Status Quo

Formed in 1962, Status Quo is one of the most popular and commercially successful British rock bands of all time. ∙ In 1968, the group scored their first global hit with “Pictures of Matchstick Men,” which was later covered by Camper Van Beethoven, as well as by Ozzy Osbourne with Type O Negative. ∙ Status Quo holds the Guinness World Record for most hit singles on the UK chart by a band, with 66—a total that includes one UK No. 1, 1974’s “Down Down.” ∙ They won a 1991 BRIT Award for their contributions to music, and cofounder/vocalist Francis Rossi and rhythm guitarist Rick Parfitt were named Officers of the Order of the British Empire in 2009. ∙ The band has made over 100 appearances on the BBC chart countdown show Top of the Pops—more than any other group in history. ∙ In 2015, Status Quo became one of only 50 acts to have amassed 500 weeks or more on the UK’s Official Albums Chart.