“Certain people might think that – the type of person that wears only denim, has a lot of tattoos and doesn’t wash”: meet the man who ‘ruined’ Status Quo

Throughout his 50 years with Status Quo, Andy Bown has played keyboards and has seen the band through some difficult moments. However, some supporters will never forget him for “ruining” the band.The legendary 1973 album Hello! by British boogie rock icons Status Quo, which catapulted them into the top ranks of the era, is honored in the latest edition of Classic Rock magazine. Keyboardist Andy Bown made his debut on Hello! as well. A few years later, Bown would become a full-time member of Quo, contributing to many of the group’s greatest hits and continuing to be an essential member of the lineup to this day.

Although Bown’s piano work helped end the legendary “Frantic Four” era, some fans saw him as “the glue that held Status Quo together during some difficult times,” according to Bob Young, the band’s principal collaborator and unofficial fifth member.It’s incredible that Hello! will reach 50 this year.

“I couldn’t remember anything about my first contribution, so I looked it up. Thanks to you, I realized that I haven’t actually been with Quo for 46 years, but for 50 years.” Fifty years of age! Though there were certainly worse things I might have done with my time,

What atmosphere existed in the IBC studio when Quo recorded Hello!? This was a band that was about to go viral after Piledriver’s triumph.

They probably were, but my knowledge of them was limited. Francis Rossi, a vocalist and guitarist, used to wrap his ears over the speakers while he sat at the desk. It was clear that he was the only one who was interested in the production.Quo, who had made Piledriver on their own and was given the go-ahead to do the same with Hello!, was a very independent group.

That’s correct, albeit it goes without saying that they respected engineer Damon Lyon-Shaw greatly. I think Damon lost his hearing because he recorded Quo.

Tell us about their roles in those days, beginning with Rick Parfitt.

Richard was an eternal optimist. They were ecstatic to be succeeding. Though it would have been later, I recall him escorting me into a different room at IBC and blasting his new song Rain at full force. Although I was rather impressed, he responded dismissively, saying, “Yeah, it brings in the old ‘ackers, doesn’t it?” It was a Top Ten hit, of course. I was starving at the time, so I felt fortunate to acquire the position, but I later realized that they had a lot of respect for me.

How did Francis seem in those days?

They were all quite lovely, really very pleasant. Even though drummer John Coghlan, or Spud, was usually a rather quiet guy, they were really nice guys. I knew them fairly well, as we’d crossed paths at gigs and in the office, as I mentioned.

Here, the man reflects on his 50 years with Quo, including the highs and lows as well as internal politics, and he shares his feelings about being the one who “ru