KIU Exclusive Star Interview with


Interviewed by Amanda Hallay

When we’re little girls, we all have our idols, those women we hope to grow up to be ‘just like’.  When I was a little girl, all my friends wanted to be ‘Dora’ from Follyfood.  Fuck that! I wanted to be……SUZI QUATRO!  The first official ‘rock chick’, Suzi Quatro stormed the charts with mega hits like Can the Can and Devil Gate Drive, her extraordinarily pretty face offset dramatically by her head-to-toe black leather and tom-boy image.  Most of her glam-rock contemporaries disappeared into obscurity – but not our Suzi.  Taking the West End by storm in Annie Get Your Gun, Suzi proved that there was more to the diminutive beauty than pop and platform heels. Lots more.  A favourite of British T.V, Suzi is still touring, still recording, still looks absolutely gorgeous…..and still knows how to rock n’ roll!

A lifelong source of personal inspiration, it was a genuine honour for me to interview Miss Suzi Quatro, a lady who is as nice as she is talented.

Rock on.

KIU Miss Suzi Quatro, you are without a doubt the coolest woman in rock n' roll. What is the one essential 'must-have' item that every aspiring rock chick should have in her wardrobe?

S.Q Leather pants and a black t-shirt…tight fitting, of course…but most important…an 'attitude'.

KIU What, in your opinion, makes a man sexy?

S.Q The twinkle in his eye and his sense of humour…something happening 'inside'.

KIU I saw you in Annie Get Your Gun. You were terrific! Which other musical comedy roles would you most like to play?

S.Q I love doing musical theatre...able to show all my colours. Cabaret would be great…Fosse…anything with balls.  I turn down a lot of shows because of the commitment. I’m always on the road, but would love to do more.

KIU Can we have your Top Five Desert Island Discs, please?

S.Q Hey Baby - Bruce Channel, Rosie - Jackson Browne, Desperado – The Eagles, Don’t Be Cruel - Elvis Presley, and  - number one – Nat King Cole, When I Fall In Love.

KIU And which song have you listened to the most this week? (Mine is 'Senses Working Overtime' by TXC, which I realise is nothing to be proud of.)

S.Q Christina Aquelera – I Am Beautiful (love this).

KIU I recently interviewed the very charming Mr David Soul and asked him what the song 'Silver Lady' was about. He was reluctant to tell me. I am equally baffled by 'Devil Gate Drive'. Suzi, can you please throw some light onto what this very fab song is actually about?

S.Q Easy.  Devil Gate Drive represents the place we all go where our parents don't want us to…where it all happens…the wrong side of town where you can let you hair down. Substitute a street name from your own home town and you've got it.

KIU Suzi, you look exactly the same. (ie; gorgeous.) What do you do to stay so perennially foxy? (And I'm really hoping it has nothing to do with healthy eating and exercise.)

S.Q I do eat healthy, I do exercise…always have always will.  I also enjoy my red wine, and have done yoga since 17.  Also, stage work is like a 2 hour aerobic workout, with hot lights, leather clothes and a huge bass strapped on my back.

KIU How did you feel when David Cassidy totally stole your hair cut and reckoned it was his own idea?

S.Q I have worked with David a few times.  I found it crowded on the couch due to his oversized ego. He can keep the haircut….I've moved on.

KIU What's your favourite bit in 'Oliver'?

S.Q Got To Pick a Pocket Or Two. I am good friends with the Artful Dodger;his ex wife sang with me for years and has recently rejoined.

KIU Suzi, can you please resolve an age-old family feud dating back to the heady days of glam-rock? You had a massive hit with the song 'Can the Can'. I always reckoned that the can in question was of a tin can variety. My older sister, however, laughed this off, saying that the 'can' referred to was actually a toilet (the American slang for 'loo'.) Again, can you please throw some light on this? (I haven't spoken to my sister since 1973).

S.Q Can the Can means 'can it'.  Put your man away somewhere safe for future use..

KIU 'Gladiator' or 'Titanic'?

S.Q I love them both...watch them regularly once a month…never get tired of them.  At a push guess I would choose Titanic cuz of the romance

KIU Suzi - this next question is a personal 'cri du coeur'. I am a 37 year old comedy writer, and although I wear those trendy jeans which look dirty even though they're clean, own funky shades, and try my best - I'm STILL not a rock chick. As the quintessential rock chick of all time, what THREE factors do you think a girl needs to have to get respect from cool guys in bands, etc?

S.Q Respect herself…don't let the men cross the invisible line…and say 'fuck you' when it counts most.

KIU Which one movie is guaranteed to make you cry?

S.Q Gone With the Wind...always…nearly all the way through.  Also,  Beauty and the Beast...when she falls in love with him even though he is ugly gets me every time.

KIU Finally, Miss Quatro, if you could form your own fantasy 'supergroup' with you on lead vocals (and me on backing, obviously), who else would you get - living or dead - to make up your band?

S.Q Gene Krupa on drums…Billie Holiday on backing vocals,  bb king on guitar, me on bass, Floyd Kramer on piano…and Elvis to sing lead with me.  Also, Otis Redding may be hanging in the background…oh yes…The Temptations do dance and backing vocals.

Thank You, Miss Suzi Quatro!