Me And My Guitar interview with Status Quo's Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt

[@wingchun-simplekungfu7584]

RIP Rick. You lived your life in the same position as the volume knob on your tele. Everything at 100% & Quo fans will love you for ever for it

[@chymist66]

Yeah 11 why because it’s +1 more than 10 😂😂😂

[@jerzygawor958]

Great to see and hear these superb rockers talking about their instruments. The little anecdotes thrown in are gems. Rock on Status Quo.

[@EdVanMeyer]

Just fabulous.Those strings on Rick's tele are like motorbike brake cables!

[@K3KCT]

3:00 Rick says he paid "Eighty quid" for this guitar. Wrong. In fact, Rick - or should I say Rob Young - paid £130 for this guitar. I was a 17 year old salesperson, working in MacCormack's Music Ltd, Bath St, Glasgow - c. 1975-76 - during the time the Quo were doing a UK tour. If memory serves, Rick's guitar was stolen just prior to the Glasgow gig and they (Rick & Rob Young) hurriedly made their way into MacCormack's (premier music store at the time) to buy a replacement - especially as they were in Glasgow's Apollo that night. This Tele - a used guitar - was hanging on the wall, Rick tried it, liked it, and asked if it could be re-strung with a new set of 'heavier' strings and brought to the Apollo that evening. I, personally, strung the guitar - probably Tens or even Elevens, I honestly don't remember the gauge but I do remember thinking they were like 'tow-ropes' - and the guitar was delivered to Rick at the Apollo by Donnie MacLeod, a senior salesman (Donnie would be about 26 at that time). I was instructed by my boss, Neil MacCormack, to go to the Albany Hotel in Bothwell St Glasgow, that evening and get the payment for the guitar. I'm presuming that payment wasn't made earlier in the day in case Rick didn't like the guitar at the gig. However, Rick said at the time - straight after the gig - that it was the best guitar he'd ever played. You know when I started to watch this video, I couldn't possibly be sure if this was the same guitar, but when he mentions that he bought it in Glasgow then I felt it could ONLY be that Tele. Anyway, back to the story; I had a good friend at the time (since lost touch), 'Davie Knox', who was Quo-daft. I called him and said; "I've to go up to the Albany Hotel after the Quo gig and get squared-up for a guitar that Rick Parfitt bought in the store today - wanna come with me?".. he bit my hand off down the phone. I wasn't at the show that night, but went the following night - back in the day when Quo would sell-out 3 x gigs in 3 x nights in Glasgow. But after that particular gig, myself and Davie made our way, by bus, to the Albany Hotel. There was already a large crowd gathered outside the entrance, being held back by hotel staff, security etc. We were waited there when a large black limo pulled up and the band stepped out, jauntily, after a great gig. Seeing me and recognising me from the music shop, Rick whistled and did a 'C'mon' motion with his arm, signalling to the stewards that we were 'special' and were to be permitted past the 'riff-raff' (haha). Chuffed-to-bits. Anyway, we sat with Rick, Francis Rossi and Rob Young, had a beer and a chat and Rob handed-over the £130 for the Tele. We must've been sat there for all of ten minutes but the experience has stayed with me all these years. I was brought here cos I noticed it's Francis Rossi's b'day today (29th May) and one link led to another link and led to another. Rick will be 67 this year, I'll be 59 which means in 75-76 Rick was just a young lad of around 26, but, as I was only around 16 or 17, I thought he was 'an older man' ha. Me? I was a mad Deep Purple/Richie Blackmore nut. I saw them in the Apollo around the same time and when I came into work the following morning I made sure I put a £5 deposit on the beautiful, used, Olympic White 1969 Stratocaster that was hanging on the wall priced at £150 (Strats were dearer than Teles, nothing changes). I still gig that '69 Strat to this day - hey, Rick, maybe I've even had my Strat longer than you've had that Tele? Anyway, like I said, the dude paid £130 for this Tele, not £80 like he states in the vid. By the way, Rick, I've still got deep ruts in my fingers from trying-out those tow-rope gauge strings that day... Incidentally, I have a memory like an elephant and I can tell you categorically that when Rick bought this guitar in 1976 it was immaculate - as new - I don't know wtf you've been doing with this guitar over the years, mate, but it's in a helluva state... Take it easy, man.

[@PatricksBreastplate]

K3KCT Great story, thanks!

[@mandolingrass]

not saying your wrong but I think you might have your years wrong, as Rick has had the white Tele since 1973ish but great story, very lucky to have those memories😀 the guitar he used before that was a Gibson SG

[@keef71]

i think the footage from '74 at Wembley (?) shows Rick playing this Tele, but still with the ashtray bridge - IIRC the story goes it was originally blue (Lake Placid?) but it was painted white and the scratchplate was painted black. as you say, up till this point his main standard tuning stage guitar was an SG junior (although i think there was more than one)

[@K3KCT]

Yes, you're correct my friend. I checked my dates again (memory fades with time...) and I worked in Macs store between Nov 1973 and Dec 1974. It's funny to see I worked there for only around 1 year, it felt like much longer at the time. It was also during that time I performed my first live gig with my first band, and as I've said to many people since, when you do your first gig you don't really want to work in any other business. I've known, and still know, brilliant and very smart individuals who could've been a great success - wealthy, comfortable - in any other profession had they not been lured by the music business. We don't think that when we start out. Don’t put your daughter (or son) on the stage, Mrs. Worthington..

[@glensmith654]

Hey K3KCT what was the name or names of the bands you've played in man I might have seen you ?

[@zeadiss]

Oh Rick you’re such a dude. Miss you xxx

[@EmmaPeelman]

I wish I could have said to you, Rick, "Thanks so much for whacking the fuck out of your Fender". What a rhythm guitarist you were. The best for me.

[@Remco96187]

Great comment. He really was the best. RIP Rick.

[@andyhill9236]

The best ever? For me, it's too close to call between Rick and Malcolm Young, both were rock n roll machines!

[@davedavies6436]

keep on rocking Rick R.I.P

[@Isahiyella]

RIP brother Rick Parfitt

[@fh276]

I was going to say this, & saw your reply. You got a thumbs up, from me.

[@savedandblessed79]

wat a nice guy and a powerhouse guitarist RIP

[@jamesfahrenheit246]

Now Rick is keeping the engine room rocking up in heaven, RIP, so very dearly missed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Jerrymouse79]

RIP Rick we miss you already

[@7000bass]

Thanks for sharing this great story...so unique and behind the scenes stuff we love - especially re the lad's (rip Rick) guitars. 1975 I was 23. 1971/2 I was in the Roy Lynnes band playing in Europe. He was still mates with Alan Lancaster (great guy) at the time and Roy is now in Aussi as well. Roy was married to ex Miss New Zealand at the time...Beautiful lovely kind & graceful lady - they had a young daughter. Roy had a Thames Trader van and we rehearsed in the hallway of his basement flat in Crystal Palace (2 rooms no bathroom outside toilet) Bill Cuthbert was the very talented real md of the band and featured the top pro drummer Brian Chatahm. I played a Dan Armstrong Plexiglass bass through a double Orange Matamp stack (4 - 4 X 12 cabs) imagine that now lol. I never unfortunately met Francis but I did chat to Rick a few too rare occasions and what a totally great bloke. My own thoughts is that he died before his time because of a hospital error. But don't quote me on that. Thanks again for all this here.

[@Vic-j9p]

Been a quo fan since mean girl hit the charts.seen them shed loads of times never a bad concert. Keep it rocking and sadly rip for our rick.

[@giggabyt78]

meet rick and francis in 2000 best day of my life R.I.P mate

[@strat-xq5oy]

one of the best...a proppa geeza. seen them in 74

[@garrigproductions]

I would love one day in the future to get my hands on Rick's guitar, not that I can play but I would stare at it every day and enjoy the memories as I fade away......

[@michaelmoxon5488]

God bless you Rick',so glad for Scarborough 2014 when you rocked the east coast.

[@robertmiller3750]

Rick and his Tele match made in heaven 🎸🎸🎸👍

[@mandolingrass]

rip the reverend of rock the best rythm guitarist ever! sadly missed

[@roadtripfan-kv7tt]

mandolingrass I've been crying for 4 hours

[@YouTubeIsAssHo]

Teen behind a camera Fuck, for how long to you cry when an actual friend or family member dies?

[@Yesihaveamullet]

"I whack fuck out of it- Am I allowed to swear?" "Yes" "Oh good, Well I whack fuck out of it." Ricky :D

[@davidstapley7203]

Great band. Music to last forever. Good chaps..rock in peace.

[@alandmcleod5988]

Aah! RIP Rick. Great and iconic musicians and guitars "It's a guitar!" says Francis. Not to us mate, it's an icon!

[@bobyk87]

the guy who made that overkill bridge deserves some medal

[@barrymcnicholl4140]

Francis on the holes in his guitar - See where I went oops there and oops there, I must have had a joint or something... LOL! Same reason I have holes in the back of a Jackson Kelly. Seemed like a damn good idea at the time.

[@cyclesgoff9768]

Wise words from both of them.

[@renatoporcu3097]

18 luglio Roma 👑 un grande 🎸🎸☮️☮️🎸🎸

[@willowhead69]

That white Tele will be so lonely now and wondering what the fuck is going on! RIP my hero, the absolute greatest Rhythm player ever, nobody can ever better Rick Parfitt. An astonishing sight in concert!

[@savedandblessed79]

willowhead69 his ex wife fucking swiped it as soon as he died. so soon in fact his son had to locate a copy/replica of it to have on display at his funeral. his wish was his beloved tele would be centrepiece at the funeral when he died and what he ended up with was a copy on display whilat his ex wife swiped it and complained he left her with money. disgraceful. rick seemed an utterly lovely man and didnt deserve that tbh

[@martinwalthert1709]

R.I.P. Rick :/🎸

[@the_roadcrew]

Fuck, i miss Rick :(

[@TUUK2006]

You've got to respect the SHIT out that. So many guitarists these days are snobs and argue over the tone difference of maple versus rosewood, or whether a nitro finish gives better tone than Poly and then you've got these two playing the same beat up guitars for decades and couldn't give two fucks.

[@davidgordon8099]

Man he knows how to whack the fuck out of it. What might he have done to women and his lady friends through out his life...God only knows? Such a great guy. R.I.P. Rick, you will be missed.

[@londonsignwriter]

We are making an NGS relic guitars tribute body based on this Parfitt beauty these guys are legends RIP good man.

[@NicoleEhrhardt-y5w]

I miss Rick and Quo, what they ment to me around the Blue for you Record. It was a Life- Style

[@davidjones4762]

It goes up to 11

[@jeffsimon9594]

It's just the most wonderful guitar

[@Blueslicks321]

"I wack Fuck out of it!: lol ,, rest in piece Rick... !!

[@roadtripfan-kv7tt]

rest in peace rick you will be missed 😢

[@revolutionday1]

This video is worth watching - for nothing else - that Lego tire hack.

[@danmllerjensen9373]

Does it have a tune-o-matic bridge?

[@mandolingrass]

Dan Møller Jensen no it's a wrap around badass but the strings go through the body

[@pedersenist]

I like how Francis Ross turns down all the excitement, for this guitar geek show ( It's a guitar!)

[@Andy-hb8kl]

He hates anything about old Quo, and prob sees that guitar as representing old Quo.

[@teterouge1472]

Wonder where Rick's tele is now? Anyone know?..

[@johnwilliams2479]

Seen him play that at finsbury park Astoria aka rainbow 72

[@felipearturotorres]

esa guitarra es puro rock es una reliquia mundial

[@dickhead9427]

@K3KCT. Was that guitar not blue at the time?

[@feizalglencross545]

Rick, the epitamy of a Rock Guitarist ,,,,,,, rock on up there Rik ,,,

[@toeboe106]

If there is a rock guitar hall of fame Ricks axe should be in it!!

[@Jon-es-i6o]

My 1st electric guitar was a Mex.Tele. I sold it for a PRS, big mistake/big regret! The Tele being my 1st guitar I didn’t realise what a gem of a guitar it was.

[@MyDreamside]

that guitar was really a big investement Rick! Wherever you are now :(

[@mannydecastro8604]

Love that tele to say the least

[@YouTwiFace]

i saw them for 2 days ago in germany =) =)= )=

[@renatoporcu3097]

27 agosto ROMA 🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶 🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶 🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶

[@bigmaxy07]

That thing is a weapon. He attacked the strings so hard, no wonder the bottom E is like a steel bar.

[@berniebolder8939]

Rick was the best rhythm guitarist, along with Malcolm Young ever, God bless them.

[@videogalory]

Ricks String Gauge was 56 - 14 wire wound G

Rick!

[@flagwanker6346]

Intro guitar is Rory Gallagher’s

[@lawrencemonaghan926]

Those getars have given me years of pleasure,,and still do,,RIP rick

[@mandolingrass]

Ricks tele,a 1965 not a 1960 he told that on his rythm method dvd

[@keef71]

i think when the logo was more visible, it's a transition logo not spaghetti

[@joshuajohnson2216]

RIP Rick 1948-2016.

[@chymist66]

Yeah Meccano if not Rick you Always Turned it up to 11 mate . Why because it’s +1 more than 10. Absolutely love Status Quo and everything they did. Rossi / Parfitt / Nuff / Coghlan Fucking epic.

[@mandolingrass]

Francis' tele is a 1957 but heavily modded! As you can see!

[@keef71]

body perhaps, but possibly a replaced mid-late '60s maple cap neck, as there's no skunk-stripe

[@mandolingrass]

keef71 I believe there were a few 50's Teles's without the stripe from what I have read.

[@keef71]

fair enough actually. once production went into the rosewood boards, if they had to do a maple one it would make sense to use a maple cap - just that it's widely written that the maple caps weren't an official option till the 60s. it does seem though if you wanted something different, you could have it as long's you paid for it!

[@keef71]

@@mandolingrass always meant to reply - when Rossi's Tele was sold last year, it was revealed in the pictures that the neck was dated 3rd August 1965 (and was a 'B' width) and had an 'F' neckplate with s/n 110959 - www.bonhams.com/auctions/25432/lot/81/

[@margreetanceaux3906]

About 55 years ago, the Who had this peculiar gimmick of destroying about everything on stage. You know, using the guitar as a sledgehammer. It’s very hard to take people like that seriously. Love Francis (and Rick) though for "got this in the late sixties".

[@matsf8268]

Now and then I search for SQ and I miss Rick, sorry I only saw them once, the frantic four

[@annettegeorge209]

RIP Rick Parfitt and Alan Lancaster

[@lukeneylon6471]

I wonder where frannys tele is now that he doesn’t use it

[@douglasholt8353]

RIP O.M.G he as died only 68 years old 24.12.2016

[@Masterfighterx]

How can you have good intonation with only a saddle?

[@statusquo15]

its a wrap over bridge ,his strings are 14-56 with a wound G ,intonation isnt a problem

[@EddieG1888]

How does Rick manage to intonate his guitar? He's using the string retaining part of a Les Paul bridge on there!

[@anderskarlsson9881]

Actually I think the bridge is from a Les Paul Junior. If you look upp "wrap around bridge" you can find it. Intonation is just made once :-) (When it was built).

[@EddieG1888]

Yeh, I guess you're right! :-D

[@ntsms69]

***** Caroline intro, 13th Fret!!!!!!!!!!There are those that know......................... and those that think they know ;-)

[@ntsms69]

You said "he doesn't play past the 5th Fret"? But he CLEARLY DOES!!!!!!!! Now, who is the idiot? You response is pathetic and imature.

[@EddieG1888]

Step away from the laptops, guys.... ;-)

[@andrewbalfour9373]

The Riff Master...

[@samdavepollard]

interesting the different relationships they have with their instruments - rick's clearly in love with his, but Francis, 'it's a guitar'

[@beatricepeter995]

I do want to believe , Rick's Telly falls into good hands,to Junior,that is... I ' m around as old as his telly and I'M worried,you know...!

[@richardhebden5603]

I've "whacked the fuck" out of my body since 1959 and don't sound so good x RIP Rick

[@juanpabloberger5552]

Fierro a fondo🚙🚜🛠️🏁

[@jimdeeds]

Francis is wonderfully grumpy! But a genius guitar payer nonetheless. Rick knew the value of his guitar much more.

[@davidhaney1394]

Rick Parfitt "i love my guitar , its a wonderful thing " .....Francis Rossi " its a guitar" .

[@heggy_69]

Man love statue qewoh

[@rjrj2972]

rossi is such a legend

[@tinajaneoxnam8132]

bless him. but if he wasn't addicted to drugs or boose he would've been with us now. hamsome man. being addicted to sex & rock N roll yeah du no what that's the best bit. I didn't know the quo did a film called the bula quo . so in ricks memory and also I liked status quo I'm gonna order a dvd from amazon.

[@StephaneVorstellung]

Weird mods to the bridges on both.

[@savedandblessed79]

apparently his (ex) wife fucking swiped it as soon as he died. swiped so soon in fact his son had to locate a decent copy/replica of it to have on display at his funeral. his wish was his beloved tele would be centrepiece at the funeral when he died and what he ended up with was a copy on display whilat his ex wife swiped it and complained he left her with money. disgraceful and shows greed and no respect for rick. rick parfitt seemed an utterly lovely man and loved music and his tele and didnt deserve that tbh

[@goranflinkjoles3262]

Are you sure about this? Have a look at the guitar at the funeral. They must have done a remarkable job making the copy looking identical. www.statusquo.co.uk/images/2017/rpcrem1.jpg

[@samharvey3241]

Sounds like Devon Townsend in the background.

[@kjm5155]

Rick Parfitt….the greatest rhythm guitarist of all time….end of!!🎸

[@briancahill2136]

Me and my Fenders,,,,,,,,,,,

[@K3KCT]

Jeezus. I just read this about Rick. Dreadfully sorry about this. Dreadful

[@stevestone07]

Cant believe how miserable Rossi really is! i bet Christmas day must be a bundle of fun at his place! Knob! RIP Rick! a true Rocker! x

[@Ben_Mdws]

I love how Rossi has absolutely no interest in revering his legendary Tele

[@UncleBillyBob732]

F'n death metal band practicing next door.

[@johnormond8451]

Jersey boys

[@johnormond8451]

Frankie valley

[@traceylloyd3874]

Why didn't Rossi just get new telecaster soan this one don't work

[@bluesrocker91]

He's got loads of Teles... Apparently his green Tele's wood has gone soft, so he chose the thing he's using now because it has a graphite neck, since it's not affected by temperature and humidity like wood is.

[@crazyade9556]

It's worth more than 50 quid now lol

[@lukeneylon6471]

Shame franny cant play his tele anymore

[@jcmangan]

But that`s a humbucker. that`s unfair in a Tele.

[@mickthornley7210]

Quo are Quo and are icons in the world of rock, however, personally, I think Rossi is the prick and Rick is the one who made them...

[@cyclesgoff9768]

It’s like a marriage, how can you possibly know what went on.

[@frankdiscussion2069]

too bad they ruined the guitars lol