Former Status Quo bassist Alan Lancaster has died at the age of 72.The news was broken by Australian broadcaster Craig Bennett, who wrote on Facebook, "At the request of his loving and deeply cherished 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.
"Alan Lancaster passed away this morning at his Sydney home, surrounded by family. Alan had been dealing with Multiple Sclerosis. He was 72. Status Quo began Rockin’ All Over The World in 1967. The legendary band amassed decades of hit songs, including Down Down and Whatever You Want. 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."
Lancaster was born in Peckham in South London in 1949. He met future Quo frontman Francis Rossi at school and the two formed a band, The Scorpions. After adding drummer John Coghlan they became The Spectres, and the "Frantic Four" line-up was completed when guitarist Rick Parfitt joined, although it would take another couple of name changes before the band settled on Status Quo.
Lancaster anchored Status Quo on their most successful albums, a run that included Piledriver, Hello!, Quo, On the Level, Blue for You, Rockin' All Over the World, If You Can't Stand the Heat..., Whatever You Want, Just Supposin' and Never Too Late in the decade between 1972 and 1981.
https://www.loudersound.com/news/former-status-quo-bassist-alan-lancaster-dead-at-72