POP legends Status Quo are gearing up for their concert at Ragley Hall, near Alcester, next Sunday.

Quo have had worldwide sales of more than 112 million, and have enjoyed 22 top 10 British hit singles.

I caught up with the band's guitarist Rick Parfitt to find out a little about the history of the band.

Rick, who was born in Surrey, was once a Cliff Richard fan, and began listening to the artist at age 10.

"I liked Cliff and The Shadows, that's why I picked up the guitar, and it went from there.

"When I first started, I played pubs and clubs, and then at 15 played away at holiday camps."

It was, in fact, at Butlin's holiday camp in Minehead in 1965 that Rick met Francis Rossi when they were both playing in bands there for the summer season.

Next year, they'll have been playing together for an amazing 40 years. So what's the secret of their longevity?

"We've been going for so long, it's important you enjoy what you do. Then it's not work," says Rick.

"That applies with anything you do. To me, it's never like work when you get up on stage.

"When we started out we thought, if we can hold it together for five years, wouldn't that be great. Musicians don't last very long these days."

One of the highlights of the band's career has to be when they opened London Live Aid in 1985.

"It was a fantastic feeling and a great honour to open it. We got to meet all these people such as Paul McCartney."

The Status Quo gig at Ragley Hall is part of a great weekend, as Jools Holland with his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra will be gracing the Ragley Hall's stage next Saturday.

The Evening News is the media sponsor for the Jools event.

Audiences should bring a picnic and crack open the champagne for the musical extravaganza.

The grand finale for both nights will be a colourful, spectacular, firework display.

Tickets can be bought from IML box office on 01603 660444 or from Worcester Guildhall on 01905 726311.