ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
FESTIVAL SEASON
STATUS QUO at
DREAMLAND , MARGATE
FRANCIS ROSSI , LEAD SINGER OF LEGENDARY ROCK GROUP , STATUS QUO , SPEAKS TO insideKENT ABOUT HEADLINING MARGATE ’ S DREAMLAND 56 YEARS AFTER THE BAND FIRST PLAYED THE ICONIC STAGE .
You first headlined Dreamland in 1968 . What do you remember being a highlight from that gig ? Well it was quite a while ago wasn ’ t it , so recollections are a little hazy … We used to love the hotdogs and doughnuts , and of course having a ride on the rollercoaster , so we ’ d always be sure to turn up a little early . That was a really exciting time for the band and live performance has always been a massive part of what we do . Those were special days , no question .
After 56 years , it must be quite a trip down memory lane to be coming back to Dreamland . Does the combination of the English coast and the unique atmosphere of Dreamland ’ s stage in the amusement park give it a special quality ? I am all about the here and now , and the focus is always on making each show the very best it can be . That said , there is something special about Dreamland and the calibre of acts playing over this summer season shows that it is still a huge draw .
You have been smashing it for so long now - tell us about the appeal of playing live in front of your fans after all these years . Do you still get the same buzz from it ? It has always been about playing live for me . Many of the fans have been with us since day one – I have no doubt that there will be a couple of faces in the audience that were there in ‘ 68 ! Much of the preparations , travel and logistics that surround any show are tedious , but everything builds up to that moment that we take to the stage and feel that connection .
You ’ ve shared the stage with some of the biggest names in the business . What ’ s been your most memorable gig to date ? I don ’ t look back ; we have done things over the years that I am proud of , of course , and there are many stories that could be told – come and see my one-man show for some of those – but the most important show is always the one that we are about to play . It has to be that way , we owe each crowd that respect .
If you could share the Dreamland stage with any other artist – dead or alive – who would it be and why ? Playing a Quo show is not for the fainthearted and it probably wouldn ’ t suit some of the artists I really respect . I grew up listening to and inspired by acts like The Everly Brothers , but I ’ m not sure that I would have wanted them to join us . When we come on , we want to be the very best and make it difficult for anyone else . Years ago , we used to do some shows with the likes of Slade where we would share the stage , but while it all looked like good fun , there was always more than an element of competition !
After achieving so much , tell us about the future - do you still plan to keep on Rockin ’ All Over the World ? Well , that ’ s the thing with the future , it is always just around the corner , just over the horizon . I don ’ t know what is coming next – I am really looking forward to plugging in with the band this summer , it has been a while , but I also love the one-man show that I have been doing of late . Ask me again in a year ’ s time !
What ’ s your favourite Status Quo song ? Why ? That ’ s not the kind of question that I could ever answer : people always duck it by saying it ’ s like choosing your favourite child ! There are times , when playing live , that a particular track really lands and I love that feeling , but over so many years it is impossible to pick just one .
The response to your gig at Dreamland has been massive . What do you think it is about the Margate music scene that makes it so special ? Well , I guess the people of Margate are better placed to answer that than me . What I will say though is that the very fact that Status Quo are lucky enough to be coming back again , so long after that first show , and be playing in a venue that can still host a show like ours and draw in such an audience shows that something is going very right . Venues are precious ; acts like Quo and all the other brilliant names that are coming to Dreamland this summer need places like this to thrive .
Dreamland Margate presents Status Quo live on the outdoor Scenic Stage , Thursday 15 August 2024 ; tickets from £ 35 ; www . dreamland . co . uk / event / status-quo .
www . insidekent . co . uk • 45