“My earliest idols”: Suzi Quatro’s eight favourite songs
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(Credits: Far Out / AVRO)
Rising from the DIY garage rock scene to become one of the first female rock stars in musical history, the landscape of rock today would look very different without the pioneering influence of Suzi Quatro. Born and raised in the musical breeding ground of Detroit, Michigan, it was not until Quatro relocated to Europe during the 1970s that mainstream audiences began to take note of her unique style of hard rock. Quatro influenced thousands of budding musicians, particularly women, to follow her trailblazing path, but her own influences were much more mellow.
Quatro had been destined for a life in music from her childhood, which she spent in awe of her father’s jazz band, the Art Quatro Trio. However, growing up during the late 1950s gave Quatro a front-row seat to the rock ‘n’ roll explosion, which dominated the youth culture of the United States. Finding a natural affinity for this new, rebellious style of musical expression, Quatro set her sights on rock and roll greatness, though she never lost her respect for jazz either. During the mid-1960s, Quatro embraced the garage rock revolution with The Pleasure Seekers, but it was always clear that she was reaching for something greater.
After moving to England during the early 1970s, Quatro found a natural home among the blossoming glam and hard rock scenes sprouting up around the city, spurred along by artists like David Bowie, T Rex, and Slade. It was during this period that the singer achieved her first taste of mainstream success, carving out a name for herself in an oppressively male-dominated scene.
Her wild image, consisting of leather clothing and a strong, defiant attitude, set Quatro apart from virtually every other rock star of the period, earning her colossal success in the process. However, the singer’s listening habits rarely reflected that hard rock attitude. In fact, Quatro was much more likely to be found listening to the Eagles or Nat King Cole than Led Zeppelin or Black Sabbath, as was revealed by her 1986 appearance on Desert Island Discs.
Talking to the late great Michael Parkinson, Quatro guided listeners through her musical journey, stopping off along the way to highlight some of the songs which spurred her on. Unsurprisingly, she selected Elvis Presley’s ‘Don’t Be Cruel’ as a particularly impactful track, having first introduced her to the rebellious sounds of rock and roll. In contrast, Quatro also highlighted the velvety tones of Nat King Cole and his iconic song ‘When I Fall In Love’.
Recounting the first time she was exposed to the track, Quatro shared, “I was very impressionable. I was about ten, just thinking about boys and falling in love. That was the first time I heard a proper love song. I used to actually sit in my sister’s room, play this, and cry. And think about one day when I would fall in love.” These experiences seemingly fostered a constant appreciation for great vocalists like Otis Redding.
“He was one of my earliest idols,” Quatro said of the soul singer, remembering, “I used to lose my voice every night, trying to imitate him.” Selecting his defining anthem, ‘(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay’, Quatro explained, “It’s something I can listen to time and time again.”
The songs selected by Suzi Quatro transcend genre, era, and style, ranging from the pop mastery of Prince to the jazz vocals of Billie Holiday. Her eclectic, all-encompassing taste is reflective of her own musical material, which often refused to adhere to one specific musical style.
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