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Suzi Quatro
Detroit & London

Suzi Quatro, how did you start in the music business?
I was born in Detroit in 1950 and I started played bass at the age of 14, after seeing The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show. My sisters and some friends decided after that TV show to start an all girl-band. Everyone chose an instrument, the bass was given to me cuz no one wanted it! I played bongo's with my dads band aged 7, then took classical piano for a few years, then played percussion, (I'm a multi instrumentalist) but once I started on bass . . that was it.

What was your first band?
The Pleasure Seekers - my sister Patti on guitar, me on bass, Nan Ball on drums, Marylou on rhythm guitar and Dianne Baker, whose father was in my dad's band, on piano. Later on my eldest sister Arlene replaced Dianne on the piano and her first husband managed us.

What's your current band?
My current band still has no name. It is a 7-piece unit including myself with a line-up of guitar, bass, piano, drums, saxophone, trumpet and trombone. I have flirted with having girl singers on the stage now and again but really do prefer Suzi and her boys...feels more natural.

What bass so you use most?
It's a Status with a graphite neck, rosewood finish with a headstock. I have played this for about 15 years, it's a wonderful bass, smooth and durable and cuz I bash it around it's amazing how it stays in tune. It's got a full size neck as I had cut down versions but didn't like the headstock missing. I have the first one they did with the headstock back and can't see myself changing for stage anyway. In the studio of course it's my Fender Precision..you can't beat it with a stick!

Which strings do you prefer?
Picato gauge 45-105; I have them changed every six shows.

What's your current backline bass amp?
Mesa Boogie Bass 400 Plus.

Apart from rock 'n' roll, what other types of music do you like?
Rock and roll mainly but I can play passable jazz also. On a challenge I did a gig with my father's band playing popular music from the '20s, '30s & '40s and what a challenge it was. Although I knew the songs from childhood, I had to stand behind the piano player's sheet music and read the chord structures and they were not your usual three changes thing. In fact, in the old style music there were passing chords in every phrase - very difficult but lots of fun - and my dad booked me again! As well as bass, I read and write classical piano and percussion, also guitar.

Of all your gigs, which one stands out as a favourite?
In Philadelphia, one sponsored by a radio station to over 60,000 people. We played in the middle of the lake on a boat - quite an experience - talk about making waves!

What was your worst moment ever onstage?
In Finland at a big outdoor festival, I was doing my ego thing - waving a triumphant goodbye wave to the audience ala Spinal Tap. There was a monitor in front of the exit stairs that shouldn't have been there and I fell into it - and I mean into it - head first, upside down with the bass still on, feet waving in the air! What a shock! My ex-husband (guitarist) thought someone had thrown a blow-up doll on stage! We all still laugh about this. Luckily I wasn't hurt. Someone should put that in a movie!

Having achieved so much Suzi, what's your ambition now?
To do a movie. This is the only medium in 'show business' that I have not yet worked in.

Renee Quail 
West Hills, California, USA

Website: Please see Links page
Birthday: Please see Birthdays page
Email: LemurEyesHeart@hotmail.com

Where were you born?
I was born in Encino, California, USA.

Do you come from a musical family?
My family is musical in that my mother sings and my father played trumpet.

What was your very first stage appearance?
My first stage appearance was my first piano recital at age 7.

Which bassist do you most admire?
I admire John Paul Jones as a bassist, keyboardist and composer. I also admire John Entwistle and Jack Bruce.

What gear do you use?
I play a Fender Jazz Bass. I have a Fender Bassman 400 head and cabinet.

Tell us about your current projects?
I write and perform my own original music, recorded at my own studio - Quail Studios. I am also in a Led Zeppelin tribute band known as Heavenly Led. I enjoy both projects very much, but my own original music is nearest and dearest to my heart.

What other bands have you played with?
Dead Planet, Hard Eleven, Dog Days to name a few.

Are you recording?
I am currently working on an original CD to be known as Return to Zero

Do you have a webspace?
myspace.com/ohboytoast (for my original project).

" Wail, don't wig! "

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