Introduction
Wacken Open Air, since its founding in 1990, has grown into the world’s largest heavy metal festival, drawing around 75,000 headbangers to its sprawling 240 hectare site each summer. With its “Louder Than Hell” ethos and beer pipeline capable of tapping 10,000 litres per hour, it’s the perfect stage for a down-and-dirty rock ‘n’ roll run-through.
Status Quo’s Down Down & Dirty at Wacken was released on August 16, 2018 by earMusic/Fourth Chord Records, capturing their August 3, 2017 performance in crystalline audio and video. The DVD/CD showcases the Rossi–Bown–Edwards–Cave–Malone lineup, in top form, carrying on Quo’s unbroken live legacy .
At the heart of the set was the medley officially listed as:
“What You’re Proposing / Down the Dustpipe / Wild Side of Life / Railroad / Again and Again”.
- “What You’re Proposing” – A tight, syncopated opener from their 1980 catalog.
- “Down the Dustpipe” – A 1970 boogie staple whose harmonica riff still slaps live.
- “Wild Side of Life” – Their cover of Carter Family’s country classic, given a gritty Quo spin.
- “Railroad” – A lesser-known deep cut that surprises with melodic flair.
- “Again and Again” – A perfect sing-along closer, driving the crowd to chants of the chorus.
This seamless mash-up not only paid homage to their past hits but also demonstrated how a medley can serve as both a greatest-hits recap and a high-octane live performance strategy.
Watching this medley feels like sharing an inside joke with an old friend. You recognize each riff, you belt out the chorus, and you feel wrapped in the communal joy that only live rock can deliver. There’s no over-production—just Francis Rossi’s trademark growl, Rick Parfitt’s missing presence felt in the band’s tightness, and a rhythm section that never quits. For newcomers, it’s an education in boogie; for die-hards, it’s a reminder of why Quo are the masters of the live medley.
Whether you’re revisiting this “Proposin’ Medley” on the Down Down & Dirty at Wacken DVD or catching it streaming, it’s a masterclass in live medley construction—five songs in one glorious, sweaty, guitar-driven ride. Status Quo may have honed their formula since 1970, but at Wacken 2017 they proved that boogie rock still packs a festival main stage like no other.
