...that the wonderful Miss Suzi Quatro is - gulp - 75 years old today!
The "mother of all pop-rock chicks", she may well be younger than Debbie Harry, Patti Smith, Kim Carnes, Bette Midler and Stevie Nicks, but she had massive #1 hits many years before any of 'em...
Her first chart-topper here in the UK was in June 1973:
I can only imagine the impact this powerful, no-holds-barred leather-clad pixie with the big voice had on such budding artistes as Joan Jett or Chrissie Hynde - even Alison Goldfrapp and KT Tunstall cite her as an influence [she collaborated with the latter on a recent album].
Arriving as she did in the midst of that maddest of all musical "cults", Glam Rock, she obviously became eternally associated with the genre - despite never once being seen with anything resembling the layers of slap that The Sweet or Wizzard et al wore, and evidently having nothing in the slightest bit glittery in her "Biker's Moll" wardrobe.
Nevertheless, she was in the "stable" of artists who were launched into the British consciousness by the avowed maestros of that early '70s zeitgeist, Messrs Chinn and Chapman (who also wrote hits for the aforementioned Sweet, as well as Mud, Smokie, The Arrows and Racey) and Mickie Most, and thus her name would be forever listed alongside those of other top "Glam" stars like Slade, Alvin Stardust, Gary Glitter and Marc Bolan...
...but she was the only girl - and had more balls than (just about) all her compatriots! She also just happened to sell over 50 million records worldwide. Here are a couple more of her memorable hits of the era:
...and my fave:
Glam Rock faded as quickly as it had arrived, in a shower of discarded sequins, but unlike some of her unfortunate compatriots Miss Quatro never really went away. She continued to have chart success well into the Punk era, carved a new "icon" status as "Leather Tuscadero" in Happy Days, went on to take myriad cameo roles on telly in her adopted homeland of the UK - including in Minder and AbFab, and even Midsomer Murders - and has presented some rather good music shows on BBC Radio 2...
...and in 2026, she's back on tour across the UK! You can't keep a great rocker down.
Many happy returns, Susan Kay Quatro (family name Quattrocchi; born 3rd June 1950).
All hail!
I always enjoyed her and her music. And I don't know if it's good or bad but I actually remember her Midsummer Murders episode
ReplyDeleteI am constantly in awe of your penchant for nostalgic, somewhat "cosy" British series like that. It's always been a daytime telly staple over here, so despite the fact it's been going since 1996, I have never watched a single episode - although its darkly humorous methods of death (Martine McCutcheon being crushed by wheels of cheese comes to mind) have made their way to YouTube cult status!
DeleteIn a parallel fashion to the USA's homegrown Murder She Wrote, it's always attracted a vast number of unlikely guest stars, so somehow I am not surprised that Suzi - Anglophile and ex-pat that she is (she's lived in Essex for decades) - made an appearance... Jx
Oh yes I adore many of those programs in which you talk of. And I'm amazed at how many people over the years have made guests appearances on Midsummer murders. I haven't seen the last two or three years of the newer shows yet but I do know the assistant DI s very handsome and quite dishy if I say so myself.
DeleteWho'd have thought that kind of show would have among its guest appearances would be such disparate names as Orlando Bloom, Olivia Colman, Dame Imelda Staunton, Dame Sian Phillips, Frances Barber, Prunella Scales, Edward Fox, Julia McKenzie, Tom Conti, Alison Steadman, June Whitfield, Lesley Manville, Hugh Bonneville, Peter Capaldi, Honor Blackman, Bernard Cribbins, Hannah Waddingham and Henry Cavill? And gazillions more, of course.
DeleteEven Elaine Paige was murdered on that show! Jx
A giant of rock and she still looks good. But let’s clarify. Suzi Quatro is getting older. WE are still in our 20s.
ReplyDeleteThat's what my mirror says, too! With the lights off, of course. Jx
DeleteUnfortunately, the only things she is known for on this side of the pond is her stint on Happy Days and a duet with Chris Norman "Stumblin' In" (great song btw). I always liked her bit in AbFab in Eddie's dream sequence.
ReplyDeleteIt's a strange fact - Suzi's mega-hits here made no dent in the US charts whatsoever (tbh I'm not sure if America really "got" Glam Rock at all), yet Stumblin' In hit #4 in the States - and never rose higher than #41 in the UK.
DeleteMind you, we were in the midst of the twin revolutions (music wise) of Punk/New Wave and Disco, so I'm not really surprised... Jx
I remember her name, but honestly can't think of one of her songs! I'm 6 months older than her*arrrggghh* I love Midsommer Murders, especially the bizarre ways of dying! xoxo
ReplyDeleteDid you wear full leather catsuits, though, Savvy? Suzi still does 😎!
DeleteAs I said to Maddie, I have never watched Midsomer Murders, but I now realise its fanbase extends much further than just Middle England... Jx
Catsuits? LOL sweetpea, I spent the early 70's in maternity wear! But, in the late 60's a totally different story, but never a catsuit. xoxo
DeleteSo, not an Emma Peel fan, then? Jx
DeleteI LOVED Emma Peel, but I was Catholic school teenager during the day, and a hip hugging jeans, scarf as a shirt, belly chain wearing hippie after school! xoxo
DeleteAh, yes, hippies. I'd forgotten they were even a "thing". Jx
DeleteShe was a ground breaker for all the female rockers that came after and Absolutely Fabulous
ReplyDeleteI heard her being interviewed on radio 2 and she was lovely.
After her first appearance on top of the pops her mother phoned her and said.
Susan! do you have to stand with your legs so far apart. It isn't nice.
I remember that interview! Isn't it funny when you always know you're in trouble when your mother calls you by your full name..? 😂 Jx
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