Book review: SUZI QUATRO IN THE 1970s by Darren Johnson

SonicBond Publising [Publication date 29.07.22]

‘If you talk about the ‘70s, I was a hardworking artist. I did nothing but tour – recording, touring, TV, you know. I had constant jetlag. Constant black shadows under my eyes but, oh, what a ride! What a wonderful ride. And I’m still doing it now.’ Suzi Quatro

Darren Johnson is back with his second book and this time he looks into the 1970s part of Suzi Quatro’s career, one of the true trailblazers and legends in rock. During the 1970s she had eight UK top twenty hits and two number ones, along with three number one singles in Australia.

Darren Johnson certainly knows his facts and figures with detailed research, plus the book’s big selling point is an interview with Suzi Quatro.

Taking each year in turn we cover the hit singles she had throughout the 1970s including her biggest US hit 1978′s ‘Stumblin’ In’ with Smokie’s Chris Norman. Her appearance as a leather clad rocker in the TV show ‘Happy Days’ is covered, along with plenty of reflective insight not only from Suzi herself but also long-time guitarist Len Tuckey (also her husband from 1976 until 1992) and guitarist Jamie Crompton, who joined her band in 1979.

Her activities since 1979 are covered briefly including her recent albums ‘No Control’ (2019) and ‘The Devil In Me’ (2021), both of which saw her working with her son Richard Tuckey with great results.

Fascinataing read for Suzi Q fans, aging glam rockers and anybody who enjoys a good, informative rock biography. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

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