Episode 2: Suzi Quatro With Katherine Turman

In this episode, I'm thrilled to welcome the great Suzi Quatro to talk about her rock novel 'The Hurricane', her favorite 'Happy Days' episode, what Suzi thinks made her the first successful female musician, her paranormal experiences, and how Suzi and I are soul sisters. Later, journalist and producer of Alice Cooper’s syndicated radio show, Nights With Alice Cooper, Katherine Turman joins me to talk about Suzi’s place in rock ‘n roll history.

Suzi Quatro

Suzi Quatro is a singer, bassist, songwriter, actress, and rock icon. Throughout the 1970s, following the release of her self-titled debut album in 1973, she scored a string of hit singles in the UK, Europe, and Australia with such songs as “Can the Can,” “Devil Gate Drive,” “48 Crash,” “The Wild One,” and “Your Mama Won't Like Me.” Her 1978 duet with Smokie’s lead singer Chris Norman, “Stumblin’ In,” reached No. 4 in the US and sold over one million copies. From 1977-1979, she had a recurring role as bass player Leather Tuscadero on the popular sitcom ‘Happy Days’. 

Suzi has sold over 50 million records worldwide and continues to perform live. Her most recent studio album, ‘The Devil in Me’, was released in 2021 and saw the collaboration of her son Richard Tuckey, who had already taken part in her album ‘No Control’ in 2019. Suzi also remains active in radio broadcasting.

In addition to her extraordinary musical career, she is the author of several books, including the 2017 rock novel, ‘The Hurricane’.

Katherine Turman

Katherine Turman is a journalist and the producer of Alice Cooper's syndicated radio show, Nights with Alice Cooper. She co-authored the critically acclaimed book ‘Louder Than Hell: The Definitive Oral History of Metal’, published by HarperCollins. She was the editor of ‘RIP’ magazine and the ‘LA Alternative Press’ and is a frequent contributor to the ‘Village Voice’, among many other outlets. She formerly produced the live radio show 'Rockline, and was a music producer for The Sharon Osbourne Show. Additional work-related endeavors include liners, band bios, editing and packaging notes for Rhino Records, Metallica, and Atlantic Records. She's also been a featured expert in several of VH1's ‘Behind the Music’ episodes. Katherine lives in Brooklyn, New York.

About the Episode

HIGHLIGHTS:

In this episode of Rock is Lit, Suzi Quatro talks about her favorite 'Happy Days' episode, being a Detroit girl, Bobby Darin, seeing the psychedelic ‘60s band Blues Magoos when she was 15 years old, learning a lot about being an entertainer by seeing Wayne Newton perform, what Suzi would ask Elvis if she could, loving Bob Dylan's music, Jackie Collins’ advice to Suzi about writing a novel, how Suzi feels about gender and how she dealt with sexism in the music business, the first time she saw Elvis on TV, the most irritating encounter she’s had with a fan, Suzi’s paranormal experiences, the 2019 documentary about her called 'Suzi Q', her complicated relationship with her sisters and parents, Suzi’s analysis of my astrological sign, and how she and I are soul sisters.

In the final segment, Katherine Turman, who is a music journalist and producer of Alice Cooper's syndicated radio show Nights With Alice Cooper, joins the podcast  to talk about Suzi’s role as a pioneer for female musicians and her place in rock ‘n roll history and possible reasons she hasn’t been inducted into the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame yet.

SUZI QUATRO SONGS IN THE EPISODE IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE:

1. "Devil Gate Drive"

2. "Can The Can"

3. "The Wild One"

4. "Stumblin' In" (duet with Chris Norman)

LINKS:

Suzi Quatro’s website: http://www.suziquatro.com/

Suzi Quatro Instagram: @suziquatroreal

Suzi Quatro Twitter: @Suzi_Quatro

Katherine Turman’s website: https://katherineturman.com/

Katherine Turman Instagram: @katturman

Katherine Turman Twitter: @KatherineTurman