As an adolescent just reaching my early teens I used attend English Martyrs Catholic youth club in the Sparkhill district of Birmingham on a Friday night where amongst stuff like Ike and Tina`s `Nutbush City Limits`, T Rex`s `Metal Guru` and Mud`s `Dyna-mite` was a young lady from Detroit Michigan called Suzi Quatro who rocked our world with `Can the Can` and `48 Crash`. I had a poster of said lady on my bedroom wall in a leather jump suit and it would probably be the last thing I looked at before I went to sleep each night.
Susan Kay Quatro was only about eight years older than me but then it was a big difference but today as she proudly shares that she is seventy five years young, the difference doesn`t seen so much.
This evening is the penultimate date on a ten date tour of the UK for the Queen of Rock `n Roll who has been in the business for sixty two years initially joining her dad Art`s band as a drummer before joining her sister Patti in a band called ironically The Pleasure Seekers.
Suzi and her eight piece backing band hit the stage and head straight into the thumping `The Wild One` from Suzi`s second album `Quatro` from back in 1974 but it`s `Daytona Demon` from 1973 and the real singalong `Tear Me Apart` that has me kind of misty eyed. The singer shares stories about the songs as she plays the dreamy `Stumblin` In` before sharing `48 Crash` and there I am in my yellow multi striped tank top, purple penny rounder in my flared trousers trying to look cool and not fall over in my platform shoes. I was shocked to learn that Miss Q had made an album with Sweet`s Andy Scott and Slade`s Don Powell called Quatro, Scott & Powell (QSP) so was pleasantly surprised when she played `Slow Down` from this release.
We have a cover of Neil Young`s `Rockin` in the Free World` before this rock goddess sits alone at the piano and plays a tribute to her Mom and Dad with the emotive `Can I Be Your Girl` as the first hour ends and we head into an interval.
After the break, the band return and offer up a couple of cuts from Suzi`s latest album `Freedom` which was released last month with the driving title track and the self-aware `Little Miss Lonely`. Creedence Clearwater Revival`s `Bad Moon Rising` is given the Suzi Q treatment before one of my favourites the reflective `She`s in Love with you` a track from 1979 which was on the `Suzi … and Other Four Letter Words` album rings out.
The thoughtful `Shine a Light` which was a number on the singer`s `Face to Face` album with KT Tunstall has this packed audience lighting up the venue with torch lights from their phones. We have band introductions and then a drum and bass duet before Suzi joins drummer Tim Reyland for a drum duet!! The home stretch is where `Can The Can` ignites this crowd and has them on their feet before the mayhem continues with `Devil Gate Drive` and the wonderful `If You Can`t Give Me Love`.
Chuck Berry`s `Sweet Little Rock & Roller` is the final belter before Suzi takes a seat and shares the meditative `Singing with Angels` which is her tribute to Elvis Presley, who she cites as the inspiration for her life in music.
There`s a wave from Suzi and her band as they head off stage and this seventy five minute set ends.
Suzi Quatro is the pioneering glam-rock singer and bassist, who won the iconic British rear of the year award in 1982, is now a Doctor of Music given by Cambridge University, has starred in the West End, written poetry books and novels, was Leather Tuscadero in the classic American sitcom Happy Days and has also been a seasoned radio presenter. Is there any end to this septuagenarian lady`s talents.
It`s taken me over fifty years to finally catch up with my teenage pinup and it was well worth the wait, if I could only find that poster.
Photos Keith Pearce
