Rock icon Suzi Quatro makes a striking appearance, exuding an undeniable coolness that has defined her persona for decades. Dressed in a vintage T-shirt with her signature shaggy hair—unchanged since the 1970s—and that distinctive Detroit rasp in her voice, she holds a large balloon glass. At first glance, it seems filled with red wine, suggesting a rock 'n' roll lifestyle, but she quickly clarifies: "It's Diet Coke. I haven't had a drink for a year. No particular reason, I'm not teetotal; my body just said, 'You don't need this anymore.'"
A Special Exception and Longevity in Showbiz
She made a rare exception last June when celebrating her 75th birthday. Her husband, German music promoter Rainer Haas, gifted her a bottle of Petrus red wine from 1950, her birth year. With it, she toasted an impressive 62 years in the entertainment industry, with no signs of slowing down. Known as the Godmother of Rock, Quatro—also a Radio 2 DJ, novelist, poet, and actor—continues to sing, record, and prepare for a ten-date British tour next month.
No Farewell in Sight
The tour is an autobiographical show blending comedy, drama, ballads, and her classic hits, but she adamantly avoids what she calls the "F-word": farewell. "No way," she laughs, recounting her evolving retirement criteria. "In my thirties, I said I'd retire when I turned my back on the audience, shook my a**, and there was silence. In my sixties, I said I'd quit when my a** shook all by itself. Now at 75, I'll hang up the leather suit only if I don't deliver on stage. One slip-up, and I'll say, 'Thank you very much, it's been a wonderful ride.'"
The Infamous Catsuit Mishap
For now, a full rack of leather and denim outfits awaits at her 16th-century Essex manor house. "I still zip up the suit for act two because it's what fans expect," she notes. "I wear denim for the first half, shake my a**, and there's no silence yet!" However, Suzi recalls only one disaster in her iconic catsuit, caused by an overzealous fan at a recent gig in Germany.
"I came out for the final ballad, where I sit down. While high-fiving the audience, a lady grabbed me, nearly pulling me head-first off the stage. As I pulled back, my suit ripped across the rear. I had to sit quickly to cover the gap, sang the finale beautifully, and no one noticed. A crew member draped a towel over me as I exited. Had I been wearing my bass guitar, the weight might have sent me tumbling forward."
A Lifelong Performer
Suzi shrugs off the incident, embodying the old-school trouper ethos that the show must go on. This mindset dates back to her childhood in Detroit's Motown scene. "At seven or eight, I did a sketch and the whole room watched. I realized, 'Ohhh! I can hold an audience.' That charisma or X-factor has stayed with me."
Her talent led to a UK record deal in 1971, though she initially struggled in a lonely Earl's Court bedsit. By 1973, she hit the charts with "Can The Can," feeling like "forever" at the time. Decades later, with hits like "Devil Gate Drive" and "48 Crash," she has sold 55 million records, starred in "Happy Days" as Leather Tuscadero, and appeared in "Midsomer Murders" and "Absolutely Fabulous."
Trailblazing Legacy and Personal Life
Her autobiography, "Unzipped," and the 2019 documentary "Suzi Q" feature tributes from rockers like Chrissie Hynde and Debbie Harry, who credit her as a trailblazer for women in music. The Quatro image is cemented by her leather and denim wardrobe and unchanged hairdo, created in 1974 after defying a hairdresser who said it couldn't be done. In Australia, fans can still request "a Suzi" at salons.
Despite her rock star persona, Suzi emphasizes a grounded personal life. She married guitarist Len Tuckey in 1976, raising two children on the road to be a hands-on mum. After divorcing in the early 1990s, they remain amicable, with family nearby in Essex. She has been married to Rainer Haas for 32 years, describing him as a "soulmate" who stands up to her forceful character. "He once told me, 'If I wasn't tough on you, you'd walk all over me.' I realized he was right," she admits.
Occasional Rock Star Antics
Their romance began when Suzi faxed Rainer after a gig he promoted; he still has the note framed. "From the first kiss to marriage was three months," she grins. While mostly professional, she recalls one rock goddess moment: "On a long tour, we had a room wreck—not a habit, but a good one. I covered the room in pillow feathers like snow, and someone sent doors down to the lobby. The manager knocked and said, 'Miss Quatro, I know you weren't party to this...'"
Preparing for the Road Ahead
As a industry survivor, Suzi remains dedicated to her craft. Her catsuit is ready, her physique maintained with yoga, and she practices stage moves in her living room. Before each performance, she thinks, "I hope they like me tonight," a testament to her enduring passion.
Suzi Quatro's UK tour kicks off this April, including a performance at The London Palladium on April 15. Tickets are available through AEG Presents, offering fans a chance to witness a living legend in action.
