STATUS QUO ON TOP FORM ON 'LAST NIGHT OF THE ELECTRICS' DVD Status Quo: 'Last Night Of The Electrics (Live At The O2 Arena, London)' Released: Friday 14th July 2017 (earMUSIC) Words: Johnny Main 4th July 2017 Forever those demin clad boogie rockers, Status Quo must be one of the hardest touring bands in the UK. Their never-ending tours traverse the length and breadth of the UK every year, not to mention a host of live shows throughout mainland Europe and (occasionally) Australia and New Zealand. Their pre-Christmas Winter Tour has become something of an institution with Quo fans since its inception nearly thirty years ago, however this latest tour, dubbed 'Last Night Of The Electrics' was the first not to feature guitarist Rick Parfitt who took unwell in Turkey on 14th June 2016, and subsequently stepped down from the band in September 2016. This set from the O2 Arena in London was recorded on Sunday 11th December 2016, a mere two weeks before Parfitt's untimely death and features Richie Malone on guitar who had been, and still is, substituting for Parfitt on live dates. Obviously hardcore Quo fans will argue this current line-up is more the Francis Rossi Band than it is actually Status Quo after the withdrawal of stalwart Parfitt from the line-up, leaving frontman Rossi as the sole driving force of the band, however this review is not the time or the place to get into a discussion regarding the legitimacy of this being released under the Status Quo name – so if you believe that Status Quo without Parfitt isn't any really Status Quo, then I'd advise you to move along and go and do something else instead, as this review probably isn't for you. The current incarnation of Quo can still fill arenas and the 2016 Winter Tour was no different for the band as they played to practically sold out venues on the tour. In fact, I caught the show at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow a few days after this one was recorded where there was no shortage of fans eager to let loose and have fun, and the view from the stage out to the cavernous O2 Arena on the DVD shows a very similar picture. A ninety-minute stroll through Quo's back catalogue is always fun and this DVD is no exception as you tick off hit after hit from the setlist from set opener 'Caroline', 'Something 'bout You Baby I Like', 'In the Army Now', 'Roll Over Lay Down' and, of course, the ubiquitous 'Rockin' All Over The World'. The band are on top form, especially Rossi who is in commanding mood. Sure, Malone may not have the power of Parfitt when it comes to nailing that twelve-bar guitar riff, but he certainly has a good stab at it. Numbers usually sung by Parfitt are, of course, still included with vocal duties handled competently enough by bass player John 'Rhino' Edwards and keyboard player Andrew Bown whilst drummer Leon Cave provides solid backing at the back whilst Rossi leads proceedings at the front of the stage with that infectious grin and amiable personality of his. If you're looking for a good fun live DVD packed full of Status Quo hits - and let's face it, there are a lot of them! - then there are few of better quality and as entertaining as this. Parfitt will be missed, there's no doubt of that, but his legacy will remain with all the songs he wrote and this live document reminds everyone that the Status Quo will continue (whether electrically or acoustically) for some time to come. 'Status Quo – Last Night Of The Electrics (Live at the O2 Arena, London)' will be available on the following formats: 2CD, DVD, Blu-ray, Limited Edition 180g Black Triple Vinyl with side 6 etched (double gatefold), earBOOK (with 2 x Audio CD, 1 x DVD & 1 x Blu-ray, coffee table book including approx. 120 pages) and Digitally. Tracklist: Caroline The Wanderer Something 'bout You Baby I Like Rain Softer Ride Beginning Of The End Hold You Back What You're Proposing/Down The Dustpipe/Wild Side Of Life/Railroad/Again And Again Paper Plane The Oriental Creepin' Up On You Gerdundula In The Army Now Roll Over Lay Down Down Down Whatever You Want Rockin' All Over The World Burning Bridges Rock And Roll Music/Bye Bye Johnny Status Quo are: Francis Rossi – Vocals/Guitar Andrew Bown – Keyboards/Guitar/Backing Vocals John 'Rhino' Edwards – Bass Guitar/Backing Vocals Richie Malone – Guitar/Backing Vocals Leon Cave – Drums/Backing Vocals You can see Status Quo live here: Thursday 7th July – Zwickau, Freilichtbühne* Sunday 9th July – Freilichtbühne, Loreley, St Goarshausen* (with ZZ Top) Monday 10th July – Junge Garde, Dresden* Wednesday 12th July – SparkassenPark, Mönchengladbach* (with ZZ Top) Thursday 13th July - Sommersound Marktplatz, Schopfheim* Saturday 15th July – Brentwood Festival, Brentwood* Wednesday 26th July - Schloss Kapfenburg (open air), Lauchheim* Friday 28th July – Colmar Festival, Colmar* Saturday 29th July – Festival Benatska, Ski Areal Liberec* Sunday 30th July - Suikerrock, Tienen* Thursday 3rd – Saturday 5th August – Wacken 2017 Open Air Festival, Wacken* Friday 4th August – Schlossgarten, Schwetzingen* Sunday 6th August - Rewind North Festival, Capesthorne Hall* Sunday 20th August – Rewind South Festival, Temple Island Meadows, Henley-on-Thames* Friday 25th August – Summerdays Festival, Arbon* Saturday 26th August – Seaside Festival, Spiez* Thursday 31st August – Platz vor dem Bischofspalais, Rottenburg* Wednesday 11 October - Vector Arena, Auckland* Friday 13 October - The STAR Gold Coast (Jupiters)* Saturday 14th October – Civic Theatre, Newcastle* Sunday 15 October - Opera House, Sydney* Saturday 21st October – Rock The Boat 2017** (Departs Sydney, Australia on Monday 16th October 2017) Tuesday 24 October - Hamer Hall, Melbourne* Friday 27th October – Dubai Opera House, Dubai* Friday 17th November – Stadsschouwburg, Antwerpen** Thursday 16th November - The Nick Rayns LCR, Norwich (Re-scheduled show)** Friday 17th November – Stadsschouwburg, Antwerpen** Saturday 18th November – Donau-Arena, Regensburg** Tuesday 21st November – Bielefeld, Stadthalle** Wednesday 22nd November – Hannover Kuppelsaal** Thursday 23rd November - Poppodium 013, Veemarktstraat, Tilburg** Sunday 26th November – O2 Apollo, Manchester** Monday 27th November – City Hall, Sheffield** Wednesday 29th November – St David’s Hall, Cardiff** Thursday 30th November – Hexagon, Reading** Saturday 2nd December – International Centre, Bournemouth** Sunday 3rd December – Civic Hall, Wolverhampton** Tuesday 5th December – Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow** Wednesday 6th December – City Hall, Newcastle** Thursday 8th December – Eventim Apollo, London** Monday 11th December – Friedrich-Stadt-Palast, Berlin** Tuesday 12th December – Frankfurt, Jahrhunderthalle** Wednesday 13th December – Baden Baden, Festspielhaus** Friday 15th December – Stuttgart, Liederhalle** Saturday 16th December – Halle/Saale, Friedrich Händel Halle** Monday 18th December – Düsseldorf, Mitsubishi Electric Halle** Tuesday 19th December – Hamburg, Mehr! Theater** Wednesday 21st December – Nürnberg, Meistersingerhalle** * Electric, ** Acoustic Tickets for UK shows are available right here.