I could’ve been new Suzi Quatro
MAGGIE Bell has never forgotten the notorious rock titan who was a father figure to her during her career.
The singer was signed to Swan Song Records by Peter Grant, the manager of Led Zeppelin. She saw the ex-professional wrestler wage a one-man war against promoters, agents and bootleggers he felt were ripping off his acts.
Bell has nothing but praise for the fearsome character who was the scourge of the music industry. “It was incredible to be part of Led Zeppelin’s family,” she recalled.
“It was a crazy time, but Peter was like a father figure. The only thing he said was just go in there and do the very best you can. A lot of the stories about him are bull****.
“He got uptight about promoters trying to rip off his artistes.”
The intimidating Grant managed Zeppelin for 12 years and is credited with improving pay and conditions for touring bands.
“Let’s put it this way, after Peter signed me I never got ripped off,” said Bell. “He also never made me do things I didn’t want to. Promoters used to say we’d like you to do a big American tour. We get 80% of the ticket money and you get 20%. But Peter turned that on its head. It’s down in music history that he changed all that around.”
Bell did 14 US tours opening for AC/DC, Bad Company, Earth, Wind And Fire, and The Doobie Brothers.
“So Peter was good for me,” she said. “I would like to have worked even more but he said ‘Maggie, they want you to go out for rubbish money and we ain’t doing it’.”
The singer still laughs at the moment she turned down a deal that could have catapulted her into the mainstream.
“Peter shared an office with producer Mickie Most, who wanted to turn me into Suzi Quatro,” she revealed.
“Mickie told him ‘pass Maggie on to me. I could make her a star and have hit records’.
“Peter took me out for lunch and said ‘I’ll run this by you, but I know what you’re gonna say’.
“I replied ‘no way, can you imagine me singing s*** like Can The Can?’
“So it didn’t happen. Instead, Peter got me the role as Mrs Walker in The Who’s rock opera, Tommy. Singing opposite Stevie Winwood was much more my style.”