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Post by rocker1977 on Jul 8, 2017 16:44:54 GMT
In the new edition of Planet Rock there is an excellent interview with Francis who is asked if he still speaks to Alan. He answers he hasn't spoken to him since last Christmas when he (Alan) started getting insulting so Francis hung up on him. All very sad especially after they had reconciled after so many years not talking.
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Post by smokie on Jul 8, 2017 17:15:48 GMT
That is indeed sad to read.
I would have thought with everything that has happened, civility wouldn't have been too much to ask for.
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Post by snakelady on Jul 9, 2017 6:22:32 GMT
Thanks for sharing the info, rocker1977, sad as it is, but maybe not surprising .. They'll have both been under shock through Rick's passing, so maybe that's why Alan behaved the way he did. But why not call again once you've calmed down and apologise ? Nothing more to add without more info what it was about ..
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Post by problemshalved on Jul 11, 2017 17:44:44 GMT
AL comes across a bitter and twisted individual who still lives in the past and has dillusions of grandeur and seemed to be winding up RP in the background that there was demand for JC/RP/AL combination
I still don't buy the " he was too ill to travel to the funeral story", unless his condition has deteriorated badly
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Post by snakelady on Jul 11, 2017 18:15:11 GMT
AL comes across a bitter and twisted individual who still lives in the past and has dillusions of grandeur and seemed to be winding up RP in the background that there was demand for JC/RP/AL combination I still don't buy the " he was too ill to travel to the funeral story", unless his condition has deteriorated badly Well, Alan will be at the fan club convention in autumn, so it's rather improbable it was down to health issues. Maybe to do with that phone call with Francis, although that would've been poor behaviour. Of course we're speculating here - maybe someone's going to ask him the reasons at the convention ? I think Alan and John very much enjoyed the reunion tours (as did Rick and Francis, at least the part on stage) and maybe got the impression the fans wanted them back. While John enjoyed it for what it was, a one (two) off, Alan might have thought he had his foot in the door again so to speak. That the band might need him and want him back due to demand of fans. So there's a chance he once again felt robbed off what he considered rightfully his and that led to his talking negatively about Francis in interviews and falling out with him privately. Merely my personal impression and it could all have been completely different though, we just don't know ..
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gav
Wild Horse
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Post by gav on Jul 11, 2017 21:58:52 GMT
I still don't buy the " he was too ill to travel to the funeral story", unless his condition has deteriorated badly Guilty until proven innocent then?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2017 5:36:27 GMT
I still don't buy the " he was too ill to travel to the funeral story", unless his condition has deteriorated badly Guilty until proven innocent then? Personally I'm sure there must be a very good reason why Alan wasn't there but we'll probably never know, hence why people speculate. Can you imagine the reaction if Frame hadn't been there? Now if ever the term 'Guilty until proven innocent' could be applied to someone then it's that fella. But there again it depends on your agenda I suppose. In my experience most arguments can have blame apportioned on both sides. I suspect in this case both Frame and Alan were partly at fault.
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mortified
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Post by mortified on Jul 12, 2017 6:02:10 GMT
I bought that Planet Rock mag the other day. Never seen it before and noticed Francis was in it. The interview is certainly candid but one or two of Francis's comments I thought were a bit odd. He is either controversial for the sake of it (i.e. at the wind up) or he's become the archetypal grumpy old man. One opinion in particular I could scarcely believe! It concerned the British blues boom of the 60's which he suggested was just a bunch of blokes who'd never listened to the blues who just wanted to look cool saying they had. Try telling that to Mick and Keef! Now, it's one thing not liking the blues (which he plainly doesn't or says he doesn't) but it's quite another to dismiss an entire and very influential era of music. An era which had a profound influence on Quo's direction. It also sort of contradicts what Bob Young said in his online interview (see different thread) about he and Francis writing in a country blues style. I think Francis is amusing and probably very good company. But sometimes he doesn't half talk some bollox As for the Alan thing, I don't think they've ever really seen eye to eye (again see Bob's interview). They are chalk and cheese and will always fall out. You'd think they'd mellow with age. It would appear it's the opposite. Statler and Waldorf personified.
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Post by viking55 on Jul 12, 2017 20:04:04 GMT
Just come back of Hols so catching up with Francis recent activities with the press ! So he is just being blunt and honest imo. His FF period was just him playing out his alter ego regarding being a Rock Star. Rock was never his personal choice of listening. We all know that. Money making con ??? Maybe... frankly and honestly Rick and Francis were no Green, Page or Clapton. Francis was no Danny Gatton and Rick was mainly a one trick pony. So Blues 12 bar was an easy option / money spinner. They found they were rather good at it and found an audience for the next 8 or so albums and made wad loads of cash.. I'm I bitter about it..,or do I feel conned ... no. Because I loved the music and bought the albums. And loved the image ! He has told us numerous times he just wanted to be adored and he got it ! Sorry if this sounds blunt but it's what I now believe.
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Post by snakelady on Jul 13, 2017 7:06:12 GMT
I'd suspect Francis attitude towards the 70s is mainly caused by who they were, who he was back then and he can't see anything positive about that rock star persona he impersonated. The cocky guy who treated people badly and arrogantly, who cheated on his wife and destroyed his first marriage and who was always on some pill or drug when not smoking dope. Same as the others.
Somehow they managed to come up with great music as well during that time - for us at least. I can understand though why it's tainted for him.
And he never was a Quo fan, he has always been a band member. There's a difference. He'd never have loved all the songs they recorded to start with - down to the give and take among band members. And once one project - album - was finished they relentlessly moved on to the next. All the own songs they've ever listened to are the ones from the live set. The band doesn't sit there on the bus or at home listening to Quo albums and even less so 5x in a row, the way fans do. Would be strange to listen to yourself like that too, I'd guess. Their music is what they liked, what came to their minds while writing it. Then they recorded it, if it was deemed good enough - and then the next .. and the next. That's why only very few out of the 100s of songs they've written remain special for Francis and probably the other band members as well, although these have written (far) less, which will make a difference.
So why should Francis long for the 70s when his life is far better - happier healthier, .. - and his character a lot more mature and considerate now ? He still writes the music he likes, but with a lot less pressure behind it. It's just some of the fans don't share his taste, don't like what he enjoys any longer. From that POV it's understandable why 'stuck in the 70s' is not appealing, is a form of nostalgia that does nothing for him.
The one pressure he still has comes from responsibility for others (the other band members, crew, family ..). That's one reason why he has kept the band alive for so long. Though I assume it won't take him that long now till he realises that the others are capable of looking after themselves, that they'll have to, as they'll be forced to do it anyway once he's gone. There's a time when you have to let go and you end up with more freedom for yourself for it ..
Personally I'm looking forward to what a Francis free of Quo will do.
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Post by viking55 on Jul 13, 2017 9:54:36 GMT
I'd suspect Francis attitude towards the 70s is mainly caused by who they were, who he was back then and he can't see anything positive about that rock star persona he impersonated. The cocky guy who treated people badly and arrogantly, who cheated on his wife and destroyed his first marriage and who was always on some pill or drug when not smoking dope. Same as the others. Somehow they managed to come up with great music as well during that time - for us at least. I can understand though why it's tainted for him. And he never was a Quo fan, he has always been a band member. There's a difference. He'd never have loved all the songs they recorded to start with - down to the give and take among band members. And once one project - album - was finished they relentlessly moved on to the next. All the own songs they've ever listened to are the ones from the live set. The band doesn't sit there on the bus or at home listening to Quo albums and even less so 5x in a row, the way fans do. Would be strange to listen to yourself like that too, I'd guess. Their music is what they liked, what came to their minds while writing it. Then they recorded it, if it was deemed good enough - and then the next .. and the next. That's why only very few out of the 100s of songs they've written remain special for Francis and probably the other band members as well, although these have written (far) less, which will make a difference. So why should Francis long for the 70s when his life is far better - happier healthier, .. - and his character a lot more mature and considerate now ? He still writes the music he likes, but with a lot less pressure behind it. It's just some of the fans don't share his taste, don't like what he enjoys any longer. From that POV it's understandable why 'stuck in the 70s' is not appealing, is a form of nostalgia that does nothing for him. The one pressure he still has comes from responsibility for others (the other band members, crew, family ..). That's one reason why he has kept the band alive for so long. Though I assume it won't take him that long now till he realises that the others are capable of looking after themselves, that they'll have to, as they'll be forced to do it anyway once he's gone. There's a time when you have to let go and you end up with more freedom for yourself for it .. Personally I'm looking forward to what a Francis free of Quo will do. Great post and absolutely spot on !
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mortified
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Post by mortified on Jul 13, 2017 10:27:46 GMT
I find I disagree with a lot of what Francis says nowadays and especially with regard to the band's output in the 70's. I personally believe that a lot of the stuff they recorded back then bordered on genius. The hooks, the melodies, the interaction between he and Rick's guitars. He would dismiss all that. But just because he was there doesn't necessarily make his views any more valid. Or any less valid if we're being fair. He has a bee in his bonnet about 'pop' music. That came across yet again in the Planet Rock interview. He should really be over that. Dismissal of 'undefined' pop music was something that happened in the 70's. I did it myself. It was a form of snobbery. And it was stupid. But that was then. We're not looking for macho poses any more and constant heavier music. Quo never indulged in that anyway. The were very often much more subtle; much more melodic. I simply don't believe that the 70's for him was an "act" like he suggests. You are what you are and you were what you were. Why listen to Chicken Shack and Fleetwood Mac in the late 60's and then write something like Spinning Wheel Blues? An act? Sorry, I'm not having it. It was who he was then. He may not like it but that's just tough. He is modest and it is to an absolute fault. To the extent that large amounts of everything he's done gets dismissed. He is better than he thinks he is. Or at least acknowledges he is. At songwriting and at playing. So I'm going to stop listening to him and keep listening to the music. Because it speaks much louder and much more accurately. So there.
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Post by viking55 on Jul 13, 2017 11:03:08 GMT
I find I disagree with a lot of what Francis says nowadays and especially with regard to the band's output in the 70's. I personally believe that a lot of the stuff they recorded back then bordered on genius. The hooks, the melodies, the interaction between he and Rick's guitars. He would dismiss all that. But just because he was there doesn't necessarily make his views any more valid. Or any less valid if we're being fair. He has a bee in his bonnet about 'pop' music. That came across yet again in the Planet Rock interview. He should really be over that. Dismissal of 'undefined' pop music was something that happened in the 70's. I did it myself. It was a form of snobbery. And it was stupid. But that was then. We're not looking for macho poses any more and constant heavier music. Quo never indulged in that anyway. The were very often much more subtle; much more melodic. I simply don't believe that the 70's for him was an "act" like he suggests. You are what you are and you were what you were. Why listen to Chicken Shack and Fleetwood Mac in the late 60's and then write something like Spinning Wheel Blues? An act? Sorry, I'm not having it. It was who he was then. He may not like it but that's just tough. He is modest and it is to an absolute fault. To the extent that large amounts of everything he's done gets dismissed. He is better than he thinks he is. Or at least acknowledges he is. At songwriting and at playing. So I'm going to stop listening to him and keep listening to the music. Because it speaks much louder and much more accurately. So there. I see your points and you may also be correct. But 'Spinning Wheel Blues is a bit of a 'let's get together and write a blues tune' imho. Bloody great track though...lol. Honestly and truthfully I think Rick and a Alan got 70s Quo more than Francis did and maybe pushed Francis along with it. And Francis n Bob could write a tune in any category. . It just happened to be that Francis had the rapport with the live audience and quickly got the front man label. This resulted in everyone thinking he was QUO through and through when maybe what he is telling us He wasn't ! Hence his reluctance with the FF reunion continuing. We can all but guess and spe curate...lol. Who cares. Still great albums ! Think he is n a way trying to tell the Nostalgia bunch elsewhere it's time for bed...lol.
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Post by snakelady on Jul 14, 2017 7:38:40 GMT
All of them came from a pop background and at least Francis and Rick never left it behind (we just don't know about Alan and John). In that respect the '82 rehearsal recording is very revealing. It's not really a rehearsal actually, rather them fooling around having fun using songs they like. And these songs aren't rock songs, we don't hear them fooling around with Highway To Hell. Instead they have fun with Rick's cabaret back ground and keep returning to Babyface. Plus other poppy stuff. And a nice long version of Wild Side Of Life, well we all know Francis likes this one. Interestingly the ones who do all the talking are Francis and Rick. OK, you'd not expect the new boy Pete to be the most talkative, but same goes for Alan and Andy. If it weren't for Francis counting him in once you'd think Alan hadn't been there.
I've always found the band dynamics in this recording strange. It's clear that F+R enjoy what they're doing, but what about the other two (leaving out Pete here) ? Andy will have never been the most talkative, so he might've enjoyed it silently - but Alan ? If he thought they had to record and play the records they did at the time due to the reasons already mentioned, but deep down still wanted to be a rocker, why doesn't he say at some point 'ok, guys, cut the crap, let's play some real music' or similar and starts a rock song of his liking ? After all it wasn't a real rehearsal and they did play songs they liked and that would at least in part never get near a Quo set.
The only answers I can come up with are, he either enjoyed what the other two did and was happy to play along or his standing within the band wasn't what it might have been ten years ago, with Francis and Rick the leaders calling the shots.
Difficult to judge the reasons from the tape, but three equals having fun together they were not ..
On the other hand that recording explains what Francis means, when he says the Rick he knew wasn't the rocker he tried to impersonate for fans and media.
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Post by problemshalved on Jul 14, 2017 12:02:03 GMT
Frame as we know is a complicated character and his ramblings are sometimes hard to decipher as when talks out loud he flits from thought to thought (he seems to feel strongly both ways😀) I think ultimately he is caught in a trap. On the one hand he doesn't like having to be stuck with Quo formula, which was a large part of his falling out with AL, but on the other hand he gets a large buzz from Audience reaction with the traditional Quo sound ( insecure show offs etc etc) and of course it pays the bills. So whilst it may stick in the throat, the benefits outweigh the negatives I think 2018 should be used for solo projects and to a certain extent this is sort of happening already with Rhino doing more Rhinos Revenge in 2018, and Frame doing the classics tour which would indicate the diary is not going to crammed with Quo gigs, and then return in 2019 rejuvenated and clear what they want to do (if at all). The fans could do with a break from the same set list and bull anyway, and they cannot play the final tour card anymore (it's getting. a bit like the Peter Key Tour that didn't tour, tour) I think the comments about the obligation to the crew are genuine, but I doubt any of them would find it hard to get gigs elsewhere with the Quo CV under their belts and they could perhaps keep one or two critical ones e.g. Lloyd, on retainers. I would imagine the main bulk of the crew are recruited on a short term basis anyway, and it's only a handful that are on permanent employment
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Post by Rick Roper on Jul 14, 2017 14:30:28 GMT
I refuse to believe a word the man says these days. A man who has made a near 50-year living out of Blues-orientated Rock, but disses Quo's output at every opportunity... A man who says he's been leading a life playing music he didn't like for the last 40 years... Utter boll*cks. I can see someone going along for a couple of years being led down a path they didn't like, before opting out... But not 40. Has he fallen down the stairs and banged his head or something? We all change a bit during our lives, but here we have a man who is trying absolutely desperately to totally divorce himself from ever having had anything to do with a hugely successful Rock group which he himself fought to keep going through all the adversity thrown its way. He's either losing the plot, or there's something pretty seriously f*cked up upstairs... His comments regarding the British Blues scene are absolutely crass, and should quite rightly earn him a panning by the music press.
I used to think Francis Rossi was "F*ckin' cool"... Increasingly I am thinking of him as being a complete Arse with a capital "A" these days.
Rick Roper.
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Post by smokie on Jul 15, 2017 9:47:11 GMT
This just confirms his insecurities, doesn't it? He does appear to be very hard on himself.
There's only two Quo albums from "the golden era" that I can honestly say that I like EVERY track and those two are Piledriver and Hello. It might be sacrilege to say this but the next three albums have a few skip tracks for me. Not many on each but a few on each. I wouldn't call them sh*t though.
Perhaps one of the reasons that we like the albums from that era is because it brings back lots of happy memories for us? And perhaps one of the reasons Francis doesn't particularly like them is because it's the opposite for him? He didn't like the person that he was during that time or the way he behaved and the way he treated people and people close to him? Perhaps one of the reasons that he likes albums and songs from the 90s is because that period of his life was a happier time for him? He had stopped drinking and taking drugs and he had got together with Eileen. Looking back, that'll be a happy time for him.
Too many perhaps in there I think.....
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Post by gogs on Jul 15, 2017 19:01:27 GMT
smokie , Perhaps there are too may perhapses, but it can only be that way 'cos we're surmising what FR thinks. I happen to think you've nailed it in your third paragraph. The 70s covered my teens when life was easy, pop/rock/chart music was eclectic but great fun, and nothing particularly mattered. BY the 90s, most chart music was not for me and I had responsibilities. Thus I'll usually favour the 70s over the 90s. But FR probably feels the reverse for the reasons you mentioned. I'm also not convinced that he dislikes the Quo music from the 70s, he just prefers the 90s stuff because the band was more stable and more mature, and there was little or no obvious in-fighting...... Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps. (Joe Davis after Osvaldo Farres (quizas quizas quizas))
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Post by smokie on Jul 15, 2017 20:44:11 GMT
Thank you gogs. I think that's a really considered and thoughtful post there. For me anyway, I find it difficult to disagree with any of that.
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Post by viking55 on Jul 15, 2017 20:55:04 GMT
And not forgetting Francis and the band got totally ripped off money wise to e tune of millions. Enough to make anyone bitter about that period and wanting to block it out !
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Post by The Lord Flasheart on Jul 15, 2017 21:29:35 GMT
smokie , Perhaps there are too may perhapses, but it can only be that way 'cos we're surmising what FR thinks. I happen to think you've nailed it in your third paragraph. The 70s covered my teens when life was easy, pop/rock/chart music was eclectic but great fun, and nothing particularly mattered. BY the 90s, most chart music was not for me and I had responsibilities. Thus I'll usually favour the 70s over the 90s. But FR probably feels the reverse for the reasons you mentioned. I'm also not convinced that he dislikes the Quo music from the 70s, he just prefers the 90s stuff because the bans was more stable and more mature, and there was little or no obvious in-fighting...... Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps. (Joe Davis after Osvaldo Farres (quizas quizas quizas)) Ian Gillan says similar about Purple. When Steve Morse joined the band was to them a much more stable place, Granted the Blackmore era is much better. Francis is so self depreciating about his music. He thinks most of it does not compare with "Proper music" as he calls it. In the interview with Mick Wall, Mick is trying to make him accept that Caroline is a classic song but he does not see it that way.
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