Francis Rossi reveals Status Quo were paid 'danger fee' for Glasgow

"I always remember that in Glasgow and when we used to play there when we were very young you’d get about £12 extra because it was dangerous," he says.

"If the Scottish didn’t like you, there was no way you didn’t know.

"But we were lucky that Scottish people took to us which is a lovely feeling.

"It was lovely to be loved and it probably went to our head somewhat.

"But it was always a joy going to Scotland for work. There’s lots and lots of things I remember about being in Glasgow."

With his music career stretching back to 1962, Francis has many memories of his time in Glasgow and performing in some of the city’s most beloved venues.

"I’m old so most people [fans] up there are probably either dying or dead or they won’t remember us," he jokes.

"We used to do Greens Playhouse in the old days and then it became the Apollo.

"There was a new hotel built in Glasgow called the The Albany and they used to get us in and out of that building [The Apollo] with this limousine for us to get into with a police vehicle that went around the block and we were dumped at the back of the hotel where the huge waste bins were.  

"I always remember that."

But Francis says "the emotion, the joy, and the dedication" are what has set Glasgow fans apart for the band throughout the years.

He continued: "I love to make them say ‘murder’. It’s just fabulous.

"They [Glaswegians] know what they are. When we’re in front of them and it's particularly good we give a piece and we get back and it builds and we end up riding this thing together.

"We’re trying to do that every night and the Scottish do it particularly well."

The legendary band are set to perform two special shows at the city’s Kelvingrove Bandstand at the end of May, which will be Status Quo’s first time performing at the venue.

"Apparently it’s quite cute," Francis says, "and as much as I like the other buildings it’s nice to go somewhere different.

"And I’m just hoping it’s good for the audience.

"I’m very much looking forward to playing in Glasgow again and I hope the people enjoy it, I hope we enjoy it."

Francis has been with Status Quo since he cofounded the band in 1962 with Alan Lancaster under the name The Paladins.

They later became The Spectres and Traffic Jam before being named The Status Quo in 1967.

However, despite performing for six decades, the love of being on stage in front of a crowd hasn’t evaporated for Francis.

"[Being on stage] is the only place you can really go where the people that come to see you love you and think you’re wonderful," he says.

"You get the round of applause and there’s this look of, not adulation, but it’s something like that.

"And it’s the only place I can get it.

"We are all insecure little show-offs. 90% of people in showbiz are."

He continued: "As soon as I leave this room, leave this building, I’m just some old bloke.

"Whereas while I’m on that stage in front of Glasgow or wherever it validates my existence.

"It’s sad really, but it’s true."

Despite Status Quo embarking on a lengthy tour this summer and Francis doing a talking tour called Tunes & Chat, the 74-year-old says it might be time to slow down though he’s not making any concrete plans to hang up his guitar just yet.

"I don’t see that we can go on too much longer after the show and that doesn’t mean I want to announce it as the last, it’s just becoming a reality to myself," he explains.

"We’ll do this summer, then I’m going out and doing a talking tour in ’25 so if we go out again in ’26 that means I’ll be 77 and Andrew [Bown] will be 81.

"Like surely, it’s not possible. But I’ve thought that way since I was about 30."

He added: "Getting to this age, I’m very happy, I love going to work."

Status Quo will perform at the Kelvingrove Bandstand on Thursday and Friday, May 30 and 31.

They will be supported by Laurence Jones.