After too long sharing a bill on revival shows or out of the touring spotlight altogether, the last couple of years have seen the welcome return of Suzi Quatro as a headline live act, cementing her legacy as a trailblazing woman in rock’n’roll. This was her third such London show in successive years, almost exactly 12 months after her previous visit to the historic Palladium.

She was introduced by another seventies icon in Whispering Bob Harris, before coming on stage a split second after her band in a denim and leather ensemble and opened with ‘Wild One’. Indeed with barely a pause for breath the opening quartet were all seventies hit singles with ‘I May Be Too Young’, a favourite of mine in ‘Daytona Demon’ and ‘Tear Me Apart’ with a sax solo from Tommy Schneller. The band, including a horn section and a couple of rather superfluous girl backing singers, were however a bit more cabaret and less straight ahead rock’n’roll than back in the day.

In the first surprise of the night, Suzi reported that ‘Stumblin’ In’ had reached a whole new audience via DJ Cyril, though my reaction to even a few bars of the new version being played was ‘please Lord, make this stop’. Last year she brought on Boy George to play the Chris Norman part, but this time it was guitarist Tim Smith singing the male lines.

Glam rock classic ‘48 Crash’ was perhaps the only number all night where Suzi struggled to match her youthful range. However this was not just a night for gentle nostalgia, but a reminder she has made several records in recent times, and indeed she recounted how son Richard had collaborated on ‘Devil In Me’ with a surprisingly dark alternative riff, followed by ‘I Sold My Soul Today’ which had the feel of the vintage sixties rock and soul of her native Detroit.

A couple of covers from previous albums followed in ‘Slow Down’, some old school rock’n’roll with sax and guitar solos, though when Tommy threatened to hog the limelight he was sent packing in the playfully bossy manner than characterised her interactions with the band; then ‘Rocking In the Free World’ with brass adding a new dimension to an otherwise faithful version and an audience clapalong, before she took to piano for ‘Can I Be Your Girl’, dedicated to the memory of her parents.

After a half hour interval, the second half of the set saw her come on in the iconic leather jumpsuit, opening with another musical and lyrical tribute to her heritage in ‘Motor City Riders’. Introducing a recent EP of covers that had influenced her, ‘Bad Moon Rising’ was authentic, though I felt Jez Davies’ prominent piano rather took the edge off the song.

The surprise of the night and the one variation from previous sets came when, sandwiched between a potted highlights reel of her varied career (culminating in being awarded a Doctorate in Music from Cambridge University!), she played one of the very earliest numbers she composed in the hope of impressing Mickie Most in ‘Aint Ya Something Honey’.

There was more of a rock out to ‘She’s In Love With You’ (though the anorak in me realised it came out in 79, not 78 as she said) before one final reminder of her continuing relevance in a song from last year’s collaboration with KT Tunstall: ‘Shine A Light’, an uplifting tune in which she got the crowd to put their phone lights on.

The funky sounds of ‘Too Big’ gave the band a chance to jam out and be introduced, then ‘Glycerine Queen’ was a rare and welcome dip into vintage glam rock style, leading into a bass solo. Normally those two words spell dread, but not so this time as she mixed fine musicianship with some classic face pulls, ending it with a double drum duel with Tim Reyland.

She then ushered the crowd- previously resolutely seated other than a couple of bold superfans- to their feet for those classic singalong number 1s in ‘Can The Can’ and ‘Devil Gate Drive’, arranged for plenty of participation. That might have been a suitable climax, but led straight into a different side in perhaps my favourite single of all of hers, in ‘If You Can’t Give Me Love’, choreographing the crowd waving from side to side.

In another change of pace, Tim then cranked out the opening riff to ‘Sweet Little Rock N Roller’ with Suzi improvising ‘that’s me’ as she sang the chorus and the band chanting ‘go Suzi go’ as she left the stage ahead of them. However she had to take a final bow, returning with towel draped around her shoulders and sitting on a stool accompanied only by Jez’s piano for a heartfelt cover of the Eagles’ ‘Desperado’.

As was proved by that mid set resume of her acting, broadcasting and writing career, Suzi Quattro is a natural entertainer, making this home of famous old school variety shows the perfect venue for her. Belying her 74 years with a performance of great verve and energy, this was another first class show, indeed one that would have had Bruce Forsyth on a Sunday night here crowing ‘marvellous, marvellous’.

Review and Photos by Andy Nathan

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)