Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2017 7:57:32 GMT
Francis and Alan started out as friends and then grew tense and conflictive in each others company whilst putting together with the rest of the FF brilliant albums and amazing gigs for a number of years. Instinct that can't be replaced.
Rhino was introduced to the band and over time developed a good bounce off with Francis and the rest of the band. Overall less tension and supremacy battles, but also minus natural instinct and understanding. Efficiency and well rehearsed and polished performance took over to try to compensate.
Result: the difference between the FF and CQ.
On that basis Rhino's input came about through of a less competitive relationship with Francis but the subjective question is did it improve it through lessening Francis slant on things? I personally think the answer on balance is that no Rhino's input hasn't counteracted Francis direction on things, it has actually more complimented it. Largely because the band relationship has been so different to Rhino's predecessor. A point I was trying to make yesterday was that band harmony (as good as it is) doesn't necessarily improve band product if there isn't a natural chemistry there. Such chemistry was there with Alan, irrespective of what went on behind the scenes
A natural chemistry in the music can still arise from a competitive and conflictive relationship between band members. That is what happened between Francis, Alan and the other two. But such conflict, amplified by drug excesses, can make such brilliance unsustainable - as clearly happened with the FF
On the other hand, a smoother inter band relationship results in a much smoother and longer lasting musical relationship - but doesn't equate in any way to extra potential of the 'product'. Neither does it necessarily influence the direction other band members take - more often it allows it to continue through compromised form. Such as CQ's song catalogue bears out since 86 when Rhino came on the scene
Irrespective of subjective preference that promotes a dim view from many, it seems to me that Rhino's contributions have been able to jive with Francis much better from a inter band harmony point of view because the dynamics of the relationship between them have allowed Francis to do his own thing without feeling he has to rock everything up, and because Francis feels that Rhino doesn't project the 'macho' image that he *thinks* Alan did.
However in terms of the actual music that has resulted, none of that has pleased a large percentage of the long standing audience who grew up on something with much rougher and more spontaneous edges. Those edges defined the difference between the two live bands when the reunion came about. Take your pick...
I'm not sure on that basis that any 'product' from RR which may (or may not) reflect tastes of all longer standing fans ultimately made any difference to the direction of Quo. In terms of the 'heavier' product, songs like Gravy Train and Bad News, derivative of the sort of thing that RR might play are strong evidence in my opinion they didn't make any difference and certainly no noticeable improvement. They were Quo'd down arguably as opposed to the way they would have been Quo'd up back in the hey-day. That doesn't necessarily mean they would have been heavier, just much more typically 'OTL' in the original manner of the hey-day. Its something you can't put a finger on.
Sorry if this appears to veer back to the comparison thing, but I think its an integral part of answering the question and much comes straight back to it.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2017 18:19:35 GMT
Hi All, You either listen or to whatever bands output or not, you either like or not Like then move on simple! There is to much analysing of who wrote better when each era of 'Quo' had it's up's and downs. Francis was the captain and clearly ran the 'Quo' ship aground and no matter of pulling power that the turn towards pop/rockfish could have re-floated the 'Quo' ship.
They did have a chance with the addition of the reunion engine added but due to the lack of maintenance they cooked it! Had all the crew pulled together instead of pulling in different directions then 'Quo' could have possibly be a better of sailing in the right direction instead of 'Francis' and the management tannoying ABANDON SHIP!!! ABANDON SHIP!!!! to the all of the crew.... Sad to say but seems to be very apt. Geoff.
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sincity
Rocker Rollin'
Posts: 368
Favourite Quo Album: Hello
Favourite other bands.: Blackberry Smoke, AC/DC, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Iron Maiden
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Post by sincity on Aug 3, 2017 20:03:53 GMT
Abandon Ship - what a great title for the new album
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Post by wishing4oldquo on Aug 3, 2017 20:40:02 GMT
I remember the story about Francis telling Rhino off after a very early days gig, for putting his foot on a monitor "we don't do that - you are not Lemmy son". I don't think it too much of a stretch to imagine the other conversations that would have taken place around that time 'the live album was shit, the stuff we are going to do from now is....".
Put yourself in Rhino's position, back then, knowing you are going to get rich doing as you are told - he would have been totally constrained (in truth, would have I toed the line, yeah, of course). He was never Alan's replacement, FR didn't want a replacement, I still think people are missing the point.
The material that Rhino has written for Quo would be in that context, and to be fair, the majority of it was...........pants, with only a few exceptions. But much much later in the story, Rhino is producing much better solo work, while Rossi was indulging in his ultra-anti-FF phase and his end-game country muso fantasy (that's how I see the Aquostic shite).
Rhino does that work under the name of......hmmm, think that name is trying to tell us something?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2017 9:31:31 GMT
Whilst its subjective opinion about the quality of Rhino's solo work, its true of course that Francis never wanted a replacement. That was the gist of what I said yesterday in that the band relationship between Francis and Rhino made it much easier for Francis to get his own way in terms of the type of music the re-formed Quo band played.
The other factor in making it easy for Francis to dictate the pace and direction of things was that Rick increasingly wrote and contributed less and less material, and was especially barren during the bulk of the 90's.
That was a time when Rhino was firmly getting his feet under the table and effectively moved up the pecking order in terms of song-writing along with Andy. I happen to quite like the album for its difference for a change, but its no surprise therefore that an album like TW came along and represented what seemed to be a 'non-Quo' album - especially as it was followed very soon after by a covers album which consolidated the impression that Quo were rather drifting and had lost any concentrated identity.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2017 17:02:48 GMT
Hi All, wishing4oldquo Maybe 'Rhino' was talking to 'Steve Harris' asking for tips on how to look like rocker and play the bass at the same time as he didn't want be an 'Alan' clone but wanted to play in his own way. Then thought 'Hell Yeagh!' if 'Steve' can do it why not me ? letsrock Or maybe 'Steve Harris' new it would piss off 'FR' when he suggested the move....
Here you go matey like this. Oh no you don't!
Geoff.
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Post by wolfman on Aug 21, 2017 18:17:52 GMT
nuff would have looked the part in maiden...
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Post by paradiseflats on Aug 21, 2017 18:22:55 GMT
nuff would have looked the part in maiden... Whereas Rhino would be more suited to the Baycity Rollers.
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Post by azza200 on Aug 21, 2017 19:59:16 GMT
nuff would have looked the part in maiden... Whereas Rhino would be more suited to the Baycity Rollers. i'm thinking more showaddywaddy
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