Suzi Quatro: Bass Gear, Happy Days, Favorite Bass Lines, and More… 

Suzi Quatro is an American singer, bass guitarist, songwriter, and actress who sold over 250 million records and who scored many hits that found success worldwide, with “Can the Can” (1973) and “Devil Gate Drive” (1974) reaching number one in many countries. She played the role of Leather Tuscadero in the series “Happy Days” for 3 seasons. Also a writer, she published 8 books, with her latest just being released. She is an award-nominated disc jockey, 15 years on BBC Radio 2, and a TV host. She has a new album coming out next year, her 19th, and she has scheduled a UK tour which starts in April 2026. She is never off the road, doing 60 concerts a year. 

KB: Did you always want to be a singer and musician growing up?  

I grew up in a musical family, with 5 children (4 girls and 1 boy). My father was a musician his whole life. There really was never any other choice but the arts. 

KB: Why did you pick the bass as a musical instrument? 

First instrument was bongo drums at age 7. My dad used to let me play in front of his trio sometimes. Then I took classical piano, which I play, read, and write. Same with percussion in a school orchestra, first chair (which means the best) in the section. At age 14, we started our first all-girl band. Nobody wanted to play the bass, so it was given to me. I was already learning to read, write, and play drums and classical piano, both classified as percussive. I was at home with the bass, and the moment I put it on, a match made in heaven! 

KB: Which bass guitars and gear have you used in your career, and how many do you have? 

OMG! That’s a lot. Okay. Memory time: 

My first bass, given to me by my father, was a 1957 Fender Precision, gold scratch plate, stripe down the back of the neck, sunburst with a Fender Bassman amp: It was like giving a Rolls-Royce to a first-time driver! I still have it. 

I then went to a Gibson Violin Bass, which I didn’t like at all. Then, to the Les Paul professional recording bass, which was purchased directly from the Gibson factory in Kalamazoo, Michigan. I still have this bass too, as it is the one I brought to England when I relocated. It weighed so much that the guys complained, and it wasn’t popular. A very serious piece of wood. I don’t know how I carried it to and from Earl’s Court to London every day, but I did. 

I have played Gibson EB2 (in the London museum), Gibson Ripper and Grabber. The Ripper I had for quite a while, in many pictures. There were a few short-lived in betweens like the Broad bass made in Japan, specifically for me, with my ex’s design. It should have been the Suzi Quatro model, but they didn’t want to pay me a royalty, so they called it the “broad bass” instead. 

Playing a lot in the States, we all went with BC Rich. I had a pink one, ‘rich bitch’, and a red one, again my own design. Cover of Rock Hard. I still have this bass too, and the jumpsuit in the photo is up in my ego room. 

Then went to a status headless with a graphite neck. Wonderful neck to play so smooth, didn’t like having no headstock, so stayed with the status with a headstock. Then, eventually, came back home to Fender.

I practice on a Precision at home, and play a Jazz on stage. I do a 6-minute bass solo at my gigs; you can Google it. The slightly smaller neck on the Jazz gives me that added speed while showing off. 

I also use a bass distortion pedal, along with my Orange amplifiers. I was voted years ago in the top 3 of bass players in the world in a Playboy magazine poll. 

KB: You played bass player Leather Tuscadero on “Happy Days…” How did you get the role, and what is your fondest memory of working on that show? 

They had that part for a while knowing Pinky was going to leave. The casting director saw my picture on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine and said, “She’s the one”. They called me on tour in Japan and asked me to fly to L.A. and audition, which I di,d and I won the role of Leather Tuscadero for 3 seasons. I made good friends to this day: Henry Winkler, Ron Howard, Donny Most, and Anson Williams. The entire experience was one good memory. For more information, have a look at my documentary “Suzi Q”, or my autobiography “Unzipped”. 

KB: Are there any artists out there you would love to collaborate with or wish you had? 

Well, the ones who are gone are the biggest in my heart: Elvis, Otis, Billie Holiday (yep, believe it or not)…

KB: I let you pick your 7 most favorite bass lines of all time: What would you pick and why? 

“Alright Now” – Free: It is a lesson in simplicity. Less is more. 

“How Sweet It Is” – Marvin Gaye: Jamerson on bass, wonderful lesson in leaving big gaps in the bassline. What you think you hear, you don’t. 

“My Generation” – The Who: John Entwistle did a very clever little bass ‘solo’ lick in that. By the way, he called me in 1966 from a music store in downtown Detroit and offered me $1000 for my Precision. I said no. 

I must pick a few of my own basslines now: 

“Truck Stop” – (on the box set “The Girl From Detroit City): Great riff.

“Walking Through The Changes” – (box set) 

“You Are My Heart and Soul” (I Need You Home For Xmas) – From “The Devil in Me” album: Wonderful Motownish bass line on that. 

And finally…

“Another One Bites The Dust” – Queen: Excellent! 

KB: “Stumblin’ In” you did with Chris Norman has been covered by Australian DJ Cyril, which became a huge hit all over the world, just like the original. What do you think of the new version? 

I love the new version. Met Cyril on my last Australian tour. He flew from Darwin to Perth to see me Live. 

KB: What are you currently up to? 

I have just returned from my 41st tour Down Under, all sold out with fantastic reviews. Hamburg Congress Centre, the other day… amazing success, now doing a few more in Europe before heading home. My next album is now being mixed and mastered… title to be announced once it’s official. It will be out in time for my 10-date UK tour in April 2026, big halls, 2-hour solo show with interval. Being the artist I have always been.

I have just published my 8th book. Here they are in order: 

1. “Unzipped” (autobiography)
2. “The Hurricane” (novel)
3. “Through My Eyes” (coffee table illustrated poetry book volume 2)
4. “Through My Heart” (poetry book volume 2)
5. “Through My Thoughts” ( inspired by Covid lockdown)
6. “Through My Words” (my lyric book)
7. “Grave Undertakings” (second novel: will be either made into a TV series or a movie)
8. “Through My Pain” (poetry book volume 3)

Visit Suzi Online

Official website
Facebook
Instagram
Facebook Fan Club Page