#Matt Letley

[georgefairbrother]

Bula Quo, otherwise known as Guitars, Guns and Paradise, was an unlikely 2013 feature film project starring Status Quo, along with Craig Fairbrass, Jon Lovitz and Laura Aikman. It was directed by Stuart St Paul, a highly accomplished stuntman and stunt coordinator with credits that spanned James Bond, Emmerdale, and Mrs Brown's Boys, D'Movie.

Filmed on Fiji, the plot involved a rock and roll band, a tropical island and a brush with a gangland murder. According to a note on IMDb, it was funded through a UK government tax incentive scheme, which rather conveniently enabled Status Quo to offset an outstanding tax bill.

The clip, from the Status Quo official channel, has been viewed 1.5 million times (which is probably a few more than actually saw the movie at its limited cinema release). If nothing else, it looks like a huge amount of fun.

The soundtrack album reached #10 in the UK, and #17 in Germany.

The Quo line up at the time was Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, Rhino Edwards, Andy Bown, and for the final time on record, Matt Letley, who would be subsequently replaced on drums by Leon Cave.

Rick Parfitt passed away in 2016, and the band now features Richie Malone on rhythm guitar.

[classicrockblog1]

Jeff Rich (born 8 June 1953) best known as a former #drummer for the #rock #band Status Quo. He attended school in Hackney at Upton House Comprehensive, and whilst there he appeared in the operaTosca at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

He helped out Def Leppard in August 1986 and played alongside Rick Allen who had lost his left arm in a car accident in December 1984. However, during Def Leppard's warm-up mini tour of Ireland, Rich missed a gig, and the rest of the band realised Allen could drum alone.

Rich played with Stretch, Judie Tzuke and the Climax Blues Band prior to joining Status Quo, where in late 1985 he replaced Pete Kircher on drums. In April 2000, Rich announced his intention to leave Status Quo after 15 years in the group, due to exhaustion and family commitments. He was replaced on drums by Matt Letley.

During his time with Status Quo, Rich used Paiste cymbals and Premier drums, with a 22" Tama bass drum. Up until the Under the Influence tour in 1999, Rich had his cymbals free floating from a steel frame, which fans noted as making him look like he was 'drumming in a cage'.

After leaving Status Quo, he began touring schools across the UK giving school children lessons on percussion, which he continues to do today. Rich also is drumming for 'Stealer', a tribute band to Free.

Now Jeff rich plays in schools in a drum masterclass

[longliverockback]

Status Quo Riffs 2003 UMTV ————————————————— Tracks: 01. Caroline 02. I Fought the Law 03. Born to Be Wild 04. Takin’ Care of Business 05. Wild One 06. On the Road Again 07. Tobacco Road 08. Centerfold 09. All Day and All of the Night 10. Don’t Bring Me Down 11. Pump It Up 12. Down the Dustpipe 13. Whatever You Want 14. Rockin’ All over the World —————————————————

Andy Bown

John Edwards

Matt Letley

Rick Parfitt

Francis Rossi

* Long Live Rock Archive

[longliverockback]

Status Quo Bula Quo 2013 Fourth Cord ————————————————— Tracks CD One: 01. Looking out for Caroline 02. GoGoGo 03. Run and Hide (the Gun Song) 04. Running inside My Head 05. Mystery Island 06. All That Money 07. Never Leave a Friend Behind 08. Fiji Time 09. Bula Bula Quo (Kua Ni Lega)

Tracks CD Two: 01. Living on an Island 02. Frozen Hero 03. Reality Cheque 04. Rockin’ All over the World 05. Caroline 06. Beginning of the End 07. Don’t Drive My Car 08. Pictures of Matchstick Men 09. Whatever You Want 10. Down Down —————————————————

Andy Bown

John Edwards

Matt Letley

Rick Parfitt

Francis Rossi

* Long Live Rock Archive

[longliverockback]

Status Quo In Search of the Fourth Chord 2007 Fourth Cord ————————————————— Tracks: 01. Beginning of the End 02. Alright 03. Pennsylvania Blues Tonight 04. I Don’t Wanna Hurt You Anymore 05. Electric Arena 06. Gravy Train 07. Figure of Eight 08. You’re the One for Me 09. My Little Heartbreaker 10. Hold Me 11. Saddling Up 12. Bad News 13. Tongue Tied 14. I Ain’t Wastin’ My Time —————————————————

Andy Bown

John Edwards

Matt Letley

Rick Parfitt

Francis Rossi

* Long Live Rock Archive

[longliverockback]

Status Quo Heavy Traffic 2002 UMTV ————————————————— Tracks: 01. Blues & Rhythm 02. All Stand up (Never Say Never) 03. The Oriental 04. Creepin’ up on You 05. Heavy Traffic 06. Solid Gold 07. Green 08. Jam Side Down 09. Diggin’ Burt Bacharach 10. Do It Again 11. Another Day 12. I Don’t Remember Anymore 13. Money Don’t Matter 14. Rhythm of Life —————————————————

Andy Bown

John Edwards

Matt Letley

Rick Parfitt

Francis Rossi

* Long Live Rock Archive

[longliverockback]

Status Quo The Party Ain’t over Yet... 2005 Sanctuary ————————————————— Tracks: 01. The Party Ain’t over Yet 02. Gotta Get up and Go 03. All that Counts Is Love 04. Familiar Blues 05. The Bubble 06. Belavista Man 07. Nevashooda 08. Velvet Train 09. Goodbye Baby 10. You Never Stop 11. Kick Me When I’m Down 12. Cupid Stupid 13. This Is Me —————————————————

Andy Bown

John Edwards

Matt Letley

Rick Parfitt

Francis Rossi

* Long Live Rock Archive