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| The Pleasure Seekers was a 1960s-era, all-female rock band from Detroit, Michigan. The band morphed into Cradle, changing direction musically. They are known in large part to the later prominence of band member Suzi Quatro. According to Suzi Quatro in her memoir Unzipped, the Quatro sisters searched a dictionary for a name for their band. Upon encountering "hedonist", they used the definition "pleasure seeker" to create the band's name. During May 1964, the Pleasure Seekers were formed by Patti Quatro in Detroit, Michigan. The original lineup included lead singers Suzi Quatro and Patti Quatro, with Nancy Ball on drums, Mary Lou Ball on guitar, and Diane Baker on piano. Leo Fenn, the husband of sister Arlene Quatro, was the band's manager. Patti asked Dave Leone to give them a spot at his teen night club, The Hideout. He put them on stage two weeks later, and they soon became well known at the venue. They gained momentum in the burgeoning Detroit rock community, playing concerts and teen clubs with Ted Nugent, Bob Seger and others. The band's first record was released on the Hideout Records label in 1965, when Suzi and Patti Quatro were 15 and 17 years old, respectively. Both sides of their first single, "Never Thought You'd Leave Me" b/w "What a Way to Die", have some prominence. The former is included on Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 6, while the latter was covered by the Mummies in the 1988 cult film Blood Orgy of the Leather Girls. Both songs, with lyrics by Dave Leone, are included on the compilation album Friday at the Hideout, a Hideout Records retrospective that charted regionally. Meer... |
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During early 1966, Sheryl 'Sherry' Hammerlee joined the band on rhythm guitar and Arlene Quatro replaced Diane Baker on piano. In October that year Darline Arnone joined the band. Pami Bedford also joined in August 1967, replacing Hammerlee.
In 1968, they became one of the earliest all-female rock bands to sign with a major label, Mercury Records. They released a second single, "Light of Love" b/w "Good Kind of Hurt", with both songs charting. The group matured into a dynamic show band and toured the US. Their show featured a Sgt. Pepper/Magical Mystery Tour revue, as well as a Motown sound revue. The show incorporated one of the earliest light shows.
Cradle In 1969, the Pleasure Seekers morphed into Cradle, changing direction musically in writing heavier original material and touring the US. Arlene was now manager and sister Nancy Quatro (born 1953) had joined as vocalist and percussionist. The group toured vigorously, playing concerts and pop festivals throughout the US with popular bands of the day, ending with a tour of Vietnam. In 1971, Suzi was signed by producer Mickie Most to his RAK Records label, leaving for the UK and solo fame as Suzi Quatro. Jerry Nolan later of the New York Dolls drummed with the band in the months leading up to Suzi's departure. Patti continued with sister Nancy in Cradle, then joined brother Mike's MQ Jam Band, co-producing and recording an album, Look Deeply into the Mirror. Current The Quatro sisters have reunited for special TV and concert projects through the years, reminiscent of the early Pleasure Seekers days. Patti currently runs Cradle Rocks Publishing with sister Nancy, and is involved in restoring the original, never released catalogue of Pleasure Seekers and Cradle music. The History, a newly remastered album of music from Cradle was released in 2010. What a Way to Die, a newly remastered album of music from the Pleasure Seekers was released in 2011. Personal life Arlene Quatro and Leo Fenn married and have a daughter, actress Sherilyn Fenn. Arlene left the music business, authoring a book on health and becoming involved in environmental issues. Nancy Quatro turned to music management, forming N. Glass Management and managing the band Overscene. In 1974, Patti (now Patti Ericson) joined Fanny, appearing on their Rock and Roll Survivors album and two singles, "I've Had It" and "Butter Boy", which reached No. 29 nationally. Patti left Fanny in 1975. She continued to pursue studio work on several albums, musical side projects and modeling. Suzi Quatro became popular in Europe, enjoying a successful long-lasting music career. She sold over 55 million records and remains active as a touring and recording artist. She also branched out as a TV actress, stage actress, radio DJ and author. She appeared as Leather Tuscadero in the TV show Happy Days. Personnel Suzi Quatro – lead vocals, bass (1964–1969) Patti Quatro – guitar, backing vocals (1964–1969) Diane Baker – keyboards (1964–1965) Arlene Quatro – keyboards (1966–1969) Sheryl "Sherry" Hammerlee – rhythm guitar (1966 to late 1967) Eileen Biddlingmeier – rhythm guitar (1966) Pris Wensell – keyboards (1965) Pami Benford – rhythm guitar, bass (1967–1969) Mary Lou Ball – rhythm guitar (1964–1966) Nancy Ball – drums (1964–1967) Darline Arnone – drums (1967–1969), also nicknamed "Thumper". |
| Suzi Quatro, artiestennaam van Susan Kay Quatrocchio (Detroit, 3 juni 1950), is een Amerikaanse zangeres, basgitariste, radiopersoonlijkheid en actrice. Ze is vooral bekend geworden als glamrockartiest en had in de jaren zeventig veel succes in Europa, Australië en Japan en verkocht wereldwijd 55 miljoen platen. Ze begon haar muzikale carrière als basgitariste 'Suzi Soul' bij de meidenband Pleasure Seekers, waarvan ook haar zusters Arlene en Patti deel uitmaakten. In 1971 werd de bandnaam gewijzigd in Cradle en begon de groep stevige rock te spelen. Quatro werd dat jaar ontdekt door platenproducer Mickie Most die in Detroit was voor het produceren van een nieuwe plaat van Jeff Beck. Hij haalde haar over om naar het Verenigd Koninkrijk te verhuizen en een solocarrière te beginnen. Haar eerste single Rolling Stone flopte in het Verenigd Koninkrijk, maar werd een nummer 1-hit in Portugal. Most liet nu nummers voor haar schrijven door Nicky Chinn en Mike Chapman, die beroemd waren geworden met hun hits voor The Sweet. Met Can the Can had ze in 1973 zowel in verscheidene Europese landen als in Australië een nummer 1-hit. Er volgden nog drie grote hits 48 Crash (eveneens 1973), Daytona Demon (1974) en Devil Gate Drive (1974). Ook haar eerste twee albums werden grote successen in Europa en Australië. Toen Elvis Presley hoorde dat ze zijn hit All Shook Up had opgenomen, nodigde hij haar uit naar Graceland te komen. Ze sloeg de uitnodiging af. In de Verenigde Staten verkochten haar albums slecht, en zelfs pogingen om Quatro's populariteit op te vijzelen via tournees (als voorprogramma van Alice Cooper) haalden weinig uit. Na 1975 nam de populariteit van Quatro's glamrock snel af, behalve in Australië. Pas in 1978 had ze weer succes. Ze had toen een top 10-hit in Nederland, Groot-Brittannië, België en Australië met If You Can't Give Me Love, een countrynummer met achtergrondzang van Smokie. Ook deze keer had ze in de VS geen succes. Samen met Chris Norman van de band Smokie haalde ze er in 1979 wel een vierde plaats met Stumblin' In. Later dat jaar scoorde ze in Nederland met She's in love with you. In Australië had ze begin 1981 een hit met Rock Hard. Intussen was ze in 1978 actrice geworden in de Amerikaanse comedy-serie Happy Days. In zeven afleveringen daarvan speelde ze de rol van Leather Tuscadero, ook als muzikant. Ze was in de jaren tachtig in uiteenlopende rollen te zien, zowel op televisie als in het theater. In een Londense West End-productie speelde ze Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun (1986). Ze had gastrollen in Britse tv-series als Dempsey and Makepeace (1985), Absolutely Fabulous (1994) en Midsomer Murders (2007). Ze had tweemaal een wekelijks rock-'n-roll-programma op BBC Radio 2: van 2000 tot 2002 Rockin' with Suzi Q en van 2008 tot 2010 Wake Up Little Suzi. Als muzikant toert ze nog steeds. In de 21e eeuw verschenen de albums Back To The Drive (2006), In the Spotlight (2011) en QSP (2017). In 2016 ontving Suzi Quatro vanwege haar verdiensten voor de muziek een eredoctoraat aan de Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge. |