Charles Hutchinson on the band that won't fade away.

STATUS Quo could not have been a more appropriate name for an unchanging band now in its 35th year. "You would think we'd planned it all, but no," says singer Francis Rossi.

On Sunday, the mighty Quo play York Barbican Centre for the first time on their most extensive British trek for a decade, and as ever the statistics keep on piling up for the veteran denim rockers.

On the road since May, the 2000 world tour will see Quo play to 1.5 million people by the end of the year. By notching up their 31st hit album, Famous In The Last Century, Quo are established as the second most successful British album chart band, their tally beaten only by The Rolling Stones. They have released 55 hit singles; spent 413 weeks on the singles chart since Pictures Of Matchstick Men gave them their first chart entry in January 1968; made more than 100 appearances on Top Of The Pops; and famously, they opened the Live Aid concert at Wembley in 1985.

Yet Rossi is still not satisfied. "I haven't had a sore throat for ten years, but I've got one now," he says. "You look after yourself when you get older... and now I really want to live. I want to live to 95."

Rossi has done the rock'n'roll bit, the cocaine and the partying. Now he prefers to work out; to eat fruit, pasta and vegetables on a diet recommended by the former Arsenal physiotherapist Fred Street; and to restrict himself to two post-show cigarettes, one at 11pm, the other at 1am.

"When I feel better each day, it makes it worthwhile," he says. "The world we live in, we know we can keep fitter if we look after ourselves. I'm much fitter than I was in my 30s Rossi was 51 in April when I was doing coke and God knows what. Others might find it boring but it's better to have people saying 'You're looking good'."

The Quo have released two albums of cover versions in the past five years, the latest being Famous In The Last Century with its interpretations of Hound Dog, Good Golly Miss Molly, Rave On, Roll Over Beethoven and more besides.

"But I've been getting enthused about writing again," says Francis. "As with most contracts, there are options; we'd done a covers album in '95 so we said 'Yes' to doing another one this year. The performances are good, the feel is good, but I believe in doing new Quo material; that's what we want to do."

Rossi says it may sound terrible but he loves music too much to give up playing and he "can't think of anything I'd rather do". Yet not everything pleases him. Take the Quo's highly publicised pub tour. "The idea was to get publicity and we did that. It was a great publicity gimmick and we got 46 or 47 TV slots out of it; the first couple of shows were great; there was the novelty value, but after that you could shove..."

Put briefly, Rossi hadn't enjoyed the experience, although he did concede that the "really out-of-town" pub shows did go well. "I'd rather do something else next time," he says. "We're going to try to take the reins. We've got lazy in thinking 'What shall we do?'. Now we want to do this."

By this, he means playing to 60 and beyond; keeping fit; writing songs; sticking to Quo's trademark denim work-clothes and not reacting to Status Quo being treated as something of a joke in their own country. "You just have to keep your head down and keep going," he says. "We're one of the most unhip bands in the world! But it's worse in Britain than in other countries.

"I've gotten used to it; it's part of this business and it's part of being successful. A few million people around the world respect us, the rest don't; why should I be interested in those who don't like us?"

Worldwide sales of 112 million records would suggest Francis Rossi has exactly the right attitude.

Status Quo, York Barbican Centre, Sunday, 7.30pm. Tickets update: fewer than 100 left for the standing area at £22.50. Box office: 01904 656688.