Francis Rossi

Francis Rossi

Born: May 29, 1949
in Forest Hill, London, England, UK
Francis Dominic Nicholas Michael Rossi, OBE (born 29 May 1949) is an English musician. He is the co-founder, lead singer, lead guitarist and the sole continuous member of the rock band Status Quo.

Rossi was born on 29 May 1949 in Forest Hill, London. His father's side of the family were Italian ice cream merchants and had an ice cream business in South London, and his mother was a Northern Irish Roman Catholic from Liverpool. He grew up in a household with his parents, grandmother, and "lots of aunts and uncles" and was given a Roman Catholic upbringing, having been named after Saint Francis of Assisi. He spent his summer holidays as a child with an aunt in Waterloo, Merseyside. He attended Our Lady and St Philip Neri Roman Catholic Primary School in Sydenham, and then Sedgehill Comprehensive School, from which he was expelled on his last day for having allowed his classmates to deface his school uniform. His desire to become a musician began after seeing The Everly Brothers live on television at a young age, after which he asked his parents to buy him a guitar for Christmas.

In 1962, while attending Sedgehill Comprehensive School, Rossi became close friends with future Status Quo bassist Alan Lancaster while playing trumpet in the school orchestra. The two, along with other classmates Alan Key (drums) and Jess Jaworski (keyboards), formed a band called the Scorpions, who played their first gig at the Samuel Jones Sports Club in Dulwich. Key was later replaced by Air Cadets drummer and future Quo member John Coghlan, and the band was renamed the Spectres. The Spectres wrote their own material and played live shows; the line-up soon included Redhill-based keyboard player Roy Lynes, whom they had seen performing with a band called the Echoes who were also based in Redhill. In 1965, the Spectres played at a Butlins holiday camp in Minehead. There Rossi met his future long-time Status Quo partner Rick Parfitt, who was playing as part of another band, the Highlights. The two became close friends and agreed to continue working together. In 1966, the Spectres signed a five-year deal with Piccadilly Records, releasing three singles that failed to chart. The group again changed their name, this time to Traffic Jam, after embracing psychedelia.

In 1967, Traffic Jam changed its name to The Status Quo, but eventually dropped the definite article. Shortly afterward Parfitt joined the band, completing the original line-up, and beginning an almost 50-year partnership with Rossi until Parfitt's death in 2016. Rossi had written a song called "Pictures of Matchstick Men", which hit the charts in both the UK and the US in 1968, launching their hit-making career. After some years of minor success, the band reached #5 in the album charts in 1972 with Piledriver. Released on Vertigo Records, it included "Paper Plane", a song penned by Rossi and Bob Young, which was released as a single. Status Quo continued to enjoy major success in the UK, Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand through the 1970s and 1980s. They were the opening act of 1985's Live Aid, and Rossi wrote and co-wrote some of their biggest hits, including "Caroline" and the band's only number one single, "Down Down". ...

Source: Article "Francis Rossi" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.

Movies for Francis Rossi...

The Kemps: All Gold
Title: The Kemps: All Gold
Character: Self
Released: December 29, 2023
Type: Movie
Spandau Ballet brothers Martin and Gary Kemp return to the BBC for a New Year comedy documentary special. Rhys Thomas OBE has been given unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to their lives for a whole year, and what a momentous one it’s been - with Martin publishing an explosive biography, his two wives, Pepsi and Shirlie, wanting a divorce, and Gary writing Spandau: The Ballet.
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Status Quo - Live at Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park 2019
Title: Status Quo - Live at Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park 2019
Character: Self
Released: September 15, 2019
Type: Movie
The legendary rockers break out their beloved singalong tunes
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Status Quo – Down Down & Dirty at Wacken
Title: Status Quo – Down Down & Dirty at Wacken
Character: Self
Released: August 17, 2018
Type: Movie
Down Down & Dirty At Wacken is a wild & electrifying performance recorded in front of 70.000 wild Heavy Metal Fans at the world famous "Wacken Open Air 2017".
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Status Quo - The Last Night of the Electrics
Title: Status Quo - The Last Night of the Electrics
Character: Self
Released: July 14, 2017
Type: Movie
Live performance from legendary British rockers Status Quo recorded at London's O2 Arena in December 2016. The band perform a number of hit tracks including 'Down Down', 'Whatever You Want' and 'Rockin' All Over the World'.
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Status Quo - Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park 2016
Title: Status Quo - Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park 2016
Character: Self
Released: September 11, 2016
Type: Movie
Status Quo have been rockin' for six decades, notching up 65 hit singles, selling over 100m records worldwide and spending more than 400 weeks in the British singles chart. It's no wonder Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt from the band were awarded OBEs in 2010 for their services to music...
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Status Quo - Aquostic - Live at the Roundhouse
Title: Status Quo - Aquostic - Live at the Roundhouse
Character: Self
Released: April 13, 2015
Type: Movie
This landmark release, recorded in October 2014 in a joint effort by earMUSIC and the BBC, captures the band’s first ever live acoustic performance at the glorious Roundhouse in London. This sensational recording features the new pared-back side of Quo, as revealed on the hit 2014 album ‘Aquostic! (Stripped Bare)’. This album soared to number 5 in the charts, giving the band their highest placing for 18 years, and has now been certified Gold. It was in fact the best-selling independent label album of 2014!
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Status Quo: The Frantic Four’s Final Fling - Live At The Dublin 02 Arena
Title: Status Quo: The Frantic Four’s Final Fling - Live At The Dublin 02 Arena
Character: Self
Released: August 29, 2014
Type: Movie
When the last notes rang out in the Dublin o2 on Saturday 12 April 2014, the 9000 fans packing the venue knew that they were witness to the end of something special. The reunion that nobody thought would ever be possible did happen, but now the itch was scratched and that particular book was closed.
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Status Quo - The Frantic Four Reunion
Title: Status Quo - The Frantic Four Reunion
Character: Self
Released: September 30, 2013
Type: Movie
Full coverage of Status Quo's March 2013 gig at Wembley Arena. The show saw the band's original line-up of Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, John Coghlan and Alan Lancaster reunite to perform a number of hits from their 1970s heyday including 'Down Down', 'Is There a Better Way', 'Junior's Wailing' and 'Little Lady'.
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Bula Quo!
Title: Bula Quo!
Character: Francis
Released: July 5, 2013
Type: Movie
Status Quo play a series of shows in Fiji and become embroiled in a secret Russian Roulette ring lorded over by Jon Lovitz.
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Hello Quo
Title: Hello Quo
Character: Self
Released: October 22, 2012
Type: Movie
Collecting hours of previously unseen footage and classic live material with full exclusive access to all band members this is the definitive story of a band that has done and seen it all. As well as full access to the band, Hello Quo! Also features input from a host of the biggest names in rock including: Brian May of Queen, Joe Elliott of Def Leppard, Thin Lizzy, Buzzcocks, Slade, Paul Weller, Sir Cliff Richard and Midge Ure. The documentary also exclusively features the moment when the original line up of the band met again for the first time in over 30 years. A truly poignant reunion, after years of legal wrangling, saw the band clear the air but also plug in and play together once again... This Access All Areas Collector s Edition includes 3 hours of astonishing never seen before Quo footage!
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Title: Celebrity Antiques Road Trip
Character: Self - Participant
Released: October 24, 2011
Type: TV
Antiques experts accompany celebrities on a road trip around the UK searching for treasures and competing to make the most money at auction
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Best of Night of the Proms Vol.  5
Title: Best of Night of the Proms Vol. 5
Character: Self
Released: October 14, 2011
Type: Movie
Best of Night of the Proms 5
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Francis Rossi: Live at St Lukes London
Title: Francis Rossi: Live at St Lukes London
Character: Self
Released: April 1, 2011
Type: Movie
Status Quo legend Francis Rossi's solo show at St Luke's London was only the seventh that Rossi had ever performed, part of a UK tour in support of his 2010 solo studio album One Step at a Time. The concert featured solo tracks like "Crazy for You", "One Step at a Time" and "Sleeping on the Job" alongside Quo classics "Caroline", "My Little Heartbreaker" and "Don't Waste My Time".
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Status Quo - Live at the BBC
Title: Status Quo - Live at the BBC
Character: Self
Released: September 1, 2010
Type: Movie
Live concert.
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Status Quo - Pictures Live at Montreux 2009
Title: Status Quo - Pictures Live at Montreux 2009
Character: Self
Released: January 1, 2009
Type: Movie
Status Quo's album "Pictures" (released in November 2008) celebrated 40 years of Status Quo filling the UK charts with hit after hit. The album was an instant success, charting at No.8 and selling over a quarter of a million copies in the UK alone. In July 2009 the Pictures live tour landed at Montreux in Switzerland as part of the world famous festival.
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Best of Night of the Proms Vol. 3
Title: Best of Night of the Proms Vol. 3
Character: Self
Released: October 3, 2008
Type: Movie
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Concert for Diana
Title: Concert for Diana
Character: Self
Released: July 1, 2007
Type: Movie
Live broadcast of the concert at Wembley Stadium in London on July 1st 2007 to commemorate the life of Princess Diana on what would have been her 46th birthday. It was broadcast live to over 140 countries.
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Status Quo - Just Doin' It!
Title: Status Quo - Just Doin' It!
Character: Self
Released: November 6, 2006
Type: Movie
40 Years of Quo Classics filmed Live at Birmingham NEC, England, May 21st, 2006.
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Status Quo ‎– The One And Only
Title: Status Quo ‎– The One And Only
Character: Self
Released: September 4, 2006
Type: Movie
The One & Only Status Quo: Recorded in 2000. Doing Their Thing: See how the band evolved from their 60s beginnings in this footage from 1970. Rockpop In Concert: Filmed by German TV in 1982, this is the band in full flight playing the hits and more. TOTP2 Status Quo Special: Join the guys on Top Of The Pops 2 in 2000, reminiscing and performing.
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John Peel's Record Box
Title: John Peel's Record Box
Character: Self
Released: November 14, 2005
Type: Movie
John Peel's Record Box is a documentary film made by Elaine Shepherd, released on 14 November 2005 on Channel 4. It was nominated for Primetime Emmy Award. It is about a small private collection of the British radio DJ John Peel who died in 2004 at the age of 65. Peel's main archive contained more than 100,000 vinyl records and CDs. This smaller private collection, however, contains 143 singles - some of them doublettes - stored in a private wooden box representing some of his personal favourites. According to the documentary, there are no singles by Peel's favorite group, The Fall, because he kept them in a separate box. The film features interviews with John's wife Sheila Ravenscroft, radio DJs and artists like Mary Anne Hobbs, Sir Elton John, Ronnie Wood, Roger Daltrey, Fergal Sharkey, Jack White, Michael Palin and Miki Berenyi.
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Status Quo - Avo Session 2005
Title: Status Quo - Avo Session 2005
Character: Self
Released: November 10, 2005
Type: Movie
Near perfect quality Pro-shot broadcast recording of the Status Quo, recorded Live at AVO sessions, in Basel, Switzerland on November 10th 2005.
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Live Aid Against All Odds
Title: Live Aid Against All Odds
Character: Self
Released: June 15, 2005
Type: Movie
Documentary which traces the story of Live Aid from its humble beginnings, a pop tune cobbled together in the back seat of a taxi, to the eve of the biggest televised event ever. Artists from the time tell the story of the day that music rocked the world. Organiser Bob Geldof recalls how after 12 weeks of manic preparation, the big day finally arrived.
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Live Aid
Title: Live Aid
Character: Self
Released: November 16, 2004
Type: Movie
4 × DVD, The broadcast of the biggest benefit concert in history, organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for Ethiopian famine relief. This entry is for the compilation box set released in 2004.
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Status Quo: XS All Areas - The Greatest Hits
Title: Status Quo: XS All Areas - The Greatest Hits
Character: Self
Released: September 27, 2004
Type: Movie
The DVD features 40 video performances taken from promotional videos, TV performances and concerts, and features previously unseen footage.
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Status Quo - Live Legends
Title: Status Quo - Live Legends
Character: Self
Released: June 7, 2004
Type: Movie
Status Quo are veterans of the English rock scene, can count Prince Charles amongst their fans, and performed a rousing set at the legendary Live Aid concert. LIVE LEGENDS was originally released to coincide with their 25th anniversary, and features a welter of material, including candid backstage clips and live performance footage..
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Status Quo - Anniversary Waltz
Title: Status Quo - Anniversary Waltz
Character: Self
Released: March 30, 2003
Type: Movie
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When Rock Ruled the World
Title: When Rock Ruled the World
Character: Self
Released: March 13, 2002
Type: Movie
From 1970 to the mid 80s, When Rock Ruled The World celebrates the unavoidable appeal of the loudest, fastest, heaviest music on the planet, a time when everyone wanted to own an electric guitar, if only to turn the volume up to eleven. Featuring the extravagance of Led Zeppelin; the power of Deep Purple; the progressive indulgence of Hawkwind; the intensity of Black Sabbath and the band that defined 'excess all areas', Motley Crue. All the extremes of rock are here - the long hair, the air guitar, the leather, the cider and snakebite that were part of an age when rock pumped out an earth-quaking racket that blasted the dandruff from a thousand mullets. Interviewees include Alice Cooper, Lemmy of Motorhead, Vic Reeves, Ozzy Osbourne, Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue, Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden, Slash of Guns n Roses, Rob Halford of Judas Priest, Rick Parfitt and Francis Rossi of Status Quo.
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Status Quo - Rock 'Til You Drop
Title: Status Quo - Rock 'Til You Drop
Character: Self
Released: October 5, 1991
Type: Movie
How could Quo top their fantastic 25th year? By staging the most spectacular and lunatic stunt ever. The Rock 'Til You Drop extravaganza took place on the 21st September 1991 across 4 venues; Sheffield Arena, Glasgow SECC, Birmingham NEC and finishing it off in Wembley Arena. The band started at the BBC TV centre doing a playback performance on 'Going Live' to kick off the day... They kicked off in Sheffield on stage around 2pm, then headed down to Glasgow were they arrived on stage 2 minutes late (4:32pm), 30 minutes late on stage in Birmingham (7:30pm) and when the band arrived at Wembley they was 50 minutes late! But that didn't stop the band from making a record of their own.
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Title: Les Nuls, l'émission
Character: Self
Released: October 13, 1990
Type: TV
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Status Quo - Perfect Remedy Tour 1989
Title: Status Quo - Perfect Remedy Tour 1989
Character: Self
Released: December 18, 1989
Type: Movie
Live recording of Quo playing at the Birmingham NEC on December 18th 1989. Track Listings: Caroline 3:43 Roll over lay down 7:48 Little Lady 13:16 In My Chair 16:33 Little Dreamer 20:24 Perfect Remedy 24:36 Mystery Song 28:53 Railroad 31:11 Most of the Time 32:48 Wild Side Of Life 33:55 Again and Again 35:50 Slow Train 36:47 Hold You Back 37:52 The Power Of Rock 42:18 Dirty Water 51:16 Whatever you Want 55:12 In the Army Now 59:41 Rockin All Over The World 1:03:57 Don't Waste My Time 1:07:42 The Wanderer 1:11:42 Marguerita Time 1:13:25 Living On An Island 1:15:22 Break The Rules 1:16:46 Somthin' Bout You Baby I Like 1:18:13 Burning Bridges 1:20:12
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Title: Going Live!
Character: Self
Released: September 26, 1987
Type: TV
Going Live! was a Saturday morning magazine show, broadcast on BBC1 between 1987 and 1993. It was presented by Phillip Schofield and Sarah Greene. Other presenters included Trevor and Simon, Peter Simon, Emma Forbes, and puppet Gordon the Gopher. The show was broadcast during the autumn to spring seasons, with other shows such as the 8:15 from Manchester and Parallel 9 taking over during the summer months. It was preceded by Saturday Superstore, and succeeded by Live & Kicking. In 1988, when the second series started, Greene was hurt in a helicopter crash with her then boyfriend, Mike Smith. Guest presenters stood in for her including T'Pau's Carol Decker. Similarly, in 1992-93 during the final series, Schofield was starring in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and was unable to present the show. A third presenter took his place. Originally, Neighbours actor Kristian Schmid took the role but soon left after problems with his work permit. Various other celebrities to stand in included Shane Richie and Robbie Williams during his Take That days.
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Title: ZDF-Fernsehgarten
Character: Self
Released: June 29, 1986
Type: TV
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An Audience with Billy Connolly
Title: An Audience with Billy Connolly
Character: Self - Audience Member (uncredited)
Released: October 26, 1985
Type: Movie
Billy Connolly delivers his special brand of stand-up comedy and abrasive humour in front of a celebrity audience.
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Live Aid
Title: Live Aid
Character: Self
Released: July 13, 1985
Type: Movie
Live Aid was held on 13 July 1985, simultaneously in Wembley Stadium in London, England, and the John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, United States. It was one of the largest scale satellite link-ups and television broadcasts of all time: watched live by an estimated global audience of 1.9 billion, across 150 nations. "It's twelve noon in London, seven AM in Philadelphia, and around the world it's time for Live Aid...!"
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The Best of Cannon & Ball
Title: The Best of Cannon & Ball
Character: Self
Released: April 7, 1985
Type: Movie
Double act Tommy Cannon and Bobby Ball entertain us with their own unique brand of humour. The programmes feature various sketch shows along with many celebrity guests.
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Status Quo - End Of The Road '84
Title: Status Quo - End Of The Road '84
Character: Self
Released: December 3, 1984
Type: Movie
The farewell concert at Milton Keynes Bowl.
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Title: Surprise, Surprise
Character: Self
Released: May 6, 1984
Type: TV
Surprise, Surprise is a British television programme originally hosted by Cilla Black and produced by London Weekend Television for ITV. It ran for 14 series from 6 May 1984 to 5 September 1997, after which four annual specials were produced between 1998 to 2001. In 2012, the show returned after a 11-year hiatus. The revived version is produced by ITV Studios and presented by Holly Willoughby. The show is currently in its second series.
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Title: Champs-Elysées
Character: Self - Status Quo
Released: January 16, 1982
Type: TV
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Title: An Audience with...
Character: Self
Released: January 8, 1978
Type: TV
An Audience with... is a British entertainment television show produced by London Weekend Television, in which a host, usually a singer or comedian, performs for an invited audience of celebrity guests, interspersed with questions from the audience, in a light hearted revue/tribute style.
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Title: 4-3-2-1 Hot and Sweet
Character: Self
Released: June 11, 1966
Type: TV
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Title: Top of the Pops
Character: Self
Released: January 1, 1964
Type: TV
The biggest stars, the most iconic performances, the most outrageous outfits – it’s Britain’s number one pop show.
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Status Quo Reunion Tour 2013
Title: Status Quo Reunion Tour 2013
Character: Self
Released: December 31, 1969
Type: Movie
Live at Wembley
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Status Quo - The Party Ain't Over Yet
Title: Status Quo - The Party Ain't Over Yet
Character: Self
Released: December 31, 1969
Type: Movie
Still here. Still hungry. Still kicking out classics. Feast yourself on 40 years worth of the legend that is Status Quo in this feature-stuffed double disc DVD that packs more rock than a mountain! Enter the studio and find out what keeps the fire burning in the belly of the Quo. As the boys lay down their 27th studio album, a completely candid documentary follows the inspiration and perspiration behind each new swaggering lick and riff.