From the beginning and even up until today, Suzi Quatro has been a force to be reckoned with. She’s an artist whose influence has never truly been recognized and appreciated by the music industry and contemporary audiences. She was the first female artist in rock and roll who played an instrument and had worldwide success. Go ahead; pull out your phones and Google that. It’s true and she has never been given the respect that she truly deserves. So many females in rock today have no clue that Suzi blazed the path and knocked down so many doors so that they can do what they do today.
She uprooted from her home in Detroit, Michigan and headed to the UK where her career began to take off. With hits like “Can the Can,” “48 Crash” and “Devil Gate Drive,” she was taking the music business by storm. This young girl in her leather jumpsuit and her bass guitar (which at times looked bigger than she was) was making history all around the world, but for some reason not getting the same results in the USA. There was some success in the states including her #4 hit “Stumblin’ In” with Chris Norman as well as her three year run on the television show Happy Days as Leather Tuscadero.
Here we are in 2020 and Suzi is still busy touring (not at the moment thanks to the pandemic) and recording, plus she’s also receiving quite a few accolades from some pretty big names in music. Her new documentary titled “Suzi Q” had it virtual theatrical event release on July 1 and its commercial release on July 3. The documentary features interviews with Debbie Harry of Blondie, Joan Jett, Cherie Currie (The Runaways), Kathy Valentine (The Go-Go’s), Alice Cooper, Tina Weymouth (Talking Heads) and many others. It also contains some amazing footage from throughout Suzi’s career. We recently had the chance to sit down with Suzi to talk about the documentary and much more.
Hi Suzi; I’m just curious before we start as to where you’re at right now?
Suzi Quatro: I’ve been based in the UK since 1971, but I’ve been back and forth to America a zillion times. It just worked out that way! I’m married to a German man and he lives in Hamburg and I’m in the UK so I go back and forth which is fine unless there’s a pandemic (laughs).
I’m thinking you’re the kind of artist that has stayed really busy creatively during this pandemic.
You could say that; that’s kind of my nature. I call myself a poker player. I sit at the table, I look at my cards and these are the cards I play with. So, this time I got dealt these cards. My son should have been on the road, but he’s not. I should have been on the road, but I’m not. Neither of us were busy, so I said let’s write a new album which we did. We wrote 14 tracks, demoed them and are still working on them. Plus, I assembled an illustrated lyric book, coffee table size from scratch that should be out in July. My movie, which is going on because of the reaction to the Suzi Q documentary, is being worked on and the script that I am helping with should be delivered in mid-July and then we’ll start moving with that. I should start gigging again, if it doesn’t get changed because nobody really knows, in September. In the entertainment profession nobody really knows what will happen. Everything could change and could get canceled for this year and not return until next year, so we’ll have to wait and see. We’re just following the bouncing ball.
You just blew my mind! I wasn’t expecting to hear all of that stuff that you’ve been working on! I’m excited!
I’m just wired that way! I always have to be creating whether it’s a song or a poem or a musical. Why sit around and pick your nose? I can’t say that I’ve minded it that much, but I do mind being told what to do. That goes against my nature. To be told I have to stay here and I can’t go there and there are no gigs. That’s what I don’t like being told. It’s one thing to get old and retire, but to be told you’re stopping is another.
I know you, but I don’t know. I’m a fan and I’ve followed your career, but it really doesn’t surprise me that you have a problem being told what to do.
Well, that’s my whole life, isn’t it? I remember when someone told me that a girl can’t play bass guitar. Uh, excuse me? A girl can’t wear a leather jumpsuit. Excuse me? A girl can’t sing rock and roll. Excuse me? (laughs) I think I’ve spent most of my life saying excuse me (laughs). Mickie Most, he’s not with us anymore God bless him, but he was like my mentor. He used to say at every juncture of the conversation if he was around that nobody ever tells Suzi what to do, but you can suggest. That really makes me laugh! And my husband, my German husband who I have been together with for 27 years now, we were having one of these bickering things like couples do. I said to him Rainer, you can’t live long enough to control me. He said, ‘yes I can; I just have to be very clever.’ (laughs) I guess that’s why we’ve been together 27 years; that was pretty clever.
I just finished watching the “Suzi Q” documentary and I was blown away! I am such a music nerd and I love seeing old performance and interview footage. I was amazed with the condition of the footage! That was some pretty damn amazing stuff!
You say that and my husband also pointed that out. At first, he wasn’t for this documentary being made, but now of course he’s changed his mind. At first, he just didn’t get it. The first comment out of his mouth after he sat down to watch it was ‘I didn’t expect it to be this good.’ He’s done a really good job with it, hasn’t he?
Oh yeah; beyond really good!
He told my story, he did a classy job and he was honest. I told him from the beginning, Liam (Firmager) this is a no bullshit documentary. I don’t just want people saying nice things; I want the truth to be told. Even though I have editing rights, it’s real and if it’s uncomfortable it’s still in there. That’s what all the critics are raving about because it’s a real, an actual real, and you know what I’m talking about when I say that, documentary. My son pointed out after he saw it that as opposed to other ones that he’s seen that in this one it seemed to him that every single person in it that spoke meant what they said. It was from the heart and they were passionate about what they said and not just giving it lip service.
I watch a ton of these and you could feel that this one was very authentic.
Yes, very authentic. Everyone that was in it wanted to be in it and wasn’t coerced. They weren’t like ‘oh, this will be good for me to be in this documentary.’ There wasn’t any of that. These people who wanted to speak about me and what a difference that is. Every time I watch it, I cry. It’s really something to see your life up there on the big screen like that.
How were you initially approached about doing this? Had you ever been approached about doing something like this before?
Yes I have and in fact, it’s a good story. About 18 years ago, Vicki Blue who is still a very good friend of mine and used to play bass in The Runaways, called me to be a part of something and we did a documentary. Unfortunately as it got to completion, and I’m not going to name any names, someone who was interviewed extensively for the program didn’t like how she looked on the camera and didn’t like what she said. So, you give the interview and then you say you don’t like it? It just sucks. She refused to give her rights and we didn’t have any choice but to leave it in the vault. It’s still there and I was upset with how everything turned out. It was just so stupid. If you’re going to give an interview, stick by what you say. If you ask me something about somebody and I answer you, I’m not going to call you up five minutes later and say ‘oh, I don’t like that.’ I said what I said.
Anyway, four and a half years ago I got a phone call from Liam (Firamager) from Australia and he said he’d like to do a documentary. I’ve been down this path before so I’m a little bit gun shy. He said ‘I’ve got to tell you right off that I’m not a fan.’ Well, that got my attention (laughs). He said ‘don’t get me wrong; I love the music but I’m just not a fan fan.’ So, I asked him why he wanted to do the documentary. He said ‘I saw you on a television show and I found you fascinating.’ So, I thought this is the guy to do my story the way that I want it to be done. I had always wanted to set the record straight. I’m the first one and I wanted to put that out there and there’s nobody else you can go to. I’m the first female in rock and roll with an instrument to be successful and I was the first. There’s a minimum of four years before there was anybody else. So, I thought this guy will be objective. He’ll be strong and he’ll fight me for points he wants to make. He’s not a kiss ass and I’ll get the documentary that I want. We didn’t always agree but not a lot was changed. I love that he asked me those questions at the end. I wasn’t expecting them, so of course I cried because I’m very open and honest. When he asked me what would I say to myself as a little girl; that finished me. I went right down deep inside and answered it. I didn’t try to hide it and Liam said to me right before the first premiere that he had done a lot of these things, but nobody ever gave him what I had given him. I thought that was the nicest thing and I took that as a compliment.
You’ve got your ups, you’ve got your downs and some people may talk negative about you, but it’s all part of the big picture. I wanted people to see what I saw to get to what I got to. It’s important because maybe it gives people a lesson, maybe it inspires people.
Well, a lot of people won’t own it and you have to. You have to own the good with the bad and you put it all out there to see.
Oh yeah, 100%. I told Liam to keep those cringe moments, even if I am uncomfortable with it. If it’s real when it happened and it’s part of the story then it stays in even if I want to crawl out of the theater (laughs). There are some of those and those are some of the best moments of the film. Sometimes when I am doing a Q&A, I’ll sometimes sneak in to see the audience’s reaction. Every audience is different but you usually get the gasps in the same place and the laughs in the same place. It’s amazing to watch it with people and see their reactions to everything.
Speaking of reactions, what was your reaction when you saw the completed product in its entirety for the first time?
Oh boy! First off, I gave the go ahead and it was fine, but the big reaction for me was watching it on the big screen. Watching it on your tv is one thing and even then I kept thinking oh my god, oh my god! Then I watched it on the big screen at the first premiere. I was nervous wondering how the audience was going to receive it. How were they were going to react to it, when were the laughs going to come, when was the applause going to happen? I just sat there in tears. I kept looking at that big screen thinking oh my god this is my life. It was amazing and humbling. Every nice thing that somebody would say you just think oh my god. Like Debbie Harry; how nice is shy? I’ll tell you a little secret story; there’s something that I wanted to and my director wouldn’t let me do it. When Debbie said, ‘Suzi was so beautiful,’ I wanted my voice to come on underneath and say ‘fuck off Debbie.’(laughs) That would have been so damn funny! He said ‘no, leave the compliment as it is.’ There are a lot of things you can hear and a lot of compliments that you can take, but you just can’t take that compliment from Debbie Harry if you get where I’m coming from.
Can you imagine everyone looking at each other like ‘did you hear that? I heard that did you hear that?’
I know! Exactly! But, he said ‘no; she meant it as a compliment so just take it.’ Then there’s Henry Winkler; how beautiful was that?
I just love that guy!
You asked how it did it affect me? I didn’t purposely go out there to change everything for women and I say that. What I did was go out there and stuck to who I am, no compromises. I wouldn’t change, I wouldn’t compromise, I wanted to make it but I’m who I am. In hindsight, I understand after watching this film on the big screen and talking to these women after they did their bits in the film like Cherie (Currie). She gave me an award at the She Rocks ceremony in LA back in January. She went to give the speech and she started to cry. A couple of months ago I was on Zoom with Cherie and Kathy Valentine (The Go-Go’s) who also gave me an award in Texas and she started to cry. Now, looking back on that after seeing the film, without meaning to, I gave all these women who didn’t know where they belonged, a place where they could live. That is just so wonderful to know that.
You were just being you, uncompromising, going after the dream that you had. You had no idea that you were blazing this path.
No, I didn’t until later. Thanks to this documentary and all of these people speaking in it, I am now realizing what I did. Did the universe just drop this on my shoulders? Probably, because I was just up not there not really knowing what I was doing but at the same time being completely honest being myself. I gave these ladies permission to be different and that’s great, isn’t it?
I think it’s awesome!
If I don’t do anything else in my life, then I’m happy with that.
In the documentary, there’s a part where Mike Chapman wants you to sing in a higher octave. Was that hard adjusting your voice to?
No, Mike Chapman just pushed me that way and we had many discussions about it. In fact he loves and used my chest voice when I did things like “Stumblin’ In.” He does like it up there in those rock ones where I take it to that edge.
I was surprised by some of the people who appeared in the documentary such as KT Tunstall.
She is actually a friend and we have written an album together that we have to keep on the backburner until I release this one with my son.
Oh my god; I had no idea! That’s pretty awesome!
Yeah, we met and really connected together. She told me that all the way through her career that she looked to me for her bench mark. I was setting the level that she had to get to. Anytime she had difficult choices come up in her career, she would ask ‘what would Suzi do?’
I remember meeting Tina Weymouth (The Talking Heads) several years ago at a gig and make a joke about myself; we were just having fun. She looked at me and said (sternly) ‘don’t you realize how important you are?’ I am pretty humble about all of this, as you can tell, but to these women you better not mess with me. They would fight my back forever.
They are very defensive and protective of you. That speaks volumes of the impact that you’ve made on their lives. You could make an argument out of the fact that there may not have been a Talking Heads like we know and love with Tina if it wasn’t for you. That may not make sense to some who haven’t seen the documentary, but if you have seen it then you get it.
Sure, everyone has to start somewhere and this was the starting point for so many of them. It had not been done before, that’s a fact in history whether I had hits in America or not. I was having hits all over the world. I was the first worldwide successful female rock musician. I didn’t have a blueprint; I didn’t have anyone to look at and say I want to be like that. I had to make that up as I went along so the other women that came after me had a blueprint that I gave them. You see something in a performer and you think I can use that and that’s ok. I saw Elvis when I was five and a half I knew I was going to be like him.
Yours didn’t have rhinestones and a cape, but you both rocked that leather, but I liked yours much better!
I wanted to wear leather like he did in The Comeback Special and I finally got to. It was time to pick the image because “Can the Can” was ready to come out. I had my band and everything was ready to be launched. I told them I wanted leather and Mickie (Most) was against it. He thought it was very old fashioned and he argued with me but of course, you don’t argue with me because I will get my way. Mickey did a big pause and then he finally say I could do leather. He said what about a jumpsuit and I said good idea. I could jump around and everything would still be in place. I had no idea it was going to be sexy because I am too naïve sometimes. Then I saw the pictures and thought oh dear, what have I done? Don’t tell mom! (laughs).
You were going after your dream, but was it tough to uproot and move to the UK at such a young age.
Hmmm………emotionally, sure. I left my home and my sisters; we all had a close relationship. I was comfortable, I had food on the table, I had a band, I had equipment, we had gigs and I left everyone I knew. I had my bass guitar and my contract in my back pocket. I will say professionally, there was no question about it. I had gotten the offer from Mickey. He saw the band and didn’t like them at all. He said ‘I want you.’ Earlier in the week, Elektra Records had seen the band and didn’t like the band at all and offered me a solo contract. So, professionally, I didn’t even have to think about it for a second. Emotionally, it was very, very difficult, but that was my path since I was a very little girl. It was my time to go and I went. Never once did I ever consider going back. I am a very determined girl and this was what I wanted and I was going to keep doing it until I made it. While working on the documentary, we asked a lot of friends and fans to send in three words that described me. On the screen, the most common word would appear biggest and then grow smaller as they eventually fade out. The main word, bigger than any other word, is determined.
How appropriate is that?
I would say that it pretty much sums up my character. I won’t compromise, I won’t be told what to do and don’t try to box me in. That’s one thing that really stood out to me in the film. There was one line that I think it was Patty who said it; she said ‘she’ll just keep running. She won’t let anyone stop her, not her husband, not her kids, not her family.’ Every time I hear that I think ‘but why would you want to stop me?’ I don’t understand that attitude. I don’t look at anyone and think I want to stop you from doing what you want to do. It doesn’t make sense to me; it’s a stupid comment. Would you want to stop anyone from spreading their wings?
No.
See, you said no again. It was just a dumb comment to make.
You’d want those wings to spread and for them to fly as high as they could.
Absolutely! Let me fly; let me be who I am. All I am doing is following my road! I’m not hurting anybody; I’m Just doing what I do.
Earlier you mentioned control, which plays into my next question. Your last album was named No Control, you mentioned in the movie that you really didn’t want to write with your son but it seems like something got reignited or there was a spark to your creative fire but it opened up a musical floodgate.
It was quite something; you’ve got the right vibe there. I was always quote nervous to have my kids be any kind of appendage. I always encouraged them do whatever it was whether in bands or whatever. My daughter does what she does and has a fine voice, but Richard always wanted to write with me in the past maybe eight years. Finally, he came to me and said ‘I need to write with you right now.’ That spoke to me that he was actually really ready to and it all honestly really happened by accident. I said ‘ok Richard; let’s see what ya’ got.’ He showed me one song, just the riff. I liked that and I was surprised. He’s always been good, but I didn’t think what he did and what I do would marry up. I didn’t think I was going to like what he showed me, but I did.
So, we went into the studio and after our third song I turned to him and said ‘Richard, we’re making an album’ and he said ‘I know.’ All of a sudden we got serious; what he did was he pushed my Suzi Quatro buttons. He pushed them like only a son can and they really can push your buttons. I think what he had in his head was he wanted me to make another Suzi Quatro album as exciting as the first one was but only do it today. This is what he brought to the table and we had a few arguments, but nothing major. He put his foot down a few times and told me if I didn’t change something that he was going to walk. I thought ‘oh’ and I took him serious; here’s a guy who means what he’s saying. He ended up being right, but most of the time we agreed on everything. He had the vision and we wrote and produced everything together except for the three tracks and we’ve now just written 14 tracks for the next album. He’s awakened me; I don’t know how he does it, but he just has. This album got reviews that I’ve never gotten n my entire career. People were dissecting it and quoting lyrics to me. It was accepted across the board.
It was an exceptional album! When we first started talking and you told me you had 14 new tracks ready, I got goosebumps!
He and I are definitely on the same wave length so it’s great! Plus, if it doesn’t work out I can still ground him! (laughs)
Well, it looks like it’s about time to wrap this up.
I’m so glad that you liked the documentary. I put myself on the line with this one.
Yes you did and it is very genuine. It’s real; the good, the bad, the dirt, the ugly, the glory, all of it. You got me at the end when he asked about talking to the younger version of you. You and I both didn’t expect that and I was genuinely moved.
Did you shed a little tear?
I wear my heart on my sleeve and there were tears when it comes to that scene.
I could hear people in the audience sobbing after that question.
He really caught you off guard and it was so real.
He captured it; I didn’t expect it; he zinged me on that one. I didn’t expect the question, but I’m so glad he asked it.
Suzi, it has been such a pleasure talking to you. I have gained an even deeper appreciation for you. I was already a fan, but this documentary elevated that to a whole new level.
Thank you so much; that’s so sweet of you to say. Before you go, I must say that as soon as you started talking to me, I knew that you understood me.
Bless your heart; that means the world to me.
I had a feeling just the way you were talking that you understood me and that’s important to me cause I’m the type of person that will not be ignored (laughs).
By I’m Music Magazine Owner/Editor Johnny Price
