S4E18 - Suzi Quatro: Freedom, the Detroit Sound and the Queen of Rock

Suzi Quatro joins Long Way to the Top for a career-spanning conversation about her incredible rock and roll journey, her new album Freedom, recording with Alice Cooper and her massive Down Under 2026 Australian tour.

From Can the Can, 48 Crash and Devil Gate Drive to The Wild One, If You Can't Give Me Love and Stumblin' In, Suzi Quatro didn't simply become one of the biggest rock stars of the 1970s. She helped change what a rock star could look like.

In this episode, Suzi talks about growing up in the extraordinary Detroit music scene, picking up the bass, leaving America for England, working with legendary producer Mickie Most and the explosion of success that followed Can the Can in 1973. We also revisit Leather Tuscadero and Happy Days, her influence on generations of women in rock and her remarkable relationship with Australian audiences.

But Suzi Quatro is far from living in the past.

Her latest studio album, Freedom, sees her reconnecting with her rock and roll roots in her third album collaboration with her son Richard Tuckey. The record also features fellow Detroit rock legend Alice Cooper joining Suzi for a blistering version of the MC5 classic Kick Out the Jams.

Suzi tells Shayne about working with Alice, why Detroit remains such an important part of her musical DNA, making records with her son and why, more than six decades into her career, she still has no intention of quietly putting the bass guitar away.

We also look ahead to the Suzi Quatro Down Under 2026 Tour, which takes her across Australia throughout November and December with Baby Animals as special guests on the headline concerts, plus Red Hot Summer Tour appearances featuring artists including Jon Stevens, Baby Animals, Rose Tattoo, The Screaming Jets, Dragon and Choirboys, with line-ups varying between shows.

If you love Suzi Quatro, 70s rock, glam rock, classic rock, Australian rock history, Alice Cooper, Detroit rock and the stories behind the songs, this is an episode you don't want to miss.

IN THIS EPISODE

Suzi Quatro talks about:

Returning to Australia for the Down Under 2026 Tour Her extraordinary relationship with Australian audiences Why she still loves performing live Her new 2026 album Freedom Working with her son Richard Tuckey Recording Kick Out the Jams with Alice Cooper Growing up inside Detroit's legendary rock and roll scene Starting out with The Pleasure Seekers Moving to England and working with Mickie Most The breakthrough success of Can the Can 48 Crash, Devil Gate Drive, The Wild One and her classic 1970s hits Becoming Leather Tuscadero on Happy Days Breaking down barriers for women playing rock and roll The continuing popularity of Stumblin' In More than six decades of surviving the music business Why retirement still isn't part of the Suzi Quatro plan SUZI QUATRO DOWN UNDER 2026 AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATESNOVEMBER 2026

Saturday 14 November