Francis Rossi Movies, TV Shows, and Filmography
Francis Rossi
Acting
Biography
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.
Filmography Movies
Acting
An Audience with Billy Connolly
Billy Connolly delivers his special brand of stand-up comedy and abrasive humour in front of a celebrity audience.
Live Aid Against All Odds
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.
Status Quo - The Frantic Four Reunion
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'.
Bula Quo!
Status Quo play a series of shows in Fiji and become embroiled in a secret Russian Roulette ring lorded over by Jon Lovitz.
Hello Quo
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!
The Kemps: All Gold
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.
Status Quo - Aquostic - Live at the Roundhouse
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!
Status Quo: The Frantic Four’s Final Fling - Live At The Dublin 02 Arena
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.
Status Quo - Perfect Remedy Tour 1989
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
Status Quo - Pictures Live at Montreux 2009
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.
Gallery
