Suzi Quatro
b. Susan Kay Quatrocchio, 3 June 1950, Detroit, Michigan, USA. From patting bongos at the age of seven in her father's jazz band, she graduated to go-go dancing in a pop series on local television. With an older sister, Patti (later of Fanny) she formed the all-female Suzi Soul And The Pleasure Seekers in 1964 for engagements that included a tour of army bases in Vietnam. In 1971, her comeliness and skills as bass guitarist, singer and chief show-off in Cradle were noted by Mickie Most, who persuaded her to record Chinn And Chapman songs for his Rak Records label in England. Backed initially by Britons Alastair McKenzie (keyboards), Dave Neal (drums) and her future husband, ex-Nashville Teens member Len Tuckey (guitar), a second Rak single, 1973's "Can The Can", topped hit parades throughout the world at the zenith of the glam rock craze - of which rowdy Suzi, androgynous in her glistening biker leathers, became an icon. Her sound hinged mostly on a hard rock chug beneath lyrics in which scansion overruled meaning ("the 48 crash/is a silken sash bash"). The team's winning streak with the likes of "48 Crash", "Daytona Demon" and "Devil Gate Drive" - a second UK number 1 - faltered when "Your Mama Won't Like Me" stuck outside the Top 30, signalling two virtually hitless years before a more mellow policy brought a return to the Top 10 with "If You Can't Give Me Love".
Listen to Suzi Quatro
at Finetune.
Albums
- (2006) Back To The Drive
- (2005) A's, B's And Rarities
Top Tracks
- Devil Gate Drive
- Can The Can
- 48 Crash
- Back To The Drive (First Version)
- Rockin' In The Free World
Related Artists
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