Bob Young (artist)
Encyclopedia
Robert Keith Young is an English musician and author, who became famous for being the unofficial fifth member of the rock band Status Quo.
, The Nice
and also for The Herd
. Based on this experience he was hired by the management of Status Quo, after they had their first hit with "Pictures of Matchstick Men
" in 1968.
Since he spent a lot of time with the band while being on tour, he got involved with their music as well. As early as 1969 he started writing songs for the band. On Status Quo's single "The Price of Love" he could be heard on harmonica for the first time, making him an unofficial member of the group.
In the following years he wrote a number of songs for Status Quo, usually together with lead guitarist and singer Francis Rossi
. Among these songs were hits such as "Caroline", "Paper Plane" and "Down Down
".
In 1978 the book "Alias The Compass" was released which contained poems and song lyrics by Bob Young, written while he was working with Status Quo. In the second half of the 1970s his collaboration with Francis Rossi became less intense although Young remained Quo's tour manager until 1980. The biography "Again and Again" (co-written by Bob Young and John Shearlaw), came out in 1979. In this book Young reports on his years with Status Quo. Updated editions were released in 1982 and 1984.
Apart from writing with Rossi, Bob Young also co-wrote songs with other bandmembers, most notably Rick Parfitt
and Alan Lancaster
.
, whom he got to know when Moody supported Status Quo with his band SNAFU, Young founded "Young & Moody" (also known as The Young & Moody Band
) in 1976. They signed a contract with Magnet Records
but the band's releases failed to create major success.
Together with Micky Moody Young also released the book "The Language of Rock’n’Roll". Moody joined David Coverdale
's band Whitesnake
in 1978, but continued to record with Young.
Although Young concentrated on book releases during this period he also recorded from time to time. Alongside other Status Quo members and Micky Moody he can be heard on the album "Line up" by the former Rainbow
-lead vocalist Graham Bonnett, to which he and Moody contributed three of their own compositions.
Young also joined the "Diesel Band" of former Status Quo drummer John Coghlan
, which played a number of gigs but never released any records.
style.
In the 1990s Young worked as a music manager for several artists, including Vanessa Mae. Furthermore, he did some work for British broadcaster BBC
and wrote another book (together with Ray Minhinnett) about the Fender Stratocaster
.
Finally, in the year 2000, he started working with Francis Rossi again. The official 40th Anniversary Book by Status Quo has been co-written by him. A limited edition of the book contains rare and previously unreleased demo recordings from Young's private archive.
In 2002 he also was a guest on the Lemon Jelly's
album "Lost Horizons
".
Collaborations with Status Quo
From the mid-1960s onwards, Young has been working in the music business, starting as a crew member for Amen CornerAmen Corner (band)
Amen Corner were a successful Welsh rock group, formed in late 1966 in Cardiff, Wales.-Career:The band was named after The Amen Corner, a weekly disc spin at the Victoria Ballroom in Cardiff, Wales, where every Sunday night Dr...
, The Nice
The Nice
The Nice were an English progressive rock band from the 1960s, known for their blend of rock, jazz and classical music. Their debut album, The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack was released in 1967 to immediate acclaim. It is often considered the first progressive rock album...
and also for The Herd
The Herd
The Herd may be:* The Herd , the 1960s UK band that launched Peter Frampton's career* The Herd , a hip-hop outfit from the suburbs of Sydney, Australia* The Herd , a 1978 Turkish film...
. Based on this experience he was hired by the management of Status Quo, after they had their first hit with "Pictures of Matchstick Men
Pictures of Matchstick Men
"Pictures of Matchstick Men" is the first hit single by Status Quo, released in November 1967. It reached number seven in the British charts, number eight in Canada, and number twelve on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming their only hit single in the United States...
" in 1968.
Since he spent a lot of time with the band while being on tour, he got involved with their music as well. As early as 1969 he started writing songs for the band. On Status Quo's single "The Price of Love" he could be heard on harmonica for the first time, making him an unofficial member of the group.
In the following years he wrote a number of songs for Status Quo, usually together with lead guitarist and singer Francis Rossi
Francis Rossi
Francis Dominic Nicholas Michael Rossi, OBE is a British musician best known for being a co-founder of the English rock band Status Quo, in which he sings lead vocals and plays lead guitar.- Career :...
. Among these songs were hits such as "Caroline", "Paper Plane" and "Down Down
Down Down
"Down Down" is a popular song by the English rock band, Status Quo.Written by Francis Rossi and Bob Young and produced by Status Quo, "Down Down" was one of Status Quo's two number one singles in the UK Singles Chart so far...
".
In 1978 the book "Alias The Compass" was released which contained poems and song lyrics by Bob Young, written while he was working with Status Quo. In the second half of the 1970s his collaboration with Francis Rossi became less intense although Young remained Quo's tour manager until 1980. The biography "Again and Again" (co-written by Bob Young and John Shearlaw), came out in 1979. In this book Young reports on his years with Status Quo. Updated editions were released in 1982 and 1984.
Apart from writing with Rossi, Bob Young also co-wrote songs with other bandmembers, most notably Rick Parfitt
Rick Parfitt
Richard John Parfitt, OBE is best known for being a singer and the rhythm guitarist in the English rock band Status Quo.-Career:...
and Alan Lancaster
Alan Lancaster
Alan Lancaster is a bassist and a founding ex-member of the English rock band, Status Quo...
.
Young & Moody
Together with guitarist Micky MoodyMicky Moody
Michael Joseph "Micky" Moody is an English guitarist, and a former member of the rock bands Juicy Lucy and Whitesnake. He was also a founder-member of Snafu. Together with his former Whitesnake colleague Bernie Marsden he founded the Moody Marsden Band, and later, The Snakes...
, whom he got to know when Moody supported Status Quo with his band SNAFU, Young founded "Young & Moody" (also known as The Young & Moody Band
The Young & Moody Band
The Young & Moody Band was a UK Blues Rock band from the late 1970s to the early 1980s, headed by Status Quo co-writer Bob Young and Whitesnake guitarist Micky Moody....
) in 1976. They signed a contract with Magnet Records
Magnet Records
Magnet Records was a record label started in 1973 by Michael Levy and acquired by Warner Bros. Records in 1988 for an estimated £10m.Artists on the label included Alvin Stardust, Matchbox, Adrian Baker, Silver Convention, Guys 'n' Dolls, Darts, Kissing the Pink, Bad Manners, David D'Or, Blue Zoo...
but the band's releases failed to create major success.
Together with Micky Moody Young also released the book "The Language of Rock’n’Roll". Moody joined David Coverdale
David Coverdale
David 'Jack' Coverdale is an English rock singer, most famous for his work with the his own hard rock band Whitesnake which achieved massive commercial success.-Early life:...
's band Whitesnake
Whitesnake
Whitesnake are an English rock band, founded in 1978 by David Coverdale after his departure from his previous band, Deep Purple. The band's early material has been compared by critics to Deep Purple, but by the mid 1980s they had moved to a more commercial hard rock style...
in 1978, but continued to record with Young.
Although Young concentrated on book releases during this period he also recorded from time to time. Alongside other Status Quo members and Micky Moody he can be heard on the album "Line up" by the former Rainbow
Rainbow (band)
Rainbow were an English rock band, controlled by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1994 to 1997. It was originally established with American rock band Elf's members, though over the years Rainbow went through many line-up changes with no two studio albums featuring the same line-up...
-lead vocalist Graham Bonnett, to which he and Moody contributed three of their own compositions.
Young also joined the "Diesel Band" of former Status Quo drummer John Coghlan
John Coghlan (drummer)
John Robert Coghlan was an original member of the English rock band, Status Quo.The son of a Glasgow-born father and a London born half-French mother, Coghlan grew up in Dulwich, and was educated at Kingsdale Comprehensive school until leaving school at 15 to begin an apprenticeship as a...
, which played a number of gigs but never released any records.
Solo and back to Status Quo
In 1986 Bob Young's first solo album "In Quo Country" was released. It contained a number of songs which Young had (co-)written for Status Quo, but now recorded in Country MusicCountry music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
style.
In the 1990s Young worked as a music manager for several artists, including Vanessa Mae. Furthermore, he did some work for British broadcaster BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and wrote another book (together with Ray Minhinnett) about the Fender Stratocaster
Fender Stratocaster
The Fender Stratocaster, often referred to as "Strat", is a model of electric guitar designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares in 1954, and manufactured continuously by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to the present. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top...
.
Finally, in the year 2000, he started working with Francis Rossi again. The official 40th Anniversary Book by Status Quo has been co-written by him. A limited edition of the book contains rare and previously unreleased demo recordings from Young's private archive.
In 2002 he also was a guest on the Lemon Jelly's
Lemon Jelly
Lemon Jelly is a British electronic music duo from London, formed in 1998. Since their inception, the band's line-up has included Fred Deakin and Nick Franglen. Lemon Jelly has been nominated for the Mercury Music Prize and BRIT Awards....
album "Lost Horizons
Lost Horizons
Lost Horizons is the second album release from Lemon Jelly, released in October 2002. The album produced two charting singles in the UK, "Space Walk" and "Nice Weather for Ducks". It was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize in 2003...
".