Status Quo and the Raw Power of “Spinning Wheel Blues” on Granada TV in 1970
The 1970 appearance of Status Quo performing “Spinning Wheel Blues” on Granada TV’s Doing Their Thing captures the band at a crucial turning point, when British rock was shedding polish and embracing volume, repetition, and physical force. This was not yet the stadium era Quo, but a hungry, road hardened group discovering the elemental strength that would soon define their identity.
“Spinning Wheel Blues” was already a cornerstone of their early live sets, built on relentless boogie rhythm and unyielding guitar drive. On the Granada TV stage, the song feels less like a performance and more like a controlled eruption. Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt lock into a dual guitar attack that prioritizes momentum over decoration, while John Coghlan’s drumming pushes the groove forward with muscular insistence. Alan Lancaster’s bass grounds everything with a weight that keeps the song rooted and dangerous.
What makes this performance especially valuable is its honesty. There is no studio gloss, no visual excess, and no attempt to soften the sound for television. Status Quo play exactly as they would in a club or hall, loud, repetitive, and unapologetically physical. The cameras simply bear witness.
Seen today, this Granada TV session stands as a document of transformation. It shows Status Quo in the act of becoming themselves, forging the no nonsense boogie blueprint that would carry them through decades. “Spinning Wheel Blues” here is not just a song. It is a declaration of intent.