A talented singer and bass guitarist, trained in classical piano and percussion, she joined her sisters in the 60s Detroit garage rock group The Pleasure Seekers whilst still in her teens and never looked back. By the early 70s, Suzi went off to England to work with producer Mickie Most, while her sister Patti joined the all-woman rock band Fanny. An underground following spread around Suzi's charisma and powerful singing.
Suzi found herself singing the material of songwriting duo Chinn & Chapman, musicians who were also having hits with Sweet. Combining shades of bubblegum pop with a hard rock spirit, similar to the power pop ethos of the era, Suzi embraced the glam sound. Under their tutelage, she had four top ten rock hits in the U.K., but she remained mostly unknown in the U.S.
However, her U.K. fame expanded through the 70s, with Suzi becoming a successful solo singer, bassist, and songwriter with a string of charting hits. Her appeal extended into the 80s while many of her contempoaries broke up. Notable songs of his period include "Can The Can", "Devil Gate Drive", "Tear Me Apart", and "The Wild One", among many others.
Suzi extended her career to television in 1979 when she guest starred for three seasons on the hit television series 'Happy Days'. She played the character Leather Tuscadero, who was the younger sister of Fonzie's love interest, Pinky Tuscadero. In 1979, at the height of the disco era, she finally made the U.S. Top Five with the track "Stumblin' In", a duet with Chris Norman.
In her musical career she has had 16 hit singles, sold over 45 million records and toured since 1964. She has also had guest appearances in the Runaways documentary "Edgeplay" and various UK television shows including Minder, Dempsey And Makepeace and Absolutely Fabulous.
In 1990, Suzi trod the boards in London's West End playing the lead in the musical Annie Get Your Gun and wrote and starred in a musical about Talullah Bankhead.
Suzi continues to write, perform and record her own original material and has a forthcoming new album Naked Under Leather. She also hosts an excellent show on BBC Radio 2.
Quatro's first single "Rolling Stone" did not achieve popularity anywhere except Portugal, where it made number one. Most introduced Quatro to the songwriting and production team Nicky Chinn/Mike Chapman. Her second single "Can the Can" (1973) was a number one hit throughout Europe and in Australia. It was followed up by three further hits: "48 Crash" (1973), "Daytona Demon" (1973) and "Devil Gate Drive" (1974) on RAK Records. Her first two albums were also European and Australian successes.
These recordings, however, met little success in her native U.S., despite tours in the mid-1970s supporting Alice Cooper, and, except in Australia, the popularity of Quatro's rocking glam rock declined from 1975. In the interim, she did enjoy success as a session player.
Quatro's fortunes did not change until 1978 when "If You Can't Give Me Love" became a hit in the UK and Australia. This did nothing to prompt Stateside success, but "Stumblin' In", a duet recorded that same year for RSO Records with Chris Norman of Smokie secured a #4 peak in the U.S. Both tracks featured on the "If You Knew Suzi" album. A year later, Quatro released "Suzi... And Other Four Letter Words". She called it her favourite album. This featured singles, such as "She's In Love With You", which made number 11 in the UK , "Mama's Boy" (34) and "I've Never Been In Love" (56). In 1980, her song "Rock Hard" was featured on the soundtrack of the cult film Times Square, along with some punk and new wave bands like Talking Heads, Ramones, XTC and The Pretenders. This success period proved brief however, and her last UK hit was "Heart of Stone" in late 1982. In 1985 Quatro collaborated with Bronski Beat and members of The Kinks, Eddie and the Hot Rods, and Dr Feelgood on the Mark Cunningham-produced version of David Bowie's classic "Heroes", released the following year as the 1986 BBC "Children In Need" single.
In December 2005, a documentary chronicling Quatro's life, "Naked under leather" directed by former Runaway Victory Tischler Blue appeared. In February 2006, Quatro released "Back To the Drive", produced by Sweet guitarist Andy Scott. The album's title track was penned by her former collaborator Mike Chapman.
March 2007 saw Quatro release a version of The Eagles' "Desperado", followed by the publication of her autobiography, "Unzipped".
Suzi Quatro has sold over 45 million records.
http://www.suziquatro.com
Devil Gate Drive
Suzi Quatro Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well, come on!
Welcome to 'The Dive'!
Well, at the age of five they can do their jive
Down in Devil Gate Drive
And at the age of six they're gonna get their kicks
Well your mama don't know where your sister done go
She gone down to the Drive. She's the start of the show
And let her move on up. Let her come let her go.
She can jive
Down in Devil Gate Drive
So come alive. Come alive
Down in Devil Gate Drive
So come alive. Come alive
Down in Devil Gate...down in Devil Gate
Down in Devil Gate Drive
Down in Devil Gate...down in Devil Gate
Down in Devil Gate Drive
When they reach their teens, that's when they all get mean
Down in Devil Gate Drive
When I was sweet sisteen I was the jukebox queen
Down in Devil Gate Drive
I lead the angel pack on the road to sin
Knock down the gates!
Let me in. Let me in
Don't mess me 'round, cause you know where I've been
To 'The Dive' down in Devil Gate Drive
So come alive. Come alive
Down in Devil Gate Drive
So come alive. Come alive
Down in Devil Gate...down in Devil Gate
Down in Devil Gate Drive
Down in Devil Gate...down in Devil Gate
Down in Devil Gate Drive
Well your mama don't know where your sister done go
She goes down to the Drive. She's the start of the show
Let her move on up. Let her come let her go.
She can jive
Down in Devil Gate Drive
So come alive. Come alive
Down in Devil Gate Drive
So come alive. Come alive
Down in Devil Gate...down in Devil Gate
Down in Devil Gate Drive
Down in Devil Gate...down in Devil Gate
Down in Devil Gate Drive
Come on, boys. Let's do it one more time for Suzi!
Are you ready, now?
Come alive. Come alive Yeah!
The song Devil Gate Drive by Suzi Quatro is a celebration of the lively and joyful atmosphere of a popular music venue named Devil Gate Drive. The lyrics talk about the place where people have fun and dance regardless of their age or social status. The song starts by mentioning children as young as five or six dancing and jiving in Devil Gate Drive, and then moves to when they reach their teens and become rebellious, they find themselves drawn to the same place. The singer, who was once the "jukebox queen" at the age of sixteen, reminisces about her time as a part of the "angel pack on the road to sin," but she's now inviting everyone to come and join the celebration of life and music at Devil Gate Drive.
The upbeat melody, catchy chorus, and lighthearted lyrics of the song make it a perfect fit for a dance number. However, the underlying message of the song is profound in its simplicity. It highlights the importance of having fun, letting go of worries, and living life to the fullest, regardless of one's age or background. Devil Gate Drive is a metaphor for a place without judgment, where people can be themselves, and their only worry is having a good time.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, you all want to go down to Devil Gate Drive?
Would you like to visit 'The Dive'?
Well, at the age of five they can do their jive
Down in Devil Gate Drive
And at the age of six they're gonna get their kicks
Down in Devil Gate Drive
Even five-year-olds are welcome to dance in 'The Dive,' and six-year-olds can come to enjoy themselves.
Well your mama don't know where your sister done go
She gone down to the Drive. She's the start of the show
And let her move on up. Let her come let her go.
She can jive
Down in Devil Gate Drive
Your sister has gone to 'The Dive,' where the party is just beginning. Let her do her own thing and dance the night away.
So come alive. Come alive
Down in Devil Gate Drive
So come alive. Come alive
Down in Devil Gate...down in Devil Gate
Down in Devil Gate Drive
Down in Devil Gate...down in Devil Gate
Down in Devil Gate Drive
Get ready to dance and have fun at 'The Dive'!
When they reach their teens, that's when they all get mean
Down in Devil Gate Drive
When I was sweet sisteen I was the jukebox queen
Down in Devil Gate Drive
As teens, people become bolder and enjoy themselves more at 'The Dive,' and the artist used to love dancing there when she was 16.
I lead the angel pack on the road to sin
Knock down the gates!
Let me in. Let me in
Don't mess me 'round, cause you know where I've been
To 'The Dive' down in Devil Gate Drive
The singer guides others at 'The Dive' towards having more fun and ignoring expectations; there's no reason to keep out those who have already enjoyed this thrill.
Come on, boys. Let's do it one more time for Suzi!
Are you ready, now?
The song is an invitation for everyone to dance with Suzi, one more time!
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Michael Donald Chapman, Nicholas Barry Chinn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@crazycrentax
Suzy took a big chance in the 70's, a woman leading a rock band dressed in all leather was considered scandalous by most of the industry. Must have been hard to convince a record company to take a chance. She deserved far better than she got, wonderful performer.
@Bultaco15
Performing that song on the TV show, Happy Days, may have helped a lot
@crazycrentax
@@Bultaco15 She was already topping the charts before that series even started, and as a biker myself I just loved her style, and she's still at it now lol.
@salvadordeadly723
She was into the biker scene , the band were like the gang
@user-qw6vu2qc1g
All time well loved in Australia all over you can find them in a zoo our devil is Tasmanian +(named this because of the sound it makes) even made it to WARNER BROSp.t.y.l.t.d.
@OmgAuntySuzanne16
UMMmmmmmm Chrisy Amphlette ??? No.
@lesbonnick5335
What a rocker. Well and truly before her time.
@mrrainerk3259
Devil Gate Drive - Nostalgie pur aus meiner Jugendzeit. Wir altern zusammen, Suzi. Danke für die tollen Lieder!
@cloudyvxbes9879
I feel so proud, my great uncle is the drummer ( the one in the white jumper) he’s had a stroke but he’s ok 👌🏼
@scottyh8494
I loved Dave’s drumming. I’ve been a Suzi Q fan since 1973.