SUZI QUATRO – Back To The Drive

Interview with Suzi (special thanks to Lynn Chapman for the precious help)

1. Suzi, you have been in the music scene for so many years. What is the driving force behind your will to keep on composing and playing music?

I LOVE WHAT I DO.. I AM NOT COMPLETE UNLESS I AM DOING A SHOW SOMEWHERE…AND I LOVE WRITING MUSIC.. EVERYTIME IS LIKE THE FIRST TIME ON STAGE.. HOW LUCKY IS THAT.

2. How different is the situation in comparison with the start of your career?

IN THE BEGINNING WE PLAYED GYMNASIUMS, CLUBS, CRAP JOINTS.. 5 SHOWS A NIGHT.. 45 MINUTES ON 15 MINUTES OFF.. HARD WORK.. BUT BOY DO YOU LEARN YOUR CRAFT.. NOW IT IS JUST ONE SHOW.. LONGEST IS USUALLY 90 MINUTES;;AND.. THE PEOPLE PAY JUST TO SEE YOU.. BACK IN THE OLD DAYS.. YOU SOMETIMES PLAYED FOR A CLUB FULL OF DRUNKS.

3. How do you adjust yourself to the new elements of music and technology every new decade?

I SIMPLY STICK TO WHAT I DO BEST, WHICH IS GOOD OLD FASHIONED ROCK AND ROLL.. THE TECHNOLOGY IN THE STUDIO I LEAVE UP TO THE PRODUCER.. LEST IT HARM MY ARTISTRY.

4. What is your opinion about the new bands? Any favorites?

I LIKE KEAN,, AND FOO FIGHTERS.. AND RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS.. BUT TO NAME A FEW.. LOTS OF REAL GOOD MUSO’S COMIN UP.. THANK GOD…THERE WAS A LACK OF GOOD BANDS IN THE NINETIES.

5. Do you have fans that they still follow after all these years? What is their feedback ?

YES.. SOME HAVE BEEN LIFE LONG FANS.. AND THEY ARE SO LOYAL.. THEN END OF BRINGING THEIR KIDS.. AND EVEN GRANDKIDS.. ITS A FAMILY AFFAIR. WE HAVE GROWN UP TOGETHER

6. Do you consider yourself a Glam rock icon, if so how would you define Glam Rock?

I AM ‘NOT’ GLAM ROCK.. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A ROCK AND ROLLER… SIMPLY STARTING HAVING HITS IN THAT ERA.. I DID NOT WEAR MAKEUP.. AND WORD A PLAIN BLACK LEATHER JUMPSUIT.. WHICH DIDN’T LOOK SILLY THEN.. AND STILL DOESN’T LOOK SILLY NOW…BUT SAYING THAT.. ALL THE OTHER GLAM ARTISTS WERE NICE GUYS.. ALL GOOD MUSO’S.. BUT DRESSED A LITTLE SILLY. DON’T THINK THEY WOULD LIKE TO DRESS LIKE THAT TODAY.. I.. ON THE OTHER HAND.. AM FINE.

7. Are you in touch with any artists from your 70’s Glam period?

I WORK WITH SOME OF THEM HERE AND THERE AT FESTIVALS IN EUROPE.

8. They were many artists from your era that were lost in drugs or other stuff that affected their health and career as well. How did you escape from these tempations or at least how you kept your self active in the music biz?

I WAS RAISED IN A MUSICAL/ENTERTAINMENT HOUSEHOLD. WE WERE GIVEN MUSIC LESSON AND WE TOOK IT SERIOUSLY.. MUSIC/ENTERTAINMENT IS MY JOB.. I LOVE IT AND DO NOT NEED TO GET HIGH TO DO IT.. THE HIGH IS A NATURAL ONE WHICH COMES FROM PEFORMING… CAN’T BEAT IT WITH A STICK.

9. How do you feel about what happened with Gary Glitter and his sentence for child pornography issues?

NO COMMENT

10. What are you up to now? Any new music for your fans?

I HAVE A NEW MIKE CHAPMAN PRODUCED ALBUM COMING OUT IN JULY/AUGUST. IN THE SPOTLIGHT.. FIRST SINGLE WHATEVER LOVE IS.. IT IS A RETURN TO BASICS.. THE ALBUM THE FANS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR ME TO MAKE .. IT IS GOODIE.. AND I AM EXCITED ABOUT IT.

11. Except your own music, you have ither projects as well like acting, Elvis tribute band, etc. Do you want to tell us more about it?

I DON’T KNOW WHERE YOU GOT ELVIS TRIBUTE BAND FROM.. I NEVER HAD ONE OF THESE.. I DID WRITE AN ELVIS TRIBUTE SONG THOUGH.. SINGING WITH ANGELS.. RECORDED WITH JAMES BURTON ON GUITAR, AND THE JORDINAIRRES DOING BV’S.. IT IS A BONUS TRACK ON THE NEW ALBUM. I DID DO AN GIG AT HYDE PARK.. THIS WAS AN ELVIS EVENING.. AND I PLAYED WITH THE TCB BAND. HOPE THIS IS CLEAR NOW.

12. Do you have any plans for touring?

I AM TOURING ALL THE TIME.. DO ABOUT 60 SHOWS A YEAR.. BIG ONE (27TH TIME) COMING UP IN AUSSIE. 21 SHOWS.. STARTING IN SEPT.

13. Any advice for the newcomers in the music scene?

YES.. DO GET INTO THE BUSINESS JUST TO BE FAMOUS.. THATS THE WRONG REASON.. DO IT BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO .. AND PLAY EVERY GIG GOD SENDS… LEARN YOUR CRAFT.

14. Do you support internet as a tool for music promotion?

YES IT DO

15. Are you affected by the 360 degrees deals of the music industry or you are operating as an indie artist?

IT IS WHAT IT IS .. AND WE ALL HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT.. YOU CANNOT STOP PROGRESS. YOU JUST HAVE TO LEARN TO WORK WITH IT.

16. Do you want to share with us any good or bad experiences from your relationship with the music industry?

AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED.. I AM LUCKY TO BE IN A PROFESSION I LOVE ..IN 2014 I WILL HAVE BEEN A PROFESSIONAL FOR 50 YEARS.. THIS IS INDEED A MILESTONE. LONG LIVE ROCK AND ROL

Contact Information

E-mail: suzifanclub@hotmail.co.uk
Website:http://www.suziquatro.com/