Page 65 - Classic Rock (February 2020)

SUZI QUATRO

years in that show was enough to establish that
character. But if I’d stayed, maybe my whole career
would have taken a different turn and I wouldn’t
be creating the music I’m creating now. I could
have ended up being just an actress.

There was a country slant to Stumblin’ In and
If You Can’t Give Me Love, your preceding duet
with Smokie’s Chris Norman, that served
to broaden your audience, and finally, to
conquer America.
Country rock, yeah, it did. There are more facets to
my personality than just rock’n’roll. I do a lot of
things. There’s my poetry, my radio career, my
novel. My base is rock’n’roll, but any artist who
sings rock’n’roll like I do – very natural – can also
do country. Jerry Lee Lewis? Great country. Elvis? Living the dream: Suzi Quatro
If you can embrace rock’n’roll like I do, you can do at home in Essex, shot
country. And my voice suits country. It’s got that exclusively for Classic Rock.
kind of twang to it. It was never my intention to just
do rock’n’roll. I’m a very creative person, I always like I was a woman trying to show you that I could You seem to be enjoying the ultimate rock star
need to be creating something or I’m not happy. beat the guys?” And they say no. Did I look like happy ending, chilling in the country house
A song, a poem, a radio show, it’s just who I am. I was natural? Yes. Did I look like I was trying to be with a wall full of gold discs, still fit and hungry
sexy? No. So yes, whatever I do, it’s me. That’s why enough to keep rocking for some time yet. You
Despite the early eighties being a busy period I’ve lasted so long, because it’s not manufactured. recently played at your daughter’s wedding. Is
in your professional life, it was when you also this the kind of success you always hoped for?
started a family. You’ve also remained refreshingly clear of any Yes. I always wanted to reach as wide an audience
A lot of things happened at once. I did want to problems rooted in as possible, to be creative in
have babies before I was thirty, but it didn’t substance abuse. every area I chose, and I’ve
happen. I tried, but then I had a miscarriage, Yeah, not me. I come been allowed to do that, but
and that takes up a year. Then I had my kids, from the sixties, so of “I’ve never been into I wanted to have a normal
so I didn’t tour in ’82 and ’84, but I did tour in ’83 course I smoked marijuana drugs. It’s a waste life as well. And I’ve got that
and ’85, so as soon as the kids were born I was and did whatever too. I’ve a place for my ego,
back on the road. Then I wanted to start everybody else did at that of time and I’ve too a place for my humility and
spreading a little bit more. Annie Get Your Gun came time, but it never grabbed it’s just what I always
into the picture [in ‘86 she starred as Annie Oakley me. I didn’t like the much to do.” wanted. I’ve got a normal
in the West End production of the Irving Berlin out-of-control factor. life, full of exciting things to
musical], and I really wanted to I didn’t like that somebody could do, full of accolades and full of good friends and
do that. I love musicals, I was give you a puff of a joint that was so just full of everything. I’ve had two good marriages,
raised on musicals. Then I had strong you were out of it for days. It two beautiful kids, a lovely grand-daughter, you
my own TV talk show [ITV’s happened to me, I hated it and I know? Can’t complain.
Gas Street in ’88]. thought, no, this isn’t who I am. I like
a drink, but not to excess, but I’ve just You seem very comfortable within this life
Perhaps the most interesting never been into drugs. It’s a waste of that you’ve made for yourself.
thing about your pioneering time and I’ve too much to do. I’m comfortable within me, that’s the key.
story is that you’ve done it
all simply by being yourself. Like conquer Australia? You come from blue-collar Detroit, your
Yes. I’ve had that discussion Australia and I have had a love father worked for General Motors, so now,
with numerous musicians down affair since the beginning. I might as logically here you are…
the years. We’ll end up in a bar after well live there. I outsold The Beatles …In an Elizabethan manor house in Essex
a show, and while we’re talking and there, and then ABBA outsold me. [laughs]. Yeah, how does that work?
I’ll ask: “When you first saw me on That’s the hierarchy, and it’s not
Top Of The Pops, did it look to you a bad place to be. No Control is out now via SPV/Steamhammer.

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