Never watched a minute of it!
Clifford Rose…..As far as I can remember I watched Live aid up until 19:30 and then went to the Hastings Beer Festival. Queen and Bowie were excellent.
Karen Sweatman…..I was 15 and did not move all day from the telly. Loved it – particularly Queen and U2. As a Duran Duran fan, I was disappointed though cos they were a bit pants on the day. Think Simon Le Bon’s voice broke half way through 🙂
Phil Thornton….had it up loud all day !
Yvonne Cleland…..I was at a party in Northiam…
Matt Thomas……I remember a heavily pregnant Alison Moyet belting out a Marvin Gaye track with Paul Young and I recall an interview with Bob Geldof and he was saying everyone was watching Queen backstage and said ‘That bastard Mercury has stole the show’ lol well he was the ultimate showman. Another highlight for me was when Joan Armatrading popped her head around the curtain and just said ‘Hello’ lol
Legendary Status Quo lead singer Francis Rossi will share the extraordinary secrets of his 50-plus years in rock’n’roll when he takes to the stage for an intimate evening of chat and music. In Francis Rossi: I Talk Too Much, the founder, lead singer and lead guitarist of Status Quo will talk about his mishaps and adventures of life on the road with one of the biggest and most loved bands ever.
For tickets and details… https://whiterocktheatre.org.uk/Online/tickets-francis-rossi-hastings-2020
Sarah Harvey… That’s quite a lot of notice for a gig…. over a year away
Alan Esdaile… I thought the same and doubled checked it.
Jack Irving… It’s only 13 months!
Wendy Weaver… Wont mention his age but his insurance premiums would be mega
Dave Nattress… Could be a good night! Entertaining interview in Q or Mojo quite recently – I should remember these things. Long and coloured life and all that stuff. Saw Quo on the pier and also at Lewisham Odeon – about 76? Rocking all over the world tour maybe. Got the dusty old album or and a couple more somewhere.
In Sweden 2007. photo by: Håkan Henriksson (Narking)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-38427459
Allyson Breeds… 2016 has been officially crap 🙁
Chris Giles… Oh no that’s terribly sad …..
Nick Prince… Great shame. I admired him and Quo greatly. Clearly there was more to the announcement that they would no longer tour after 2016. RIP Rick Parfitt of Status Quo. (12 October 1948- 24 December 2016). Status Quo played Hastings Pier, Hastings Beer Festival and in addition to that, the underwater scenes for their 2013 film “Bula Quo” and video to the title song “Bula Bula Quo” were filmed at the Bluereef Aquarium in Hastings
Chris Giles… Yes there probably was Nick….. He was a big part of my Hastings pier years and obviously being a bit of a biker ….I always danced to quo …used to go to Brighton and see them as well… Hating 2016
Alan Esdaile… Terrible news.
Andy Ives… Rest peacefully
Ernest Ballard… He was ill but it wasn’t expected
Patricia Wapshott… Terrible news , really liked him .
Phil Thornton… RIP Rick !
Chris van Rock… Sad
Claire Davis… Remember them at the beer festival, good evening
Jan Warren… Oh god, another one gone ……………. 
🙁 R.I.P. Rick 
Dennis Torrance… Lost so many this year my thoughts with Ricks family at this sad time.
Jon McCallion… Devastating news
Barry French… Just feel awful, another great taken from us. R.I.P. Rick.
Steve Reents… One of my favorite bands. Rest in peace my friend.
Francis Rossi – Status Quo Facebook Page… I was not ready for this. Rick Parfitt had been a part of my story for fifty years. Without doubt the longest relationship of my life: this was also the most satisfying, frustrating, creative and fluid. From those early days, we worked together to create the Quo sound, look and hits. We spent years on the road, on the stage and in the studio, rarely far from each other, honing what we did.
We were a team, a double act, a partnership and yet also two very different people, handling the pressures of growing older, constant touring, dealing with success and keeping the creative flame burning in different ways. He developed his own sound, his own style, casually inspiring a generation of players.
Rick was the archetypal rock star, one of the originals, he never lost his joy, his mischievous edge and his penchant for living life at high speed, high volume, high risk. His life was never boring, he was louder and faster and more carefree than the rest of us. There were any number of incidents along the way, times when he strayed into areas of true danger and yet still losing him now is still a shock. Even in a year that has claimed so many of our best, including now George Michael, Rick Parfitt stands out. I was not ready for this.
