Suzi Quatro

[ajkula66]

But it was still kind of out of reach for most lower-middle-class people and below. A Fender bass was relatively expensive. AFAIK, it would have been as expensive as a moderately vintage P bass today (going for about 6-8k).

Nah. At that point in the game it was just a used bass, no more no less. Pretty much the equivalent of a 2015 P-Bass nowadays value-wise. A couple of months of diligent saving and off you go.

I'd love to see a Fender CS Suzy Quatro signature model - especially this year, to celebrate her 75th birthday - but that ain't happening.

 

[funkinbottom]

I have less questions about this statement that any British TB members would have, but I have questions nonetheless.

Fanny was one of the first all female rock groups to achieve critical and commercial success, which included a couple Billboard top 40 singles.
The band was started by June and Jean Millington (sisters, guitar and bass) They were quite good. Had the pleasure seeing them live a few time in the early 70's at Bill Grahams Filmore.

 

[Norm Nelson]

Suzi was definitely more popular across the pond than she was in the States - she had some success with her Leather Tuscadero character on Happy Days but this made some US rock fans discount her somewhat - totally unfair as she's awesome no matter what. As were Fanny! I think it was David Bowie who publicly stated it was a shame Fanny weren't more famous (and yes, UK readers, I am 100% sure they knew what that meant in English English when they chose the name).

 

[BaronVonBlurple]

Just going to leave these here..

Bass solo 1979

Bass solo 11/15/23

She's not Jaco, but she can indeed play.

EDIT:

Here's an interview featuring the Fender bass.
Suzi Interview

I now see where Steve Harris channeled his inner Suzi Quatro.

 

[Pauly 4001]

She was big and looked fine in her leathers

 

[burpgun]

My Dad got my brother's '54 P in 1970 from a guy at church who used to play. For $35. Considered quite a deal at the time, but yeah. (Discount for having sat in a hot attic twisting the neck.) But yeah, wasn't the "insane impossible score" then, that it sounds like now.

I've got a '75 Precision I bought in a pawnshop in 1993 for $400, not sure if that was good or bad for the time--no internet to price shop!--but to the extent the instrument has any vintage mystique now it didn't have it then as it wasn't that old. I also picked up a Rick 4001 around then for $400 and again, it just seemed like a slightly old bass at the time, nothing inherently special about it.

 

[klyph]

My father bought me a 1967 Coronado Bass II for 150.00$ in 1986 (complete with original HS case) because it was the cheapest bass guitar in the store (I wanted a new Yamaha, but those were more expensive).

 

[BuddhaFingas]

She gave birth to the single greatest quote about bass playing and the source of bass mojo ever uttered.

Untoppable.

 

[Muttleybass]

I saw her live in Edmonton in 2018. She rocks like nobody else. The energy and personality coming off that stage was pretty amazing for a woman in her 70's.

Is she a great bassist? It just doesn't matter.

 

[Thundar]

Total 80's cheez, but I love this song and video...and the BC Rich's!!

 

[MindinAction]

I love the part in the 1973 Ziggy Stardust farewell concert where Bowie starts his introduction to Mick Ronson by saying, "No, it's not Suzi Quartro on lead guitar, we've got Mick Ronson!" Mick was definitely channeling her that night.

 

[Super Bass]

She was cool way back then. I still appreciate her today. Listen to Devil gate drive!

 

[Richland123]

Another all female band from the early 1970s that could rock was Birtha.

Link Removed

 

[Fender_Bender]

They're like barn finds. I know guys who had no problem buying up old English sports cars for small hundreds of dollars, because it was the 1990s and the number of people who wanted them were far outnumbered by the number of people who actually had them.

These days... is it still possible to find an MGB roadster in a barn? Maybe. Will the owner let you have it for $250 and a handle of whiskey? Ha ha ha haaaa... no. People out in the sticks have internet too.

Earlier today I was on YouTube and saw a thumbnail about a 1970 Dodge Charger Daytona that had never been licensed or titled. That’s what you call a find.

 

[winston]

Fanny was one of the first all female rock groups to achieve critical and commercial success, which included a couple Billboard top 40 singles.
The band was started by June and Jean Millington (sisters, guitar and bass) They were quite good. Had the pleasure seeing them live a few time in the early 70's at Bill Grahams Filmore.

About 20 years ago I played in a band with Jean Millington's husband, a fantastic drummer and arranger named Leo Adamian. You could literally tell what the song was just by hearing the drums, he played so musically! I got to know Jean a little and worked with her son and daughter (father was Earl Slick) at a local food co-op. It was funny, when they talked about "John" and "David" from their childhood it was Lennon and Bowie, and they had the pictures to prove it!

Suzi Quatro/Leather Tuscadero rocks!

 

[LordRyan]

Before Fanny and Birtha came along Suzi was in an all-girl band with her sister Patti who was a later member of Fanny. Goldy and the Gingerbreads from the early 60s were probably the first all-female rock band. The Clingers who started as a female counterpart to the Osmonds became a rock band in the late 60s. Here is a video of The Pleasure Seekers from a Portland, Oregon TV show This Is It! hosted by Lynn Easton of The Kingsmen. Notice the Oregon-made Sunn amps.



Suzi sings backup on this song by Donovan backed by The Jeff Beck Group.

 

[bigswifty1]

I've seen her live, many many years ago (can't remember exactly when, but it must have been around the time of her big hits). She went hard and played great. Not a natural singer IMO but she made it work and sold it on stage like a boss. She has my respect for sure.

I can't seem to find it right now but there was a hilarious clip online of her giving an impromptu bass lesson to Gene Simmons.

Being a female instrumentalist (let alone a bass player) in a hard rock band back then must have been no easy achievement. I think she's great.

 

[woodyng2]

I now see where Steve Harris channeled his inner Suzi Quatro.

I was thinking that first solo sounded very Geezerish.

 

[brianrost]

David Bowie who publicly stated it was a shame Fanny weren't more famous (and yes, UK readers, I am 100% sure they knew what that meant in English English when they chose the name).

Actually, until Fanny toured the UK they had no idea, just like most other Americans have no idea. Members have mentioned this in interviews and memoirs.

As a female bandleader fronting three guys in biker leather, Suzi Quatro was certainly a breath of fresh ai.

I bought her first two LPs. The Chinn/Chapman songs may have been UK hits but they were pretty silly, like “Can the Can” and “48 Crash”. Fun to listen to but lightweight, like the other glam bands of that era that Chinn/Chapman took to the top of the UK charts. None of those bands were particularly succesful on this side of the pond.

 

[Thundar]

I've seen her live, many many years ago (can't remember exactly when, but it must have been around the time of her big hits). She went hard and played great. Not a natural singer IMO but she made it work and sold it on stage like a boss. She has my respect for sure.

I can't seem to find it right now but there was a hilarious clip online of her giving an impromptu bass lesson to Gene Simmons.

Being a female instrumentalist (let alone a bass player) in a hard rock band back then must have been no easy achievement. I think she's great.

That was Carol Kaye that gave Gene the bass lesson