8 h. ago ‘I terribly wanted to be liked. Still do’: Status Quo’s Francis Rossi on money worries, his deepest neuroses – and sounding like Nellie the Elephant

Lampooned by critics but loved by fans, Quo turned boogie into blockbuster rock. As a live album captures their 70s peak, their frontman remembers late friend Rick Parfitt – and reconsiders his whole sense of selfIf you want to contemplate quite how far back Status Quo’s roots go, consider this: the band’s founders came together before the Beatles had released their first single, before the idea of “the band” was even a thing in pop music. They’re often dismissed as one-song wonders, or as proponents of brutally simplistic music – but as much as the Stones or the Who, Status Quo are carved into British rock.Francis Rossi and Alan Lancaster formed the Spectres in 1962, when the guitarist and bassist were still at school. Drummer John Coghlan signed up a year later and Rick Parfitt completed the “Frantic Four” when he joined after sharing a bill with the Spectres at Minehead Butlin’s in 1966. The Beatles showed Rossi not just what he could do with his life, but touched something very ...

Events

34 h. ago 'I was bullied for being 6ft 3in – now my bullies pay to see pictures of my legs'

Marie Temara, 26, from San Francisco, California, was mercilessly bullied for being 6ft 3ins and having "tree trunk legs" - but is now a millionaire thanks to her statuesque height

Politics

2 w. ago Donald Trump slammed after 'cheeky' gesture at Pope Francis funeral

In typical Donald Trump fashion, he has made a "git" of himself at Pope Francis' funeral. X users are up in arms about the apparent disrespect the leader of the free world showed by one specific act

Politics

2 w. ago Donald Trump slammed after 'cheeky' and 'disrespectful' gesture at Pope Francis funeral

In typical Donald Trump fashion, he has made a "git" of himself at Pope Francis' funeral. X users are up in arms about the apparent disrespect the leader of the free world showed by one specific act

Politics

3 w. ago Model whose risqué photo was 'liked' by Pope Francis account pays emotional tribute

Natalia Garibotto, who has over 2.4million followers on Instagram, had one of her photos "liked" by Pope Francis' official account five years ago, prompting an investigation

Culture

3 w. ago 'I was barred from Greggs disabled toilet until I proved my rare medical condition'

A 29-year-old revealed how she was made to show her catheter bag to a Greggs employee who initially refused to let her use an accessible toilet - Evan Francis said she was "terrified" her condition would leave her "like this forever"

Politics