Coles backs Status Quo Aussie tour
Supermarket giant Coles is backing an Australian tour of legendary British rockets Status Quo.
The Quo featured in a recent Coles ad campaign, in which they performed the band’s famous ‘Down, deeper and down’ track wearing the big red hands that now typify Coles advertising.
The tour – which will feature Coles branding – coincides with the release of a new album, Quid Pro Quo, which will be exclusively sold in Coles. The album will include the new re-recorded version of Down Down that features in the Coles ad.
A press release reads:
Having made a welcome return to homes and supermarket aisles across Australia with the big red hand and their re-recording of their classic Down Down for Coles, Chugg Entertainment and Coles are today thrilled to confirm that British rockers, Status Quo, will be returning to our shores for a national tour in March/April 2013.
The tour kicks off at the Hordern Pavillion in Sydney on 27 March before going on to Brisbane (28 March), Adelaide (2 April) and ending in Melbourne (3 April). Tickets are $119.
Simon McDowell, Coles group director, marketing, commented: “Our customers love the original Down Down and we have got Status Quo to thank for coming up with such a catchy riff. While we take our business very seriously – the tour will be a bit of fun and what better way to celebrate Down Down and the famous Coles Big Red Hand, than by experiencing it live.”
Matthew Lazarus-Hall, CEO of the music company behind the tour, Chugg Entertainment, said: “With Status Quo returning to Australia to promote the release of their latest album Quid Pro Quo, the synergy with the new Coles campaign was perfect. The Quo have a very loyal fanbase across Australia and we’re thrilled to be involved with their return.”
The Status Quo Coles ad has been played on radio stations in regular music slots, as revealed by MediaWatch. The ad ran on ARN stations WSFM in Sydney, Gold 104.3 in Melbourne and Brisbane’s 4KQ.
What a shame.
If we shop at Coles, will we get 8cents off per ticket?
Oh my – I wonder if the band will be using those ‘big red hand’ guitars at the gig?
I, for one, SHALL BE THERE!!!! woohoooooo!!! Good onyas Coles!
April fools’ day in August?
Now that’s sad…including the Coles version of “Down Down” on an new release album.
I didn’t think the Quo boys needed the cash that desperately…but maybe they do.
fark. money is a powerful and exotic beast. integrity is a ?
It should be called “we need the money tour” or”we sold our soul for rock and roll”…what a sad and pathetic way to end up……Coles will end up giving away most tickers a la Eddy Groves and the Brisbane Bullets…pay over 100 bucks to see some has-beens…..?
Wot a Wank!
Almost as awesome as Bret Michaels and his collection of pets accessories.
Brilliant marketing.
Before you get too up in arms about this, remember that musicians have been doing this sort of thing for a while. The minute Bob Dylan started selling an album exclusively through Starbucks was the day the music died… This is just a continuation of that precedent.
..But did Bob change his lyrics to “tangled up in Starbucks”????
and wear a coffee cup hat??
(maybe he did)
Just as well they have a ‘very loyal fanbase’ because they surely won’t be winning any new fans with this charade. Truely shambolic.
Awesome
Love it or hate it. It’s marketing at it’s very best. Well done Coles.
@JOC, I don’t think they’re doing it to win new fans. Their last new fan found them in about 1988.
How is this good marketing? Where I live Coles and Woolies are 100m apart. Regardless of prices I will never shop at Coles again. Condescending horse sh1t at its best.
@ NJ: Don’t forget the time Bon Jovi held a presser announcing their forthcoming tour with cans of Pepsi in front of them.
Genius idea. While you clowns are venting your disapproval, Ted’s banking the millions he is making from keeping clients and punters happy.
Go Ted.
Great promotion opportunity with cotton buds!
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/ho.....hiley.html
Curtis Stone and now Status Quo selling their souls to the devil. Have you noticed how CS has been gradually putting on weight, the longer he has been plugging Coles freshness? How ironic.
and then Coles stuck it’s k$#b in the punch
This is great. Sell-out or not, I just find the tie-in from coles extremely well executed bringing life back into an ongoing campaign.
I wonder if they will open the gig with ‘Down The Dustpipe’? It would only be appropriate.
There is no superannuation for old rockers. They’ve been taken for millions over the decades. Let them get while the the getting is still good. It’s not like they’re being paid to chant for war, is it?
I think we should all be praising Chugg for this one … very clever, opportunistic tour in smaller venues with a sponsor ready to go. Very nice work.
Ah advertising – so full of contradictions. I despise Coles but have been a fan of Quo for decades. The band regularly comes to Australia with their families. They gig and they holiday – they do it for fun – they don’t take themselves too seriously. This isn’t a sellout by them but another chance of a paid holiday in Oz. Good on ’em.
And to Coles (or more particularly their agencies)… This campaign is one of the best examples of integration I have seen – kudos.
Hasn’t Quo member Francis whatsisname lived in Sydney for decades? I wouldn’t be surprised if he was – erm – instrumental in all this.
It sounds like a bit of harmless fun – there are old Quo fans who would crawl over broken glass to see them (having had lots of practice after closing time over the years) and maybe a few completely uncritical heavy metal fans who will pay to see anything.
I hope that modern toupees are better than the old ones though; all that head-tossing could have embarrassing consequences if one came adrift.
What if people grow to like and prefer the Coles version of the song?
This sucks.
Depressing to see the music industry on its knees having to support this trash.
Quo would be laughing all the way to the bank.
Get some top-up super into ya, boys, you’ve done your bit.
Everyone’s talking about it, Coles, so congrats to your marketing people.
Harmless….
I’ll be going to the Melb. concert ’cause I love Quo but if I see those big red hands on stage I promise I’ll exact my revenge by never shopping at Coles again. How do you like that for reverse effect marketing?