Post by Tʰᵉ Wᵃˡˡ Oᶠ Dᵉᵃᵗʰ on Nov 16, 2017 16:42:35 GMT
I was watching The Frantic Four's Final Fling Blu-Ray last night and the Sky news "documentary" that followed it and many a thought popped into my noggin'.
Most of this is about Rick but firstly, how on earth did Francis give the appearance and impression that he didn't enjoy these FF gigs? It's obvious by his body language on stage that he he lapping it up. He's lauding the attention, even if it's not all about him. He has a grin wider than a Cheshire cat and was in awe at the crowd in Dublin. But then, back on camera in the bus, it's like a switch, back to his "this nostalgia crap" persona. Well sorry Francis, the majority of your "greatest hits" set-list on Quo-lite is about nostalgia.
Anyway, to Rick... Watching the concert, I could see how much Rick was in his element, not really singing, but just playing guitar, his metronomic hard rhythmic stance going full bore. How he stated when interviewed, how he'd fogotten "how hard, how heavy FF Quo was". You could see it in his eyes his enjoyment when he spoke about this, especially when talking about looking at the set-list and what song was coming next.
But, when talking about Quo-lite, you could see the pain, almost the anguish of having to go back to playing the same old stuff in the same old "auto-pilot" manner after the FF gigs. I guess, in the back of his mind, he was thinking about the Aquostic gigs he disliked so much too.
So, what I'm possibly trying to say is, with the post-FF gigs and, if I dare play on a phrase, a return to the status quo, was Rick in
emotional free fall with not wanting to do what Francis wanted, which led to his bout of ill health and heart attack, which in turn led to him quitting the band. Once quitting the band becoming depressed, smoking more, drinking more until it caught up with him leading to his final demise?
I know we could surmise about what could of happened in the fututre. But if Francis had stated there was an open possibility of more FF gigs say in two years after the Dublin gig, would this have appeased Rick and maybe continued in the band, put up with Francis' direction and still be here today? I don't know.
Personally speaking, if Rick had still been alive now and not in the band, I reckon there would have been a very strong possibilty of him joining JCQ on a few guest appearances like he did with JC's Diesel back in '85.
Oh well. Still miss the ol' bugger.
Most of this is about Rick but firstly, how on earth did Francis give the appearance and impression that he didn't enjoy these FF gigs? It's obvious by his body language on stage that he he lapping it up. He's lauding the attention, even if it's not all about him. He has a grin wider than a Cheshire cat and was in awe at the crowd in Dublin. But then, back on camera in the bus, it's like a switch, back to his "this nostalgia crap" persona. Well sorry Francis, the majority of your "greatest hits" set-list on Quo-lite is about nostalgia.
Anyway, to Rick... Watching the concert, I could see how much Rick was in his element, not really singing, but just playing guitar, his metronomic hard rhythmic stance going full bore. How he stated when interviewed, how he'd fogotten "how hard, how heavy FF Quo was". You could see it in his eyes his enjoyment when he spoke about this, especially when talking about looking at the set-list and what song was coming next.
But, when talking about Quo-lite, you could see the pain, almost the anguish of having to go back to playing the same old stuff in the same old "auto-pilot" manner after the FF gigs. I guess, in the back of his mind, he was thinking about the Aquostic gigs he disliked so much too.
So, what I'm possibly trying to say is, with the post-FF gigs and, if I dare play on a phrase, a return to the status quo, was Rick in
emotional free fall with not wanting to do what Francis wanted, which led to his bout of ill health and heart attack, which in turn led to him quitting the band. Once quitting the band becoming depressed, smoking more, drinking more until it caught up with him leading to his final demise?
I know we could surmise about what could of happened in the fututre. But if Francis had stated there was an open possibility of more FF gigs say in two years after the Dublin gig, would this have appeased Rick and maybe continued in the band, put up with Francis' direction and still be here today? I don't know.
Personally speaking, if Rick had still been alive now and not in the band, I reckon there would have been a very strong possibilty of him joining JCQ on a few guest appearances like he did with JC's Diesel back in '85.
Oh well. Still miss the ol' bugger.