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The Quo rockin' all over Holkham's stage

Look, it’s just not worth trying to analyse the appeal of Quo, or for that matter, their music - what they did in the superb setting of Holkham Hall was pound out their hits to around 7,000 converts.

From the first chords of Caroline to the last chorus of Bye Bye Johnny, they felt like your old mates hosting a party – they just happened to be on stage playing the music. No, 'playing the music' is too bland an expression, Rossi and Parfitt wear the music, if that makes sense.

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Infectious energy

Francis Rossi said in his ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio Norfolk interview with Roy Waller last week that they don't just play it, they're totally immersed and involved in every chord they play. They charge about the stage almost dancing with each other. It’s energetic and infectious.

The power of the simple boogie is never apologised for – it's celebrated and loved by the fans.

Long-time fan

I’ve confessed to being "blown away" by the heavy boogie sound they'd just adopted when I first saw them at Yarmouth's Tower Ballroom back in 1970 – endorsed by visits to see them again at Cromer Links Pavilion and the Melody Rooms in Norwich.

Well, 37 years on and I'm still impressed with the boys' live performance.

Fans display their love for the Quo

Their experience nearly four decades on means they're tight, well rehearsed and able to almost send themselves up - later this month they will release another album, In Search Of The Fourth Chord.

Four numbers in, and my favourite track Don't Waste My Time had me nodding Quo-like, and around me everyone else was doing the same.

You know how sometimes the live version isn't as good as the record - this was quite simply on another plane. A studio recording is almost an insult to the band.

Early tracks hit the spot

Like so many people at Holkham on Saturday, I'm more of a fan of the early Quo years, so for me the medley of older hits made my night.

To hear that familiar harmonica introduction to Down The Dustpipe had me cheering, but it was the band's encore, which put a serious lump in my throat.

After Roy had interviewed Rossi, I jumped in on the phone conversation for a personal question to the great man about how the early Quo gigs featured one regular and quite brilliant opener.

"Was Junior's Wailing in the set," I asked. "I think it gets in the encore," said Francis, adding, "If they want us back!" They did - and it was.

I was 17 again – like a lot of us were on Saturday.

Status Quo played Holkham Hall on Saturday, 1 September, 2007.