Suzi Quatro In Concert

Even as gender-bending became all the rage during the early 1970s glam-rock era, there were no women at the forefront of the movement. That all changed when Suzi Quatro arrived on the scene to show the lipsticked boys who was boss. 

Born in Detroit, a teenaged Quatro first took to the stage in the late-’60s with her sister Patti in the all-girl garage group The Pleasure Seekers, later known as Cradle, and caught the eye of hit-making U.K. producer Mickey Most. Under Most’s guidance, Quatro relocated to England; at the height of glam in 1973, she dropped “Can the Can,” a sassy stomper that shot to No. 1 in the U.K., Australia, and Germany. 

But just as striking as the song’s big, bottom-heavy sound was Quatro’s look: decked in a one-piece zip-up leather jumpsuit and brandishing her bass like a battle axe, she forged an archetype for female hard rockers and punks that would spur successors like Joan Jett, Chrissie Hynde, and The Go-Go’s into action. 

While rowdy, shout-along singles like “48 Crash” and “Devil Gate Drive” kept her name at the top of the charts across Europe and Australia, Quatro remained a cult concern in America until 1977, when she landed the role of rocker Leather Tuscadero on ‘Happy Days.’ 

Her TV success teed up what would be her most successful American release, 1978’s ‘If You Knew Suzi…’, which showcased her more elegant side on the hit single “Stumblin’ In,” a soft-rock duet with Chris Norman of British band Smokie. As musical trends continued to shift away from her signature glitter-rock sound in the ‘80s, Quatro embarked on a fruitful second career in theater, starring in a hit London production of ‘Annie Get Your Gun,’ and the musical ‘Tallulah Who?’ 

She’s also served as a host of BBC radio shows and documentaries, but Quatro’s never stopped rocking entirely. She has continued to tour and release new music well into the 21st century, including 2017’s ‘Quatro, Scott & Powell,’ a ‘70s-glam summit that sees her teaming up with guitarist Andy Scott of The Sweet as well as Slade drummer Don Powell.