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Post by americanquo on Dec 24, 2015 18:15:34 GMT
No, not the song. The Calendar.
One year ago, more or less, I discovered Quo by complete accident. For those who don't know the story, I was looking for a decent version of Buddy Holly's 'Rave On.' The only modern cover that was any good was the one from the movie, and sung by Gary Busey. But on the side under recommended videos was a version by some band called Status Quo. What the hell, I thought, it's only two minutes, so I clicked it. That one click changed everything.
For you long term fans, you may not appreciate how good some of their covers really were. 'Rave On' was unlike anything I'd heard. I wasn't sure exactly what it was I liked so much, although I later figured out it was Rick's rhythm combined with Rossi's leads, and when it recommended 'Carol' I said 'why not'?
A while later I thought this was one really good cover band, although their version of 'Once Bitten Twice Shy' sucked. Anyway, I eventually clicked on an original song, I don't remember which one now, and spent the next year learning all I could about the band.
What's really great for me is that I have spent EVERY night since then working on a novel that also did not exist a year ago, and is now in finished first draft form at 165,000 words. That's a lot of typing. Much of this book was written because of Quo. Seriously, they were the inspiration. Characters in the book so far are:
Frances Rossi, a female helicopter crew chief Rick Proffitt, one of the minor heroes John Coghlan, commander of an artillery battalion
AL doesn't have a spot yet, because I haven't found the right fit. Rhino has a cameo in a SEAL squad, but under the name 'Rhino,' not John Edwards.
My helicopter gunship pilot plays classic rock and roll as he flies into combat, and the first song is 'The Party Ain't Over Yet', and there are several allusions later to other songs.
So the next time I listen to 'A Year', it will have a whole new meaning for me. I now have an experience with Quo that is unique to me, and that's pretty cool. Y'all have 50 years worth, but at least I found them before it was all over.
Merry Christmas!
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Post by Gaz on Dec 24, 2015 19:10:41 GMT
Well done AQ. 165,000 words,eh? That's certainly a lot of typing but I'm sure for catlady it would have been a breeze. Have you found any inspiration ,from this board, for other characters in the book such as Davyno or Muzz? Surely? Anyway best of luck in finding a publisher and I'll be interested to read it oneday. Merry Christmas to you too.
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A Year
Dec 24, 2015 19:28:01 GMT
Post by curiousgirl on Dec 24, 2015 19:28:01 GMT
What a great post AQ. You made my Christmas as far as Quo are concerned. I particularly enjoyed how you've cast the band names in it. Good luck with the rewrites. And have a great festive season
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Post by americanquo on Dec 24, 2015 19:36:06 GMT
Well done AQ. 165,000 words,eh? That's certainly a lot of typing but I'm sure for catlady it would have been a breeze. Have you found any inspiration ,from this board, for other characters in the book such as Davyno or Muzz? Surely? Anyway best of luck in finding a publisher and I'll be interested to read it oneday. Merry Christmas to you too. Hey, next up will be some guy named Gaz. In fact, I already have a character sketch that fits that name very well! And Muzz is also perfect for what I have in mind, so you may have a bff in the book.
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Post by americanquo on Dec 24, 2015 19:39:22 GMT
What a great post AQ. You made my Christmas as far as Quo are concerned. I particularly enjoyed how you've cast the band names in it. Good luck with the rewrites. And have a great festive season Thanks CG, it's really hard to convey just how remarkable I find this whole experience. I mean, I'm 60 years old. What are the odds that I would find some English band I'd never heard of, with 500+ song backlist, that I would rate as my alltime favorite band? I'm just incredible, and it's not something that could ever happen again. On to 2016, it's time for a new FF album.
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A Year
Dec 24, 2015 19:44:58 GMT
Post by curiousgirl on Dec 24, 2015 19:44:58 GMT
What a great post AQ. You made my Christmas as far as Quo are concerned. I particularly enjoyed how you've cast the band names in it. Good luck with the rewrites. And have a great festive season Thanks CG, it's really hard to convey just how remarkable I find this whole experience. I mean, I'm 60 years old. What are the odds that I would find some English band I'd never heard of, with 500+ song backlist, that I would rate as my alltime favorite band? I'm just incredible, and it's not something that could ever happen again. On to 2016, it's time for a new FF album. As a fellow storyteller, I find your story of discovering Quo a great one too. We can but hope for another FF album next year. No harm in that.
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A Year
Dec 24, 2015 20:08:23 GMT
Post by americanquo on Dec 24, 2015 20:08:23 GMT
Thanks CG, it's really hard to convey just how remarkable I find this whole experience. I mean, I'm 60 years old. What are the odds that I would find some English band I'd never heard of, with 500+ song backlist, that I would rate as my alltime favorite band? I'm just incredible, and it's not something that could ever happen again. On to 2016, it's time for a new FF album. As a fellow storyteller, I find your story of discovering Quo a great one too. We can but hope for another FF album next year. No harm in that. You're also a writer? I'm not surprised, but I didn't know that.
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A Year
Dec 24, 2015 20:10:29 GMT
Post by curiousgirl on Dec 24, 2015 20:10:29 GMT
As a fellow storyteller, I find your story of discovering Quo a great one too. We can but hope for another FF album next year. No harm in that. You're also a writer? I'm not surprised, but I didn't know that. More of a script developer and therefore I need to understand story. but I do write and next year I intend to do more...well that' the plan.
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Post by americanquo on Dec 24, 2015 20:16:17 GMT
You're also a writer? I'm not surprised, but I didn't know that. More of a script developer and therefore I need to understand story. but I do write and next year I intend to do more...well that' the plan. If I can help in any way, let me know. I found a great site for helping write queries, hooks, etc. Nice group of people. As for my book...from the very start I've thought of it as a TV/Movie series. Never been done before, to my knowledge.
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A Year
Dec 24, 2015 20:37:31 GMT
Post by Gaz on Dec 24, 2015 20:37:31 GMT
Well done AQ. 165,000 words,eh? That's certainly a lot of typing but I'm sure for catlady it would have been a breeze. Have you found any inspiration ,from this board, for other characters in the book such as Davyno or Muzz? Surely? Anyway best of luck in finding a publisher and I'll be interested to read it oneday. Merry Christmas to you too. Hey, next up will be some guy named Gaz. In fact, I already have a character sketch that fits that name very well! And Muzz is also perfect for what I have in mind, so you may have a bff in the book. How cool is that AQ? To give you a picture of what I look like....I'm 6 foot, dark short hair, fit and muscular (chiselled), square jawed,tanned...basically your everyday rough n ready Aussie.
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A Year
Dec 24, 2015 20:39:46 GMT
Post by americanquo on Dec 24, 2015 20:39:46 GMT
Hey, next up will be some guy named Gaz. In fact, I already have a character sketch that fits that name very well! And Muzz is also perfect for what I have in mind, so you may have a bff in the book. How cool is that AQ? To give you a picture of what I look like....I'm 6 foot, dark short hair, fit and muscular (chiselled), square jawed,tanned...basically your everyday rough n ready Aussie. LOL...yeah, well, don't count on that in the book. I have in mind you're a survivalist mountain guy who is still alive fifty years after the United States was destroyed.
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A Year
Dec 24, 2015 20:50:51 GMT
Post by Gaz on Dec 24, 2015 20:50:51 GMT
Well, definately a survivor...after sticking solid to Quo since 1975 I say a lot of us here fit that bill very well. Anyway Christmas morning here and I've got a 6 lb pork shoulder smoking away lo n slow (got up at 4am to get that kicked off..a 9 hr cook) and will be putting the turkey in the other BBQ at 9:30 for a 4 hour cook. I'm drooling already. Cheers mate.
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A Year
Dec 24, 2015 21:00:48 GMT
Gaz likes this
Post by americanquo on Dec 24, 2015 21:00:48 GMT
Well, definately a survivor...after sticking solid to Quo since 1975 I say a lot of us here fit that bill very well. Anyway Christmas morning here and I've got a 6 lb pork shoulder smoking away lo n slow (got up at 4am to get that kicked off..a 9 hr cook) and will be putting the turkey in the other BBQ at 9:30 for a 4 hour cook. I'm drooling already. Cheers mate. Cheers to you, and since I'm from Memphis you know I can smell that pork BBQ all the way over here.
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Post by Gaz on Dec 25, 2015 9:52:01 GMT
How cool is that AQ? To give you a picture of what I look like....I'm 6 foot, dark short hair, fit and muscular (chiselled), square jawed,tanned...basically your everyday rough n ready Aussie. Yer arse. Yer five foot two, bald and weigh 15 stone. I've seen a pic... No no no...your confusing me with Ratly.
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A Year
Dec 27, 2015 1:29:56 GMT
Post by Mustang Bass on Dec 27, 2015 1:29:56 GMT
Wow...165,000 words, I only know about 50!
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