As the first female bass player to go on and become a major rock star, Suzi Quatro is one of the biggest names in the music industry, cementing her status as an icon of the business and still to this day putting out brilliant new material and picking up scores of new fans. We got the chance to chat to Suzi about her upcoming UK tour, as well as other projects she’s been working on and her incredible career. Read on to find out what she had to say…
Suzi Quatro will tour the UK this October / Credit: Tina-K
You’ll be touring the UK this October with David Essex, Hot Chocolate and The Osmonds; what should fans coming to those live shows expect?
I am headlining this tour. This will be a trip down memory lane for the audience. With a few surprises thrown in for me… How often can you sit through an entire evening like this with four different acts doing these jigs? Excellent!
Do you enjoy the touring lifestyle?
I have been touring now for 53 years as a professional. I don’t do it for the money. I do this because I love it. It is my life…
Might we perhaps be seeing some collaborations between everybody on the tour?
Who knows? Anything can happen; you’ll have to come down to the shows!
Having been through a lot in your career, can you tell us about some of your favourite moments?
There are too many to mention. It’s usually the first of things. First number one, first big concert, first acting job. ‘Happy Days’, first musical, ‘Annie Get Your Gun’, first talk show. First BBC Radio 2 show. Still going strong. First autobiography, ‘Unzipped’. First published poetry book ‘Through My Eyes’, first novel, ‘The Hurricane’. And now first super-group, Quatro, Scott and Powell, album out soon. All pivotal moments in my career.
What would you say have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced?
To be known worldwide and [still] stay normal.
You’re somebody who people instantly recognise when they hear you on the radio or hear your name; is that something that ever sinks in as an artist?
Yes, I think so. It’s what you work for, to reach as many people as possible. It is very satisfying as an artist and very humbling as a person.
What do you make of the modern-day music industry? Do you have any favourite artists?
I think it is great! Love Adele, Coldplay and Oasis are some of my favourite artists.
Away from music, you’ve also worked in TV on the likes of Absolutely Fabulous and Happy Days; what is it about working in TV that you love?
I love acting. Always did. It’s a natural extension for me. I like to spread my artistic wings.
Are there any shows on today you’d like to be a part of?
Loads. I would love to do a bit in Coronation Street.
Finally, aside from the tour, what’s next for you in the coming months?
BBC Radio 2 on-going hit series, ‘Quatrophonic’. Quatro, Scott and Powell album coming soon, another studio album with Mike Chapman, another headlining tour of Australia from January to February, in 2018.
The Legends Live Tour 2017 featuring Suzi Quatro, David Essex, The Osmonds and Hot Chocolate takes in eight arena dates, starting on October 13 at Glasgow’s SSE Hydro Arena, before culminating on October 22 at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena. To buy tickets, please go to http:/www.legendslive.org.
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