Status Quo have played what is likely their final show. See the setlist and fan footage from that night below.
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Last Friday (August 23), the long-running outfit, which was founded in 1962, concluded their most recent tour of Europe and the UK at Vivary Park in Taunton, Somerset. In June, lead singer Francis Rossi had stated that this would be the band’s final tour.
“I don’t think we will go again,” he told Mirror. “And as far as the rest of the band are concerned it’s the last tour too. I just can’t see us doing it one more time.”
In 2023, Rossi also told Classic Rock that their 2019 album ‘Backbone’, their 33rd album overall, would be their final one.
He blames royalty payouts by streaming platforms like Spotify: “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? Fuck you. So do I think there’ll be another Status Quo album? No, I don’t,” he said.
While the band went on hiatus in 1984, they reconvened with a new line-up for 1985’s Live Aid event.
Status Quo shared a picture from the gig on social media with a message for their fans. “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,” they write. “Thank you, Taunton and goodnight.”
BBC reported from the show, stating that there was no “grand farewell” by the band onstage, with no acknowledgement about a breakup.
BBC adds that their final show being in Taunton is fitting, as members Rossi and Rick Parfitt first met in Somerset. Parfitt passed away in 2016. Muse’s Chris Wolstenholme published an essay in tribute of Parfitt, stating that he was his inspiration to become a musician.
The setlist for Status Quo’s Live in Somerset show is (via Setlist.fm):
‘Caroline’
‘Rain’
‘Little Lady’
‘Softer Ride’
‘Beginning of the End’
‘Hold You Back’
Medley: ‘What You’re Proposing’ / ‘Down the Dustpipe’ / ‘Something ’bout You Baby I Like’ / ‘Wild Side Of Life’ / ‘Rollin’ Home’ / ‘Railroad / ‘Again and Again’ / ‘Mystery Song’
‘The Oriental’
‘In My Chair’
‘In the Army Now’ (Bolland & Bolland cover)
‘Roll Over Lay Down’
‘Down Down’
‘Whatever You Want’
‘Rockin’ All Over the World’ (John Fogerty cover)
Encore:
‘Don’t Waste My Time’
‘Paper Plane’
‘Burning Bridges (On and Off and on Again)’
