Status Quo are rock and rolling out the barrel - by releasing their own brand of beer.

The rock veterans are ditching Marguerita time to Down Down a pint as they hope their ale will be a hit.

The stars - led by Rick Parfitt and Francis Rossi, who have been known for their own love of a tipple - are launching their Piledriver beer in more than 900 Wetherspoon pubs from today.

They teamed up with Wychwood Brewery to create the drink, named after their 1972 album.

Rossi said: "Music and beer go well together. Anyone denying that has never been to a gig - and certainly not a Quo show. We wanted to create something special for the fans - and us, of course - to enjoy. Piledriver is it."

Parfitt added: "Piledriver is renowned as one of those albums where it all went right: the chemistry was perfect and the fun flowed. Wychwood Brewery has helped us create a beer with the same ethos - and a huge gorilla as a truly arresting logo."

The group's Piledriver album is also being reissued as a deluxe edition on March 24.