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| Suzi Quatro A ground-breaking veteran of the music biz, Suzi’s unfettered wildness can be heard in the lyrics of many of her tunes. For example, in “The Wild One” (included in her 1995 greatest hits release What Goes Around), she sings, “I’m a blue-eyed bitch and I wanna get rich.” In reality, however, Suzi Q is a seasoned professional, well-spoken and decidedly gracious. |
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| by Mason Hawk, October 1998 |
| _.NYROCK: | With worldwide sales of 45 million records and 16 hit singles, many that date back to the seventies, you have quite a track record. Yet many young fans may not be familiar with you. What would you tell them to expect from Suzi Quatro? |
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___.SUZI Q: |
Always expect the unexpected. Lots of rock’n’roll, emotion, and diversity including acting, musicals, radio shows, and lectures on spiritual matters. Confused? Don’t be. Just look in a book about Geminis and you’ll have all the answers. |
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_.NYROCK: |
You’re clearly a progenitor for female rockers like Donita Sparks of L7, Joan Jett and others. How does it feel to have influenced these women? What do you think of their work? |
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___.SUZI Q: |
I am flattered to have been the woman to have opened the door for female rockers to be accepted into the mainly male industry. Joan was one of my biggest fans, as was Chrissie Hynde. I always listen to and do my homework on any up-and-coming females. I do take my musicianship seriously! Enough said. |
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_.NYROCK: |
What was it like being one of the first real women rockers? How did people react to you in your early days? Do you think you should be getting more recognition for your ground-breaking work today? |
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___.SUZI Q: |
Initially, it was more of a case of learning my craft and with it came self-respect. As far as more recognition goes, I am happy with the amount of love and respect I have received from other artists and the public. Of course, I would love more, and think I deserve it. |
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_.NYROCK: |
The ’70s were a pretty wild time for you, I imagine, touring with Slade and hanging out with Marc Bolan of T-Rex. What can you share with us from this period? |
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___.SUZI Q: |
My feet never touched the ground. Lots of good groups with crazy and unique images. It was wild. I spent all of my time doing gigs, TV appearances, interviews, or recording. I could write a book -- and probably will. |
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_.NYROCK: |
Could you tell us about your recent recording efforts? I heard you have a couple of uncompleted albums waiting for release. |
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___.SUZI Q: |
The last released album was What Goes Around. It includes re-recordings and four new songs. I have recorded nine tracks for a new album which I financed myself and am looking for a home for. Producers include Mike Chapman, Mickie Most and Sunscreen. All except two tracks were written by me and two by Mike. |
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_.NYROCK: |
You took a bit of a hiatus from rock and roll in the ’80s to pursue an acting career. Could you tell us about that? |
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___.SUZI Q: |
In addition to Happy Days from 1977 to 1979 [in which Suzi played the part of an up-and-coming rock’n’roller named Leather Tuscadero, a character based on herself], I did Annie Get Your Gun in the London West End in 1986. Also, the TV series Dempsey and Makepeace [a British crime drama] where I played a psychotic murderer. Then my own TV chat show in England in 1989.
Between 1980 and 1990, I was very busy doing all of these things -- lots of TV shows. In 1991, I wrote and starred in a musical about Talullah Bankhead. I am about to start my own radio show on the BBC, beginning January 1999, to run for 13 weeks every Saturday night at 9 pm. Remember I said to expect the unexpected... |
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_.NYROCK: |
What made you return to rock and roll? |
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___.SUZI Q: |
After I got divorced [from Len Tucky in 1992], I rediscovered my music. Len and I had parted musical ways and this was one of the problems. I now have the band of my dreams and am able to do (besides rock and roll) more musical material. I play piano and drums, which were part of my training as a musician. |
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_.NYROCK: |
How’s touring going? |
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___.SUZI Q: |
I am busy touring all over Europe, Japan, and Australia. There are serious negotiations going on for a movie of my life [a New York film company is interested in this venture, with Suzi making the soundtrack for the movie -- look for a possible tour of the States after its release]. This is a dream of mine and hopefully will include some up-to-date material and bring me back home [to the States where Suzi was born and raised, she currently resides in England and Germany]. |
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