Status Quo founder Alan Lancaster dies age 72

Status Quo founding member Alan Lancaster, who lived more than half of his life in Australia, has died following a battle with multiple sclerosis. He was 72.

According to entertainment reporter Craig Bennett, Lancaster, who was born in Peckham, south London, in 1949, “passed away this [Sunday] morning at his Sydney home, surrounded by family”.

“[I] am heartbroken to announce the passing of Alan Lancaster, British born music royalty, guitar God and founding member of iconic band, Status Quo,” Bennett wrote on Facebook.

“Alan married his beautiful wife Dayle Lancaster in 1978. They met when Alan and Status Quo, along with Slade and Lindisfarne, toured Australia in 1973.

“Alan, who was a dear and special friend, is survived by Dayle, his children Alan Jr, Toni and David, plus five grandchildren.

“Dayle said this morning that Alan loved his life in Australia. His mother and father, plus his brother and sister also moved to Australia. Dayle said: ‘We are all heartbroken. Alan had a wonderful wit and a fabulously dry sense of humour. He was a devoted and adoring husband, father and grandfather. Family was always his focus’.”

Status Quo singer Francis Rossi also paid tribute to his fellow bandmate, writing: “I am so sorry to hear of Alan’s passing. We were friends and colleagues for many years and achieved fantastic success together as the Frantic Four alongside Rick Parfitt and John Coghlan. Alan was an integral part of the sound and the enormous success of Status Quo during the 60s and 70s.

“Although it is well documented that we were estranged in recent years, I will always have very fond memories of our early days together and my condolences go to [his wife] Dayle and Alan’s family.”

Lancaster and Rossi formed Status Quo in the early 1960s. The group went on to have a number of hits including ‘Down Down’, ‘Caroline’, ‘Rain’ and ‘Break The Rules’.