Introduction
At 74, Suzi Quatro remains one of the most iconic rock figures of the 1970s. Best known for her explosive hits like “Can the Can,” “48 Crash,” and “Devil Gate Drive,” she became a global sensation. But her talents don’t end with music—Suzi is also a writer, poet, and actress. Over the years, she’s made memorable appearances in shows like Midsomer Murders, Absolutely Fabulous, and Happy Days, where she portrayed Fonzie’s love interest, Leather Tuscadero.
These days, she splits her time between Essex, England, and Hamburg, Germany, with her second husband, concert promoter Rainer Haas. She has two children, now in their forties, from her first marriage to guitarist Len Tuckey.
A Journey from the Stage to a War Zone
Suzi’s life on the road started young. In 1967, as a member of the all-female band The Pleasure Seekers—formed with her sisters—she toured extensively across the United States. One gig led to an unexpected offer from a promoter: a trip to Hawaii, followed by a performance for American troops in Vietnam during the war. At just 17 years old, Suzi said yes.
Hawaii felt like something out of a dream. While waiting for travel arrangements, the band enjoyed sunny beaches and fantastic food in Honolulu. The plan was to perform at an officer’s club near Saigon, but upon arriving at a U.S. base in Guam, they learned that the venue had been bombed.
Instead, they were asked to perform at a military hospital. The contrast was jarring—outside, the scenery was pure paradise; inside, they faced a brutal reality. Young soldiers with devastating injuries watched them sing cheerful songs. The emotional weight of the moment hit Suzi hard. As soon as the set ended, she fainted.
Growing Up with Wanderlust
“When God put me on Earth,” Suzi reflects, “He told me: ‘You must travel!’” And travel she did. Raised in Detroit, she fondly recalls road trips with her family to Miami during Easter breaks. They’d drive the 1,300-mile journey in three days, staying at modest roadside inns. For Suzi, those trips sparked her love for movement—and a feeling of glamor during family dinners out.
Landing in London
In 1971, Suzi made a bold move to England, urged by producer Mickie Most who believed in her star potential. At first, the cultural differences were overwhelming. Everything in London felt miniature compared to Detroit—the houses, the roads, even the drink bottles. She jokes about genuinely expecting to see men in bowler hats and curled mustaches on the streets of Earl’s Court.
Her hotel room was bare—a sink in the corner and a shared bathroom down the hall. Though she tried to view it as a holiday, homesickness took over, and she cried herself to sleep each night. Still, she adapted. Before long, she fell in love with the British sense of humor, saying, “You’re the best piss-takers in the whole world.”
Rock and Roll on Her Own Terms
Though Suzi was surrounded by rock legends like Alice Cooper and Iggy Pop in her early Detroit days, she never embraced the stereotypical rockstar chaos. “Sex, drugs, and trashing hotel rooms was never my thing,” she says. She often befriended hotel staff, so when bandmates got rowdy, she was the one stopping them: “Don’t you dare! Someone’s going to have to clean that up.”
There was one wild exception—Melbourne, Australia, at the end of their first tour. A quiet party took a turn once whiskey entered the mix. Mattresses and pillows were slashed, and it all started when Suzi jokingly pushed the keyboardist into the bathtub. Mortified the next morning, she personally apologized at the front desk and offered to pay for the damages.
Peace and Rest, but Never Still
Suzi and her husband now retreat to a peaceful home in Mallorca. It’s simple, tucked away from the crowds. Days are spent swimming, dining out, and sleeping 10 to 12 hours at a stretch. “It’s heaven,” she says—though after about two weeks, restlessness returns. She needs motion. “It’s who I am,” she admits. “I was born to keep moving.”