POP/ROCK - Aug. 30, 1988

And in Moscow, the veteran Brit-rock group Status Quo finished up a fortnight-long run of concerts at the Olympic Stadium Sunday night--the longest concert engagement so far for a Western rock act in the Soviet Union. Several other pop acts--including Elton John, UB40 and Billy Joel--have performed in the Soviet Union in the last decade, but usually only for a night or two, making such concerts rare events for young Soviets. “The Soviets want to (have) really big names next year,” said Jacek Slotala, the Polish-born promoter who arranged the Status Quo concerts. “They have asked us for such big acts I get sleepless nights.” And, like official interest in pop tours, ticket prices are on the rise, too: up to 8 rubles (about $13).