R.I.P. Alan Lancaster

Alan Charles Lancaster (7 February 1949 – 26 September 2021) was an English bassist, best known as a founding member of the rock band Status Quo, playing with the band from 1967 to 1985, with brief reunions in 2013 and 2014. As well as contributing to songwriting, he was also one of the lead vocalists on albums and live concerts, taking the lead on tracks such as Backwater, Is There a Better Way, Bye Bye Johnny, High Flyer and Roadhouse Blues.

Alan Lancaster formed the group in 1962 with his then schoolmate Francis Rossi. His final performance as a full-time member of Status Quo was at Wembley Stadium on 13 July 1985 for the opening of Live Aid. In March 2013, he collaborated with his old bandmates for a series of Frantic Four concerts in the UK.

Born in Peckham in 1949, in the 2012 Status Quo documentary Hello Quo, Lancaster stated that he had a great upbringing. He attended Sedgehill Comprehensive School, where he met future Quo front man Francis Rossi in the school orchestra. Rossi and Lancaster became close friends and, along with other schoolmates formed the band The Scorpions – an early Quo forerunner.

Tha band states,  «It is with great sadness that we report that Alan Lancaster – one of the original members of Quo, has passed away at the age of 72.

Alan suffered for many years with Multiple Sclerosis, but in spite of his illness was able to play a fantastic series of concerts with the original Frantic Four in 2013/2014».

Francis Rossi said: «I am so sorry to hear of Alan’s passing. We were friends and colleagues for many years and achieved fantastic success together as the Frantic Four alongside Rick Parfitt and John Coghlan. Alan was an integral part of the sound and the enormous success of Status Quo during the 60s and 70s.  Although it is well documented that we were estranged in recent years, I will always have very fond memories of our early days together and my condolences go to Dayle and Alan’s family».

Status Quo Manager Simon Porter said:  «This is such sad news and my sincere condolences go out to Dayle and the family. It was an absolute pleasure to be able to reunite the original line up for two sellout tours in 2013/2014 and to give Status Quo Frantic Four fans a final legacy and such a lasting memory. Although Alan was not in the best of health even then, he got through the tours with determination and grit and was a pleasure to work with».

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