Suzi Quatro

Suzi Quatro - Leather Forever

Suzi Quatro (born Susan Kay Quatro in Detroit, Michigan) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and actress.

Quatro's first single "Rolling Stone" did not achieve popularity anywhere except in Portugal, where it hit number one on the charts. Most introduced Quatro to the songwriting and production team Nicky Chinn/Mike Chapman.

Her second single "Can the Can" (1973) was a number one hit throughout Europe and in Australia. It was followed up by three further hits: "48 Crash" (1973), "Daytona Demon" (1973), and "Devil Gate Drive" (1974) on RAK Records. Her first two albums were also European and Australian successes.

These recordings, however, met little success in her native United States, despite tours in the mid-1970s supporting Alice Cooper. Also, except in Australia, the popularity of Quatro's rocking glam rock declined from 1975 onwards. In the interim, she did enjoy some success as a session player.

Quatro's fortunes did not change until 1978 when "If You Can't Give Me Love" became a hit in Great Britain and Australia. This did nothing to prompt Stateside success, but "Stumblin' In", a duet recorded that same year for RSO Records with Chris Norman of the band Smokie reached a #4 peak in the U.S. Both tracks featured on the If You Knew Suzi album. A year later, Quatro released Suzi... And Other Four Letter Words. She called it her favourite album. This featured singles, such as "She's In Love With You", which made number 11 in Britain, "Mama's Boy" , and "I've Never Been In Love" .In 1980, her song "Rock Hard" was featured on the soundtrack of the cult film Times Square, along with some punk and new wave bands like Talking Heads, Ramones, XTC, and The Pretenders. This success period proved brief however, and her last British hit was "Heart of Stone" in late 1982.

In 1985, Quatro collaborated with Bronski Beat and members of The Kinks, Eddie and the Hot Rods, and Dr Feelgood on the Mark Cunningham-produced version of David Bowie's classic "Heroes", released the following year as the 1986 BBC "Children In Need" single.

In December 2005, a documentary chronicling Quatro's life, "Naked under leather" directed by former member of the The Runaways Victory Tischler Blue appeared. In February 2006, Quatro released "Back To the Drive", produced by Sweet guitarist Andy Scott. The album's title track was written by her former collaborator Mike Chapman.

In March 2007, Quatro released a version of the Eagles song "Desperado", followed by the publication of her autobiography, "Unzipped" Suzi Quatro has sold over 45 million records.