Status Quo at the NEC Birmingham 2006 and the Enduring Appeal of the Proposing Medley
On May 1st 2006, English rock institution Status Quo delivered a performance at the NEC in Birmingham, England that was filmed for the official live release Just Doin’ It Live. This show marked a significant moment for the band in 2006 as they returned to the famed venue after postponing earlier dates in late 2005 due to frontman Rick Parfitt’s recovery from throat surgery. Their appearance in Birmingham was celebrated by fans and captured for posterity on DVD later that year, cementing it as a defining night of the Just Doin’ It tour.
Status Quo’s set that evening was structured to showcase their rock and boogie heritage with a blend of deep cuts, fan favourites and inventive arrangements. Classics such as “Caroline”, “Forty Five Hundred Times” and “Whatever You Want” sat comfortably alongside high-octane takes on “Rain” and “Hold You Back”. The band’s signature drive and tight interplay were on full display throughout the performance, illustrating why they have remained a formidable live act for decades.
Among the highlights of the show is the performance known as the Proposing Medley. Medleys have been a recurring element of Status Quo’s live shows for many years, allowing the group to weave together fragments of their many hits in a single continuous performance segment. This musical collage format dates back to earlier tours and medley experiments, and it offers both a retrospective nod to their catalogue and a display of the band’s improvisational instincts onstage.
At the Birmingham NEC show, the Proposing Medley slots into the latter portion of the set and typically included recognisable motifs and riffs drawn from songs such as “What You’re Proposing”, “Down the Dustpipe”, “Little Lady” and others, creating a sequence designed to energise the audience and maintain momentum as the concert moved toward its finale. Medleys of this type are a functional device in live rock performance. They keep the set dynamic and give listeners a continuous stream of familiar hooks without requiring each track to be played in its entirety. In the case of Status Quo, the medley format also reflects their vast back catalog and the challenge of presenting it live within a finite concert length.
The 2006 NEC appearance stands as a testament to Status Quo’s enduring appeal more than three decades after their formation. The band’s ability to balance tight musicianship with crowd-pleasing song selection and medley creativity underscores their reputation as consummate live performers. The Just Doin’ It Live recording remains a valuable document for fans and rock historians alike who wish to experience Quo’s onstage energy and the memorable musical journey that culminates in the Proposing Medley section of the show.