Life Lessons with Suzi Quatro
With a tour and new album in the pipeline, rock chick, radio presenter and now author Suzi Quatro tells Yours what really matters to her
the spotlight finds you
I’ve loved music as far back as I can remember and discovered very early that I could entertain people. My father was a musician and us five kids would put on shows at every get-together, before my sisters and I eventually made an all-girl band, The Pleasure Seekers. I remember a key point was when our manager said, ‘We need to put more light on Suzi because she’s the star of the show’. I just kept real quiet and said nothing but no one disagreed. I think you don’t look for the spotlight, it finds you. So, when record producer Mickie Most offered me a solo contract there was no choice about whether or not to take it.
an outfit can change everything
My leather look came about because I’m a big Elvis fan. So when it came to doing photographs for my hit Can the Can, I said I wanted to wear leather. Mickie then came up with the idea of a leather jumpsuit. It’s so naïve of me but I never thought about it being sexy, I just thought it was sensible as I had to jump around a lot and that meant I wouldn’t have to tuck my shirt in or anything. Then I later saw the pictures and went, ohh! But I still wear leather today and I find that helps me get into the right mind-set – as soon as I zip it up I feel like me.
performing gets better with age
I enjoy performing now even more than when I started. I’ve learned so much and I think my voice has improved. I don’t need to be like a teenage rock star all the time now, I can be more relaxed, tell stories and have fun.
a routine to unwind is important
My husband says I’m the wild one onstage and the mild one off and I do kind of save it all up for the stage. After a gig, I have a set routine of having one glass of white wine in a chilled glass. I never drink a drop before I perform but this one glass helps slow the descent from applause to silence which can be a horrible feeling.
if you want to do something, do it!
If I had a bucket list, it’s pretty much all ticked off. I wanted to do radio so I did. I’ve always written poetry, so I made a collection of it. Then recently I wrote my first novel, which I’d always wanted to do and was spurred on by my friend, the late Jackie Collins. The only thing I haven’t done is a movie, although I’d love to do one of my life or my novel.