Review & Photography by Manny Manson for MPM
Suzi Quatro, the undisputed “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” has been electrifying the UK this November 2024, bringing her enduring energy and timeless charisma to stages across the country on a climactic mini tour celebrating 6 decades in the music industry.
Throughout her career, Suzi has remained a trailblazer shattering conventions and going on to inspire countless women to pick up guitars, take to the stage, and own their power in a male-dominated industry. This is way before the ‘Spice Girls’ era might I add.
Born on June 3, 1950, in Detroit, Michigan, Suzi was destined for music. Growing up in a household steeped in jazz and performance, she began playing bass as a teenager in The Pleasure Seekers, an all-girl garage rock band she formed with her sisters.
The band evolved into Cradle, in doing so Suzi’s raw talent and unmistakable stage presence made the band the one to catch. It was during a Detroit performance in 1971 that legendary British producer Mickie Most spotted her potential. Known for his work with The Animals and Herman’s Hermits, ‘Most’ signed Suzi to his RAK Records label and whisked her away to London, where her solo career exploded.
Her debut single, “Rolling Stone,” gained little traction, but Suzi was undeterred. By 1973, her breakout hit “Can the Can” stormed the UK charts, reaching No. 1 and cementing her place in the glam rock movement. Her tough leather-clad image, dynamic bass-playing, and powerhouse vocals were a revelation.
Over the next few years, Suzi released a string of iconic hits, including “48 Crash,” “Devil Gate Drive,” and “Daytona Demon,” each of them blending gritty riffs, anthemic choruses, and rebellious swagger. These tracks not only dominated the charts but also defined a generation of glam rock fans. Later, she explored a more melodic side with hits like “If You Can’t Give Me Love” and “She’s in Love with You,” both demonstrating her versatility as an artist. Her duet with Chris Norman, “Stumblin’ In,” became a major US hit in 1978, adding to her international appeal.
Suzi’s collection of albums shows that she has constantly tried to evolve as an artist. Her self-titled debut album in 1973 introduced her as a hard-hitting female force to be reckoned with, while 1975’s Your Mamma Won’t Like Me saw her exploring funk influences.
The 1980 album Rock Hard solidified her as a feminist icon with its title track becoming an anthem for empowerment. After a period of reflection, Suzi returned stronger than ever with Back to the Drive in 2006, a raw and unapologetic record that resonated with her long-time fans. Her more recent collaborations with her son, Richard Tuckey, on the albums No Control (2019) and The Devil in Me (2021) brought a refreshed sound, blending hard rock with deeply personal lyrics, proving that Suzi’s creative spark is as bright as ever.
While her music has been the cornerstone of her career, Suzi’s talents extend far beyond the recording studio. She became a household name in the late 1970s with her role as Leather Tuscadero on the hit American sitcom Happy Days. Her appearances brought her music to a wider audience, with Leather’s no-nonsense attitude mirroring Suzi’s real-life persona. She also headlined the 1986 British TV movie Annie Get Your Gun, portraying sharpshooter Annie Oakley, and captivated theater audiences in her one-woman show Tallulah Who?, which delved into the life of actress Tallulah Bankhead. These projects, once again, revealed Suzi’s remarkable versatility and ability to connect with audiences on multiple levels.
Over the years, Suzi has collaborated with and shared stages with an array of musical legends. She’s performed alongside Alice Cooper, Thin Lizzy, and even played in the same circles as Elvis Presley, one of her early idols. Her influence on future generations of rockers is huge, with artists like Joan Jett and Debbie Harry citing her as a direct inspiration. Back in the early 1970’s, Suzi didn’t just open doors, she kicked them down, proving that gender has no bearing on raw talent and determination.
Despite her rock star lifestyle, Suzi has always remained grounded, balancing her career with family life. Now in her seventies, she continues to defy expectations with her relentless touring schedule, fresh recordings, and unstoppable spirit. Known for her motto, “I’m not a female musician; I’m a musician who happens to be female,” Suzi has never allowed labels to define her. Her ability to stay relevant, authentic, and endlessly creative is rare, and she generously shares it with her fans.
As Suzi takes to the stage this November, audiences can expect a setlist that spans her extraordinary career. From the raw power of “Can the Can” and “Devil Gate Drive” to the heartfelt melodies of “Stumblin’ In” and the grit of her newer material, Suzi’s live shows are a celebration of a legacy that, indeed, shaped the face of rock music.
The night kicked off in spectacular fashion, the 8-piece band took to the stage to a hard-hitting drum groove, this perfectly set the tone for a night of fun, music and anecdotes. Above the stage is a screen depicting a young Suzi on a dazzling orange burst back ground, and to be fair the very essence of that young girl in the picture hasn’t aged one bit, as the crowd roared in anticipation, Suzi Quatro made her entrance wearing a classic denim and leather outfit, embodying the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll. With her bass slung low, she launched into “The Wild One” from her second album released in 1974, simply entitled Quatro.
This punchy anthem, featured in Floria Sigismondi’s biopic coming of age film about the Runaways in 2010. driven by gritty guitar riffs and Quatro’s powerful vocals, immediately energizing the crowd, its rebellious lyrics capturing the essence of her legacy. Next came “I May Be Too Young”, also from the Suzi Quatro Story – 12 Golden Hits. Released in 1975, this track blends a pop-rock sensibility with a soulful edge, and Suzi’s delivery was equal parts coy and commanding, drawing the audience further into her joyous spell. The mood shifted to full-throttle rock as she dove into “Daytona Demon”, a high-energy number from 1973 that raced off her Suzi Quatro album. With its driving beat and pulsating bassline, the song had fans clapping and stomping along.
“Tear Me Apart”, another from her self-titled 1973 album, followed, bringing a punk-infused swagger to the evening. Suzi prowled the stage, her voice gritty and raw, perfectly suiting the song’s defiant tone. The crowd swayed to “Stumblin’ In”, her 1978 duet with Chris Norman, former lead singer with ‘Smokie’. As a side note it was Normans first single as a solo artist. from If You Knew Suzi…. This soft-rock ballad, written by Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn, the powerhouse writing duo behind a number of the Quatro hits. This classic track highlighted her tender side, with harmonies and heartfelt emotion filling the hall.
The energy surged with Suzi’s third solo single, “48 Crash”, one of her biggest hits from the self-titled debut album Suzi Quatro (1973). Its razor-sharp guitars and infectious groove had the audience shouting along to the chorus, strangely it only reached No3 in the UK charts in July 1973. Suzi introduced “The Devil in Me”, a standout track from her 2021 album, her 17th, of the same name, explaining it was a collaboration with her son, Richard Tuckey that started with just writing a song that grew into an album. This bluesy rocker, is full of chugging basslines and snarling vocals highlighting her ability to evolve while staying true to her roots.
She then unveiled “I Sold My Soul Today”, another cut from The Devil in Me. Its dark, sultry vibe contrasted sharply with the upbeat “Slow Down”, a classic rock cover, originally by Larry Williams, from her 2017 album Quatro, Scott and Powell. This is an album that features ‘Sweet’s’ Andy Scott on guitar and ‘Slade’s’ Don Powell on drums. The album was described as “An uncanny match made in glam heaven”. The audience also roared approval as she segued into “Rockin’ in the Free World”, Neil Young’s iconic anthem, which she covered on 2006’s Back to the drive. Suzi’s version retains the raw emotion of the original while adding her signature, glam flair. Suzi used this tune to get the crowd involved, with a bit of coaching they enthusiastically joined in, belting back the chorus, while she led us through the words.
Rounding out Act 1, Suzi delivered “Can I Be Your Girl” from her 2006 album Back to the Drive. This heartfelt track blended smooth melodies with poignant lyrics, leaving the audience eagerly anticipating more as Suzi exited the stage. During the 25-minute interval, fans mingled and indulged in ice creams from stewards stationed at the front of the hall.
Act 2 opened with yet another driving intro as Suzi strode back onstage, now in a sleek, black leather catsuit, to huge cheers of approval, this is how we all saw Suzi back in the 1970’s, tight leather putting many a smile on many a young man’s face. Proudly declaring her Detroit roots, she launched into “Motor City Riders”, a fiery rock anthem from The Devil in Me (2021) that paid homage to her hometown. She kept the momentum rolling with a powerful rendition of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Bad Moon Rising”, featured on her 2022 live album, Uncovered. This crowd-pleasing cover had the room buzzing with excitement. Pausing briefly to share a story, like she has done before every song tonight, Suzi introduced “Ain’t Ya Something” another from her 1973 self-titled album Suzi Quatro. With its funky bassline and playful lyrics, the song has a timeless charm that resonates deeply. She followed with “She’s in Love with You”, a bright pop-rock track from 1979’s Suzi…and Other Four Letter Words, which had everyone dancing in their seats, and in the aisles.
The set took an emotional turn with “Shine a Light”, a soulful ballad from her album with KT Tunstall entitled face To Face (2023). Its uplifting message and soaring melody creating a magical atmosphere. Suzi then used “Too Big”, from Quatro (1974), to introduce her band. Each member was then given their moment to shine in the spotlight, delivering solos that demonstrated their incredible talent.
As the band transitioned into “Glycerine Queen”, also from1973’s Suzi Quatro, Suzi’s commanding bassline took center stage. The song’s glam-rock vibe and bold lyrics captured the essence of her early career, it also appeared in Edgeplay: A Film About The Runaways. The song climaxed with a blistering bass and drum interplay. Suzi demonstrating that even though her bass may be as big as she is tall, she is definitely its boss. During which, Suzi patrolled the stage thumping out a deep and powerful bass riff. Not content with that, she then joined the drummer and the pair smashed out a drum groove or two by way of an intro into “Can the Can”, her breakout hit from 1973’s Suzi Quatro album. During the drum break the band had rejoined Suzi on stage, no doubt having enjoyed the respite while Suzi showed she could still rip her bass a new one. The roaring guitars and infectious chorus had the audience light in their loafers as Suzi got them all standing, singing and dancing in the aisles.
Without missing a beat, the band segued into “Devil Gate Drive”, another glam-rock classic from Quatro (1974). Suzi strutted across the stage, her bass thundering as the crowd shouted the iconic “Down in Devil Gate Drive!” refrain. She left the stage amid a wave of applause, her bass still ringing out. But Suzi quickly returned for what seemed like a pre-encore, treating fans to “If You Can’t Give Me Love”, a softer, melodic track from If You Knew Suzi… (1978). With its reflective tone which was then followed by the rollicking “Sweet Little Rock and Roller”, a Chuck Berry cover from her 2022 box set The Rock Box 1973 – 1979 (The Complete Recordings). The bands and Suzi’s spirited performance now had the very partisan audience craving more, as they danced away, cheering and clapping clearly raising the roof as the band all left the stage.
For the actual encore, Suzi returned alone with Jez on keys. Sitting on a stool, she delivered a stirring rendition of “Desperado”, the Eagles classic she covered on The Girl from Detroit City (2014) with her good friend, the late Jeff Beck. Her heartfelt vocals and Jez’s delicate accompaniment created a poignant close to the night.
Factions of the crowd sang along, their voices blending with Suzi’s in a moment of, dare I say harmony? highlighting the night as a triumph, is a great testament to the amazing Suzi Quatro’s everlasting talent and charisma. Her ability to connect with the audience, with her cheeky smiles and heartfelt, humble ramblings, or whether through hard-rocking anthems or soulful ballads, it all remains unparalleled. This was a celebration of rock ‘n’ roll at its finest, with the undoubtable ‘Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll’ herself!
