Status Quo Awarded Order of the British Empire Medals

After five decades together, Status Quo's Rick Parfitt and Francis Rossi have been awarded Order of the British Empire medals in the Queen's New Year's Honours list in recognition of their services to music industry and charity.

During their lengthy career, Status Quo have scored 60 hit singles and were chosen to open Live Aid in 1985. They've also been involved with the Heart Foundation, the Prince's Trust and Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy.

Rick Parfitt confessed that he thought his wild past would have prevented him form being honoured. "I thought there had been a chance that we may have got something, but I had kind of given up hoping," he said. "Particularly with my wild past, if they'd reviewed some of my old newspaper cuttings.

"To be perfectly honest, with all the hard work we have put in over the years, I accept it graciously."

Francis Rossi added, "You start off rebellious, a teenager in a band, but you end up being part of the establishment. No matter how you feel about these things, it means that people have recognised what we've done."