Spotlight Publishers are proud to announce on the third anniversary of Rick Parfitt’s passing the book and DVD: ‘Rock Legends Status Quo’
When the awful news broke on Christmas Eve 2016 that legendary rocker Rick Parfitt had passed, fans around the world were devastated that one of rock’s most iconic performers had been silenced. However, 3 years later, information about one of the greatest bands in the history of popular music will now be revealed.
For the first time former manager Colin Johnson explains on camera, what really happened during the heydays of Status Quo in the Seventies and Eighties.
Colin Johnson,30 years at the top of the music business, is the former manager of Status Quo, Rod Stewart and The Stranglers. On a hidden video tape, which was kept safely for several years, Colin tells briefly and open, for the first time, about his life with Status Quo.
He met Status Quo for the first time in the Pye studios London. He could never imagine that it would be almost twenty years, relationship and friendship to come to an end.
He was proud to be instrumental in helping to make this possible. In those early years the commitment and excitement within the Quo was incredible and the one common dominator was success.
He loved his time with the band , the many ups the few downs, the challenges the touring the fun and of course the music. He has fond memories, months of negotiating and finalizing the arrangements for the BBC TV live concert at the NEC Birmingham in aid of the Princes Trust and again his pride introducing the band to HRH Prince of Wales before the concert started. Of course one of the other real highlights was Live Aid.
He guess his time with the band has ruins his course. He find it hard to understand that Francis and Rick never once spoke to him since the split.
The drug and drank addictions were against him. He speaks open about the band members Francis, Alan, Rick and John. Richard Parfitt was easy, if he had his cars , wives and all that. He could be a real pain in the ass, when it came to stage gear like lights, backline etc. Francis Rossi was heavily in tequila, he even felt on stage.
Francis accused a former manager to have stolen plenty of money of the band. They even erased his name in the song lyrics of ‘Living on an island’ Colin explains now for the first time that Alan Cruxie was year after year false accused by stealing money of the band. ‘Francis was astonished to hear of the astronomic expenses involved in touring. We had a huge crew, Our gear was pretty extended.’ Each Quo member always received the royalty checks.’ Rick Parfitt always received an amount of money in advance. When the checks were coming in he had already spent his amount.
Colin Johnson has no good word about Bob Young. Bon co-wrote plenty of hit songs with Francis Rossi. Colin stills owns 80.000 GBP from Bob Young. They even had almost a fight in the Hilton hotel. Not only Colin Johnson, but also Ray Minhinnett, who worked together with Bob have bad memories of Bob. ‘He like to be center of the attention & everybody’s friend – if they’re useful to him.
The whole revealing interview with Colin Johnson is on DVD and included in the forthcoming book.
Status Quo is one of the world’s most enduring and successful live acts, the mighty Quo have influenced a generation of musicians and entertained millions with their driving, no-nonsense brand of rock.
This gripping brand-new book with 100 min. DVD, ‘Rock Legends: Satus Quo’, is to be published by Spotlight Publishers. The book and DVD covers the glory years, from 1968 – 1985 and hundreds of unseen photographs and unseen live footage from the band.
The book is only available online via www.spotlightpublishers.com
