Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Status Quo to star on silver screen

 

Anthony Barnes
Monday 16 April 2012 14:35 BST
Comments

Status Quo are swapping gold discs for the silver screen - by launching a movie career.

The veteran rock act are shooting their first ever film - a 90-minute action caper - in Fiji, due to be released next year.

The group - led by Rick Parfitt and Francis Rossi - will play themselves in the movie, and the cast features former EastEnders star Craig Fairbrass, together with Jon Lovitz who appeared in The Wedding Singer.

Bula Quo!, which takes its name from a traditional Fijian greeting, will include 12 of the band's songs.

It is being directed and was written by Stuart St Paul, who has worked on movies such as Aliens and Batman, together with pop videos such as Duran Duran's Wild Boys.

Quo - whose hits include Caroline and Down Down - made a cameo appearance in ITV's Coronation Street in 2005. The band met St Paul while they worked on the soap.

Rossi, 62, said: "The one thing Quo fans know is to expect the unexpected.

"Of course, Rick and I have already acted in Coronation Street, one of the biggest TV shows on the planet, so this should be no trouble at all - according to management."

His bandmate of 47 years, Parfitt, said: "Once I found out that we weren't going to be shooting anywhere cold, I was all for it.

"This is an amazing chance for us to do something new and we're all really excited," added Parfitt, 63.

The film also includes actress Laura Aikman, who will soon be seen in Keith Lemon: The Movie.

St Paul said: "We have been made to feel so welcome by everyone. Fiji isn't just a paradise because of its location; it is also because of the wonderful islanders who cannot do enough for us."

PA

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in