Suzi Quatro

8th blacksheep Festival
Friday, 23th June 2023

Suzi Quatro was born under the sign of Gemini, on 3rd June 1950 in Detroit Michigan. She was raised in a musical family, including three sisters and one brother, who all played various instruments. Suzi herself made her debut on stage playing bongo’s in her fathers jazz band, “The Art Quatro Trio”.

From an early age she studied classical piano and percussion, then aged 14, began an all girl band with elder sister Patti, called “The Pleasure Seekers”. Suzi was told she would be playing bass guitar, which was as tall as her! She quickly became the lead singer and front person, this band toured for seven years, very successfully, releasing a few singles along the way, then changed their name to cradle in 1969.

It was in this band, a couple of years later, that producer Mickie Most came to a concert, and offered Suzi a solo contract. She flew to England in 1971 to begin her journey  to fame.

Soon after Suzi began working with now legendary songwriters Chinn and Chapman (Mike Chapman also produced), which resulted the huge hit, “Can The Can”, which went to number one in May 1973, and went on to sell two and a half million copies worldwide. Between 1973 and 1980, Suzi Quatro featured in the British charts for no less than 101 weeks, and has sold to date over 55 million records, and still counting. her hits include “48 Crash”, “Too Big”, “Devil Gate Drive”, “Daytona Demon”, “The Wild One”, “She’s in Love With You”, “Mama’s Boy”, “If You Can’t Give Me Love”, “Rock Hard”,  and a million seller in the USA., ‘Stumblin In’ a duet with Chris Norman.

Suzi Quatro played with all her talents

From 77 to 79 Suzi landed a part on the worldwide hit TV series Happy Days, playing Leather Tuscadero opposite Henry Winkler and Ron Howard.  She continued to act in other shows including, Minder, Dempsey and Makepeace, and more up to date,  Absolutely Fabulous and Midsomer Murders. In 1986 Suzi made her West End debut playing the leading role of Annie Oakley in Irving Berlin’s “Annie Get Your Gun” for which she received great critical acclaim. 1988 Suzi spread her wings again, and hosted her own talk show called “Gas Street” which ran for a year.

1989 Suzi was one of the first rock and roll acts to go to Russia, where she performed for over half a million people in just six weeks. 1991, She was triumphant again, realising a lifelong ambition by writing the music and lyrics, along with Shirlie Roden, and starring in ‘Talullah Bankhead’  it ran for its full season of 5 weeks, and Suzi received amazing critics, even though they were not officially allowed into review the show.

1999 started Suzi’s radio career with bbc radio 2, which is ongoing today.  Suzi has done her own weekly programs, and many special documentaries including Elvis Presley, Otis Redding, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Patsy Cline, and a recent special on her home town of Detroit. Suzi has met, interviewed or played on stage with most of her hero’s.   Suzi is a very popular DJ. even being nominated for music broadcaster of the year at the Sony radio awards in 2006 1999 also saw Suzi honoured in ‘This Is Your Life’, complete with famous red book. they caught her on her 56 date UK tour, onstage at the Palladium.. completely off guard, there were a few expletives that had to be edited out!!

“Back to Drive” – Suzi Quatro’s autobiographical album

In 2006 Suzi released the autobiographical album, “Back to the Drive”… which has become the fans favourite worldwide. Suzi also made an appearance alongside Charles Dance in the theatre, in a play called “Exonerated at this time”. Unzipped, Suzi’s Autobiograpy was released in 2007 and has done extremely well worldwide.. getting to number 2 in the Australian charts where she continues to tour.  the next tour in 2013 will be her 29th down under!!! Current release, produced by long time collaborator Mike Chapman, ‘In the Spotlight’ which is now also available in Limited Edition with an extra CD of unreleased Suzi compositions called ‘In the Dark’ , and an enhanced CD with a video of ‘Strict Machine’ and the now legendary Suzi tribute to her absolute hero, Elvis Presely, ‘Singing With Angel’s, which she recorded in Nashville with James Burton on guitar, and Elvis’s original backing vocal group, the Jordinaries.

Current projects,her one woman show will have its second outing in Sept in London, called ‘Unzipped’.. a walk through her life with clips, photo’s and some music.. another life long dream realised. Suzi is also releasing a poetry book soon called ‘Through my Eyes’.  and her own self designed christmas cards. In 2014 she will celebrate 50 years as a professional.