FORGET The Darkness.

If you want to hear some genuine old-school British rock, dig out your denim and head to Portsmouth this week.

Status Quo will be rockin' all over the world - well, Portsmouth Guildhall, anyway - as part of their Riffs tour.

One of Britain's most successful bands, they have clocked-up more British hit singles than any other group and have had more albums than any band other than the Rolling Stones.

Status Quo had their first hit back in 1968 with Pictures of Matchstick Men, and they are still going strong, although only two members of the original line-up - Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt - remain in the band.

Keyboard player Andrew Bown joined in 1976, bassist John 'Rhino' Edwards joined in 1986 and drummer Matt Letley came onboard in May 2000.

The band's current tour coincides with the release of their new album, Riffs, on November 17, which features new recordings of some of their hits as well as covers including Pump it Up, All Day and All of the Night and Born to be Wild.

13th November, Portsmouth Guildhall. Performance: 7.30pm. Tickets: £26.50. Box office: 023 9282 4355. Status Quo will also be at The Anvil, Basingstoke, on 19th & 20th November and BIC on 29th November.