by Peter Barnett

Heavyweight rockers Status Quo spent their childhood holidays at the Thanet seaside.

Founding members Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt, who have been conquering the music charts, concert halls and festivals around the world for more than 40 years, revealed their affection for the coast during an interview on Radio 5’s Danny Baker show on Saturday morning.

The guitarists told how as young men they rode the Scenic Railway wooden roller coaster at the seafront Dreamland fun park.

Rossi said: “We just loved that ride,” and Parfitt added: “We spent the whole day on it - every time we got the end we would pay and go around again.”

He revealed how the family would visit Margate and as a child he remembered his father, whose family made and sold ice reams in London, would strike up conversations with ice cream sellers on the seafront, chatting about the kind of machines they use.

Meanwhile Parfitt told how his family holidays were spent at Butlins Hotel in Cliftonville. He added: “It was great. I remember taking part in talent shows. I sang Baby Face, and if you won you got a free holiday, which I did for me and the family.”

As a band, Quo have played to millions around the globe, including opening Live Aid at Wembley in 1985.

They have played in Thanet several times over the years at the old Dreamland ballroon and the Winter Gardens.

Rossi recalled: “One of our very earliest gigs was at a pub just outside Margate, where we performed to just three people. One of the women still comes to see us today.”