Sister's Act by James Nuttall ©

The Pleasure Seekers sign their first record deal

When asked who the first woman of rock was most people will reply with Janis Joplin. Few will realize that long before Piece of My Heart hit the airwaves, there was a band of sisters on the road playing rock and roll to every venue in the US they could find.

In 1964, teenage sisters Patti and Suzi Quatro formed The Pleasure Seekers with their friends Diane Baker, Nan and her sister Mary Lou Ball. Within a year they had recorded a single, What a Way to Die, and toured all over the United States. Patti and Suzi's big sister, Arlene, was later conscripted into the group with her husband managing them. The Pleasure Seekers  shared the bill the likes of Bob Seger, MC5, Iggy Pop, Grand Funk Railroad, Pink Floyd and Chuck Berry, and played songs from groups like The Four Tops, Elvis Presley and the early Rolling Stones.

Patti and Nancy visit Suzi in England in 1971

However, by 1968 the music scene had given way to thumping guitar licks and psychedelic rock. After a poorly received gig at a big festival, the Pleasure Seekers decided it was time for a change in musical direction. 

In 1969, after a few line-up changes, Pleasure Seekers became Cradle: a heavy, jamming rock band. Youngest Quatro sister, Nancy, was brought in to sing for the band. This band was again well received on the new music scene. The long solos and meaningful compositions went down a storm with their intoxicated, tie dye t-shirt audience. 

Now the Quatro sisters are receiving the much-deserved respect from their native Detroit they have been waiting for. On 27 April they will be inducted into Detroit's version of the Grammys at the Filmore Theater. 

Additionally to this, Suzi will be inducted for her solo work.  The sisters will also be performing three songs, and Suzi will   perform songs from her solo career. 

Nancy, Suzi and Patti, who I interviewed a few months back, have given me the exclusive interview below about the reunion. 

Nancy and Suzi at soundcheck

What was the highlight for you, either during the Pleasure Seekers or Cradle? A specific gig/song?


Nancy: A big highlight for me in Cradle was when Mountain recognized that we were talented musicians, not talented for girls......just talented. It was very hard to get respect as females in a male world and they were a huge band at the time so in a sense, I finally felt validated by our peers. 

How does it feel to be getting such a prestigious award nearly 50 years after you girls began the Pleasure Seekers?


Patti: It feels amazing and heart warming. When you pioneer for women being able to rock their music in a world that put up every roadblock, it is great to see things changing in that regard and know that we inspired young women. And having this award in Detroit Rock City.....doesn't get much higher in music than that kick ass music Mecca.....we are thrilled!!! 

Patti Quatro: lead guitar

Nancy: It feels incredible and it is such an hounor. I'm especially glad that they are honouring Suzi as she is such a success story out of Detroit.

This is the first time you will be performing together in public in over 20 years. How does that feel?


Patti: Actually the sisters have gotten together for special projects, but yes, first time for the bands. It's going to be one hell of a party night on stage and after too. We all get along brilliantly, and can't wait to hit the stage.
Nancy: (It's) Amazing to be performing again. There is a sister bond that is there no matter what and it's like going back to our roots and a time when life was much simpler. 

What material can we expect to hear you play? Have you decided which songs yet?


Patti: Patience!!!!! We are not revealing that till the night of.

Cradle's New Year Eve gig CD from 1970

Nancy: We have decided on the song selection. Suzi will perform 3 and PS/Cradle will also do 3. 

Will there be a lot of rehearsing before hand?


Patti: Everyone will learn their parts from the CD's, a no brainer. Everyone still plays, so it should go smoothly and we will rehearse as a band in Detroit couple days before.  

Nancy: We will not have a lot of rehearsal time........gulp but I'm sure it's like riding a bike. You don't forget. 

In 2014 it will be 50 years since you started your first band. Can we expect to see another reunion, or maybe even a tour to celebrate this?


Patti: We've had numerous offers for gigs from Europe, to Russia to Far East and Oz. People would love to see it happen.....never say never!!!!  
Nancy: One never knows if there will be another reunion. No plans as of yet but, never say never. 
You spoke of special guest performers for the reunion... can you disclose who they are?
Patti:  In a word.....no.....lol....many are being considered. 

Is there any chance at all of a new Cradle/PS album in the future?

Nancy: Probably not much chance of another Cradle/PS album in the future.
Patti: We'll see. I'll be looking at all other taped material I have in archives.

Live 1979

In 1971 bass player Suzi was signed to a record deal with RAK by legendary producer Mickie Most. She moved to England and after two years of waiting for success, her second single, Can the Can, went to number one in the UK, Australia, Japan and all over mainland Europe. To date it has sold 2.5 million copies. Her biggest hit in her native US was the 1978 duet, Stumblin' In, with Chris Norman, the lead singer from Smokie. Suzi's entire recording career has scored 16 hit singles and she has sold over 50 million records worldwide. She was a direct influence on Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders, Joan Jett, Pat Benatar and Melissa Etheridge, among others.  And if that doesn't make her cool enough, in 1974 she turned down an invitation to Graceland to meet Elvis, her hero, when he commented that her cover of All Shook Up was the best since his own. That's not to mention that she also famously broke Alice Coopers nose. (Albeit accidentally!)


As well as her recurring role in Happy Days, Quatro has also had parts in Minder, Absolutely Fabulous, Midsomer Murders, starred on the West-End stage and even had her own chat show. 

Last year saw her release her thirteenth studio album, In the Spotlight, which was largely positively received. 

I got also got the chance to ask Suzi her thoughts on how it felt to be inducted as a solo performer. 


How does it feel to be recognized in your homeland for your solo work as well as your earlier bands?
GREAT... ALWAYS GOOD TO HONOR YOUR ROOTS.. DETROIT IS A HARD ACT MUSIC WISE TO FOLLOW...WONDERFUL TO NOD TO THE PAST AND TO THE PRESENT... COULDN'T BE HAPPIER.

The last time you toured the US was in 1981. Do you think that this will be the instigator to get you back playing in America? 

Quatro headlining the 'girls night out' at the Isle of Wight Festival in 2010

I GODDAMN HOPE SO.. BEEN AWAY FAR TOO LONG.. NOT BY ANY GRAND PLAN.. JUST HAPPENED..U.S.A. RECORD BROKE UP.. THEN STARTED HAVING KIDS AND DOING T.V. ACTING AND THEATER.....BY THE TIME I WAS TOURING AGAIN I WAS GOING EVERYWHERE BUT AMERICA.. BUT, DO WANT TO COME BACK BIG TIME... I MISS MY HOME COUNTRY.

Friend Debbie Harry of Blondie and protege Joan Jett stop by at Suzi Quatro's recording session 

You've released a new CD, In the Spotlight, which has been well received by the critics. Will you be doing any other events to promote this in the States while you're there?
I AM PUTTING FEELERS OUT.. I AM THERE BEFORE THE CEREMONY DOING SOME DOCUMENTARIES FOR MY BBC RADIO 2 WORK, 16 YEARS NOW.. HOPEFULLY THE RECORD COMPANY WILL ARRANGE SOME PROMOTION.. RE CRITICS.. NEVER HAD SUCH WONDERFUL REVIEWS.. NOT GOOD BUT RAVES.. HOW NICE IS THAT !!!


Do you plan to take your family in England with you?
I DON'T KNOW YET.. TRYING TO PLAN IT NOW.. CERTAINLY SOME KEY PEOPLE WILL BE THERE.

Quatro, 1978

Quatro in 1975, on tour with Alice Cooper

Playing the iconic Leather Tuscadero in Happy Days

Will you be giving the Detroit audience anything out of the ordinary for your solo performance?

 I WILL BE DOING ONE OF MY NUMBER ONE'S, OF COURSE STUMBLIN IN, WOULD GET LYNCHED IF I DIDNT AND A SONG FROM MY LAST STUDIO ALBUM... SHOULD SATISFY EVERYONE.

Will you be using your British band?

NO, I AM GOING TO USE GOOD OLD HOME BOYS FROM DETROIT.


For many years you have said that you longed to play the States again, Detroit in particular, how does it feel now that you are?
I CAN'T WAIT, REALLY HAPPY.. I AM A DETROIT GIRL THROUGH AND THROUGH.

Suzi's latest album, In the Spotlight

Have you any solo/Pleasure Seekers/Cradle material you'd particularly like to perform?
LOTS OF SOLO STUFF.. I USUALLY DO A TWO HOUR SHOW WHEN I AM ON MY OWN.. COVERING MY ENTIRE LIVE AND RECORDING SOLO CAREER FROM 1973 UP TO THE PRESENT DAY... A WIDE CATALOGUE TO CHOOSE FROM... RE PLEASURE SEEKERS.. THAT IS A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE.. WILL BE LOTS OF FUN.

Suzi and I in 2011

My thanks to Suzi, Nancy and Patti for answering these questions, and the very best of luck to them for the reunion.

Suzi's new album, In the Spotlight,  can be purchased at: 

http://www.cherryred.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=3062

http://www.amazon.com/Spotlight-Suzi-Quatro/dp/B0057OORC6/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1327445251&sr=8-16

The Pleasure Seekers and Cradle albums can be purchased at:

 http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/Cradle1/from/viglink

Follow Quatro sisters at: 

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/pleasureseekers

http://quatrorock.com/quatrorock/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/CRADLE/298374699180?sk=info

http://www.myspace.com/quatrorock

http://www.reverbnation.com/QuatroRock

http://www.myspace.com/pattiquatroericson

http://twitter.com/#!/QuatroRock

Suzi can be followed at: 

http://suziquatro.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/SUZI-QUATRO-OFFICIAL-FAN-CLUB/106218856068295

http://twitter.com/#!/Suzi_Quatro

2011: As told by an observer. By James Nuttall

Flicking back through the pages of 2011’s NME issues, you’d swear that boy bands were going to reclaim music. This aside, its apparent that women have given the guys a run for their money in music this year, and as ever the oldies are still occupying the front covers.

The Vaccines, or as they are better known “the band of 2011”, failed to take off with the momentum many critics prophesised. Opening for the Arctic Monkeys managed to impress NME but did little for others. In fact as the year draws to a close Howler, the Vaccines opening act, appears to be getting more attention with their upcoming debut.

The Arctics themselves have entered into a ‘win some, lose some’ with their fans. The new album, Suck it and See, certainly took on a different flavour to their previous releases, and the title suggests that Turner and his pals are testing the water with a more mature sound. Despite the overflow of positive reviews some fans are less than thrilled with this compared to their previous work, whilst others have just started to turn on to the Arctics thanks to their different sound.

To talk about 2011 even generally, it would be ludicrous to not mention Adele. An album that hits the number one spot in 25 different countries, that isn’t hip-hop, shows that there is hope for music today. It’s also great to see another Brit in the big leagues who is there solely by being able to write and sing. Wearing long black dresses, Adele shows her audience nothing more than pure talent as weaves the story of how she set fire to the rain.

Florence and the Machine have delivered another critically acclaimed epic. Hitting number one in seven countries Ceremonials has set Florence Welch to be the arena filler in 2012.

Another breakthrough for womankind was Beyonce being the first ever female to headline Glastonbury. Since there’s no festival next year, we can only hope that another woman will hold one of the top spots in 2013… who else is taking bets on Adele or Florence?

Thankfully, it has been a year primarily ruled by the British music scene. Unsurprisingly, Rihanna has released more of the same: another album of droning pop and collaborating with Calvin Harris on a decidedly average single. The only thing she’s done in 2011 worth mentioning was to be told to “cover up” by an Irish farmer when she was filming another soft-porn music video in his field.

It’s also seen a lot of the classic rockers making a return to the radio.

Stevie Nicks released her first solo album in 10 years, In Your Dreams, and also played her third UK show in 30 years as a solo performer, supporting Rod Stewart at Hard Rock Calling. Actually coming over the water made the album peak at number 14 in the UK charts. A big step forward considering 2001’s Trouble in Shangri-La stalled at number 43. It’s a nod back to her two nights at Wembley in 1989, which helped propel The Other Side of the Mirror to number three.

Her ex-boyfriend and Fleetwood Mac sparring partner, Lindsey Buckingham’s Seeds we Sow may not have hit the top 20, but has received positive critical reviews. His musical creativity and unflappable guitar parts made many critics bow to his skill. It’s also pushed back a Mac reunion for another year. This was another landmark as Buckingham was booked to do his first ever UK solo tour. However, the articles calling him youthful and energetic were soon writing retractions when this tour was cancelled due to a band member throwing their back out.

This suggests it’s time we started getting more excited about the up-comers again, rather than waiting for the dinosaurs of rock to deliver time after time. That’s said without even mentioning Metallica’s disastrous collaboration with Lou Reed.

The biggest news on the British music scene this year is arguably the Stone Roses reunion. Many sceptics are already trashing it as the Roses just trying to make some cash and foreseeing a disappointment. Others are on the edge of their seats for the return of the revolutionary Manchester band. Time will tell.

                                                        

If the Stone Roses aren’t your thing, you can absorb the storm another Mancunian has been making this year. Noel Gallaghers Flying Birds album has convinced pretty much everyone that here is a bona fide solo performer. More so than Beady Eyes debut, which the critics seem to have turned on since Liam’s big brother stepped in; I can’t see them having Christmas dinner together this year.  

Of course, one cannot forget to mention the musical talents that passed this year. Gerry Rafferty, the composer of smash-hit Baker Street, finally lost his battle with alcoholism in January. A bad year for bassists as the Shadows lost Jet Harris and former Weezer bass player Mickey Welsh died from a suspected overdose.

The most publicised and surprising, yet tragically expected death was of course Amy Winehouse. Within hours the jokes were being sent via text to everyone: most of them pulling puns about her hit Rehab. Three days after a guest appearance at a show in Camden, she was found dead in her home. Winehouse is another great to join the 27

club, along with the likes of Joplin, Hendrix and Morrison.

 She went out with a bang at least. December saw her album Loneliness: Hidden Treasures entering the British charts at number one. That’s a not-back to her predecessor, Janis Joplin. Her album Pearl went to number one stateside after her death in 1970.

All in all 2011 has been a rollercoaster of a year for music. Deaths, reunions and breakthrough solo albums from the greats have made it one interesting ride. Somewhere on the space-time continuum we will surely encounter another year of turbulent relationships and exciting releases from other artists. Hopefully it will be in the not too distant future.

Meg Baird of Espers hits the road solo: by James Nuttall

Espers singer and guitar-player, Meg Baird, embarked on a tour of  the UK this month to promote her third solo album Seasons on Earth.


Arriving a little after seven o'clock at the Hebden Bridge Trades Club, I was swiftly invited into the upstairs bar by the lady herself for a prearranged interview.  


This was the sixth night of Meg's nine date UK tour, which spanned from Edinburgh to Brighton. 


Very softly-spoken, humble and polite, she invited me to sit at the back of a small room, which was to play host to the nights gig. As the opening act completed their soundcheck, I was worried that her soft, Philadelphia accent wasn't even going to get picked up on the microphone... thankfully I was mistaken.


How have you enjoyed playing in the UK? 


"It's been good... definitely different; and also because I'm doing it all by myself somewhere that's all kind of unfamiliar, even (getting the) trains... It's kind of a funny dynamic that I don't usually have even though I sing by myself at home all the time." 


Do you get more nervous playing on your own as opposed to with a band?


Not exactly nervous, it's just that you're responsible for every single detail, (so) you never really relax because it's your fault if everything goes wrong haha! But you have to worry about playing and then all the other stuff, but it has its up-sides for sure." 


Have you got a favourite track from your new solo album, Seasons on Earth?


"I probably like Stars Climb up the Vine the most."


What kind of music do you listen to when you're not on the road? 


"Pretty much the same as what I play but I listen to a lot of other stuff, too."


Do you listen to your own albums?


"I listen to them for work, and then it starts to get weird. Sometimes it's good to check in on them, but I don't just hang out and listen to them." 




What's happening with Espers? Will there be another album?

"We don't have any plans to do anything right now, but we never said that we were stopping, so I guess somewhere down the line we will work together again." Asked if she has a favourite album by Espers, "No" was the immediate reply.






Espers have released four albums- Baird's haunting and powerful vocals leading each one of them to high critical acclaim. Her new solo album is similar to a stripped down version of the last Espers album from 2009, simply entitled 'III'.


Meg's second solo venture, the 2007 album Dear Companion, gained as much critical acclaim as her efforts with Espers. All Music commented that the new album is "...as poetic as it is authoritative." Often being compared to Sandy Denney, Baird's solo show consists of her and a guitar; travelling by train to get to her gigs with next-to-no entourage she is the definition of a travelling folkie. 


After being given a free copy of the new CD and a spot on the guest list for that night's show, I made sure I got a front row seat.


With a pint of beer in one hand and a capo in the other, Baird walked onto the stage, unzipping a simple-looking acoustic guitar from a brown suede gig-bag from the back of the stage. The audience shuffled in their seats and the rustling of crisp packets  was rife, but once Baird plucked her first note there was silence throughout her 80 minute set.


Playing songs from her solo albums, her voice reverberated around the small but packed room to an in-awe crowd. The highlight of the show was the penultimate song, Friends from the new album, which led onto the final song of the night, the encore song which was a cover of another Philadelphia musician to combat Bairds homesickness.


Before heading to the merchandise stand to sell copies of her album, Meg walked over to me to answer a question she was unable to answer previously...


Who would you like to work with?

"If I could I would really like to work with Neil Michael Hagerty." This is the American singer-songwriter of Pussy Galore and Weird War fame.


Final question of the night: Are you coming back?
"I hope so... If I can manage it, yeah!"




Meg's new album, Seasons on Earth, is available to buy at: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_6?url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=meg+baird&sprefix=meg+ba


Follow Meg Baird at: 
http://www.megbaird.com/
http://www.myspace.com/pennsylvaniawildlife#
http://www.thebairdsisters.com/cds_and_downloads.html


Many thanks to Meg's press officer Lucy Hurst, and Ben Wileman from the label for setting up this interview. 
Also, many thanks to the Hebden Bridge Trades Club: http://thetradesclub.com/

All photographs © James Nuttall, 2011

The Power of the Q! Interview with Patti Quatro by James Nuttall ©

What comes to your mind when you hear the word 'Quatro'? The drink? The car? Or maybe the group of sisters who were some of the trailblazers for women in rock and roll... introducing Patti Quatro.

Patti has had an extraordinary career from sharing the bill with the likes of Chuck Berry, Bob Seger and Pink Floyd, to being a member of the iconic '70s band Fanny. Not to mention being the older sister to the queen of rock, Suzi Quatro, who has sold over 50 million records in her solo career. 


Patti and youngest Quatro sister, Nancy, have recently released two mind blowing CD's: the first of the Quatro sisters's second band, Cradle's electrifying performance on New Years Eve, 1970 opening for the MC5; the second being their original band, The Pleasure Seeker's back catalogue of recorded songs. 


Patti recently consented to an online interview with me via Facebook... and what an interview it turned out to be...


James: What was the first record you ever bought? 
Patti Q: That is realllllllly stretching my memory. It would have to have been one of the groups from Motown, which was kickin' ass in Detroit at that time, as I was just a VERY young teen, going to dance halls to dance, (I was) not in (any) bands yet.




JAMES: What was the first band you saw in concert?
PATTI Q: Peter Paul and Mary (folk era), and right after I moved into rock from influence of the home town musicians we were hanging with.

JAMES: Who first inspired you to become a musician?

PATTI Q: Actually my hometown musician friends....bands were springing up and I went to a concert and watched everyone crying, going crazy around me and I had my moment there and went home, called my girlfriends, and we started a three piece with no direction whatsoever (all of us taking lessons). A couple months later we brought in Suzi and our drummer's sister to round it out and formally started.

JAMES: What was it like being in a band with your sisters?

PATTI Q: Was there a lot of competition? I do not recall any bad infighting in our bands. Us sisters all got along musically very very well. Any fighting was usually about me as leader, trying to rein in Suzi and Arlene (who held up a plane a couple times saying goodbye to boyfriends and got me ballistic). They loved pulling my chain because I was so serious about the bands and business. It kept things interesting. But we got along wonderfully musically, and (we were) never competitive. We all had our roles and things flowed nicely.

Patti (second right) with her first band, The Pleasure Seekers, with sisters Suzi (center) and Arlene (far left)

JAMES: You opened for several big names, and played everywhere in America there is to play; does one particular gig stand out?

PATTI Q: Yes, for me playing with Mountain was just spectacular. They had this wall of sound that just hit you in the gut. Loved them. There were scads of cool gigs and festivals with great talent of era, those were always a blast to do. And (the) New Years Eve gig where we recorded live our Cradle album was a great gig with the MC5. 

JAMES: You were in two bands with your sisters, did you prefer one band to the other, as Cradle was a lot heavier than the Pleasure Seekers?

PATTI Q: Pleasure Seekers was that first swell of excitement doing something you love, and so young...first road experiences...we always had a blast. Starting at 14 and 16 with a record out was just mind blowing to us young girls.

When you evolve to a new sound (Cradle), it is hard, very hard to pick a favorite, because you love both for different reasons.
PS (Pleasure Seekers) was a show band with a light show, we did covers of everything from Motown to the heavy stuff to acid rock to English bands. We performed an entire Sgt. Pepper, Magical Mystery set, along with also originals we started writing.
We went with the changing times, evolving into the very heavy Cradle in 1969 when that kind of music hit. I loved PS for the showmanship and variety of what we did, changing instruments, etc....full costuming....Nancy was left behind till the last year, and so badly wanted to be in it, and finally was. If PS was my heart then Cradle was my soul. Cradle was the type of music I really prefer (along with Nancy). It was terribly experimental, musically, very satisfying to play with intricate harmonies, even 7th harmonies, relevant lyrics, time changes, and raw gritty heavy musical moods as well as just good rock. 

Cradle was more where I live musically. Also it was the group where I started to explode on lead guitar. I had played rhythm and lead both in PS (sharing with Pami Benford). Cradle was musically far more advanced and that was a real turn on for me... absolutely loved it. it was like breathing oxygen in a renaissance era. The creativity in Detroit was like an explosion with all the urban home bands coming together and jamming, playing gigs, hanging...the energy was sublime; the music raw and gritty; and the new sound of Detroit Rock City infused in all of us. Think Seger, Iggy, MC5, Alice, GFF, so many!!!

JAMES: How did you end up joining Fanny?

PATTI Q: I was playing (with) my MQ Jam Band, and we did a gig together.
Then not too much later, they called me to have a jam in New York I believe, as June was having a bit of a nervous breakdown and wanted to leave. They had tried for four albums to break through and still the gender prejudice was prevalent in the musical community. Jean and Nickey expressed wanting to rock much harder, leaving their more folk oriented tunes behind (which was part of June's influence). I think they felt some of (the) funky Detroit Rock City energy was needed. It went well, and the rest is history. The first gig was on New Years Eve at Whiskey at end of 1973. My brother was quite upset at me leaving, and frankly, I had so enjoyed doing classical rock as a stretch, and he was amazing on keys with a wall of sound. It was a very tough decision for me, wrenching me from my brother but toward my dream of breaking an all girl band finally.

JAMES: Do you have a particular favourite Fanny album?

PATTI Q: Actually I like the first couple....liked the young rawness of it and they were well produced by Richard Perry. I actually hated the last one by Todd Rundgren. Just left me cold, don't know why. (I) didn't care for the tune selection or anything. These were all before I joined. I also loved the one we did, Rock and Roll Survivors, because it took them in a different direction and the remaining members expressed such a high desire to do that. 

JAMES: What would be the highlight of your career?

PATTI Q: Wow that is tough too, as there are high moments you remember...

*Pleasure Seekers: Getting the first single out at such a young age was major
*Being held over 6 weeks to tour with The Animals 
in 1978. 
*Cradle: Jamming with Page and Plant backstage on their U.S. tour to Stairway to Heaven; same with Jeff Beck and jamming with him in Toronto.
There were many high moments as our home was a jam place for groups in town. Invariably we were lucky to jam with many top musicians of the era, both at our home and on the road; that was gold to me as we moved into such a heavy direction musically. It was for me a serious highlight to be able to trade licks and ideas with such a stellar group of top musicians of that classic rock era.
*Whenever your record gets on charts, that is always a high moment also. 
*For women in that era, it was a real highlight to get signed by the gender prejudiced executives...
*Trivia inserted here: many do not know this but Jerry Nolan, drummer of New York Dolls was (the) only male to play with the sister bands at the very end.
*Fanny: Having two of the highest charted Fanny singles while I played with them in 1974. I've Had It  and Butter Boy (banned in Boston as (it was) too racy for radio, and a tune written about David Bowie, whom we were close with and Jean was seeing.)
*Also doing the ELO album (studio vocals) and Keith Moon's final album....great fun. 
And as an odd footnote, I have to add that a huge highlight of my career was when Suzi hit the cover of Rolling Stone. For us sisters we had kicked down doors our whole careers in PS and Cradle.....that was carrying on the flame of kicking down the FINAL door for women who had a rough journey in a man's musical world. As I was touring and playing when that happened, it was an enormously proud moment for our family and all that came before to feed into that kind of success for Suzi. Loved it.

(The) last highlight was playing in a huge female orchestra for Frances Gall, and doing a live album and tour in Europe... very thrilling to play with the top female musicians of that time from every corner of world. Very very cool.

Patti and Suzi Quatro, 1974

JAMES: Your sister Suzi went on to have an extremely successful career. You also featured on her 1975 album, Your Mamma Won't Like Me. Which of her songs/albums would be your favourite?

PATTI Q: I love the hits of course, but my soul is more into for instance the funky Your Mama Won't Like Me (I sang on that one), and by far and away, my favorite albums are her last current two (In the Spotlight and Back to the Drive). I love: Strict Machine, Breaking Dishes, Rosie Rose, Rockin in the Free World, and Back to the Drive. 

JAMES: Who is the most influential person you've met in the music business? 

PATTI Q: John Lennon, who was at Fanny's Whiskey Debut in 1974. Jeff Beck, Page, Plant, Hendrix (who my brother brought in to Detroit as the first big rock concert promoter in Hendrix's beginning days), Roger Daltry and the Who, really a list of who's who from (the) classic rock era. It was a smaller community and everyone wanted a girl band (it was unusual), so out of the box we were touring the country and invariably met, played and jammed with the top names of the era. The list is quite endless really; different cities, different acts on bills.

JAMES: How did the release of the new Cradle: The History, and The Pleasure Seekers CD's come about? 

PATTI Q: We have been asked for years to document the family history of the earliest of the rockin' female musician groups. When I moved to a new home I came upon a box of two track reel to reels, amazingly that had survived time. Jim Frye, our amazing engineer, worked hard to preserve the raw grit live sound of the era, removing only ambient noise as (best as) he could. We were lucky enough to have much of our material represented on the tapes, and extremely excited to have that classic rock era we lived and played in finally documented and available.

The two albums are available at major outlets, as well as our distributor CD Baby. 
Footnote: Cradle, released in 2010, has been consistently on their "top albums", "top 70's", "top songs", and "editor's pick" and still is.
Pleasure Seekers has had the same good fortune since it's release last May. 
We owe a heartfelt thanks to the fans and friends who enjoyed who and what we did, playing and pioneering in those early days. Many tell us it is amazing this music is finally documented for historical context of female musicians/bands. It's been quite a ride, and a very fulfilling past two years on these projects.

JAMES: Given the opportunity would you like to ever work with Fanny or your sisters again?
PATTI Q: There is talk afoot of PS doing a reunion gig....can't say more because it is not setup yet. We sisters love getting together when we can and it is appropriate to perform. Nancy and I toured Germany with Suzi back a few years, having a blast singing backup for her. Also performed at her 60'th birthday in rocking' Detroit. I love performing with my sisters and would do so in a heartbeat.
Fanny also would be a blast to play again with. Who knows what will happen in future.
I would kill to have all these amazing women who helped forge history for females to rock... have a huge event and all play and jam together. THAT would be some damn gig.
'Nuf said.

Many thanks to Patti for giving such an in-depth interview.

The Pleasure Seekers and Cradle albums can be purchased at:

 http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/Cradle1/from/viglink

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/pleasureseekers

Follow Patti and the Quatro sisters at: 

http://quatrorock.com/quatrorock/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/CRADLE/298374699180?sk=info

http://www.myspace.com/quatrorock

http://www.reverbnation.com/QuatroRock

http://www.myspace.com/pattiquatroericson

http://twitter.com/#!/QuatroRock

Patti's sister Suzi can be followed at: 

http://suziquatro.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/SUZI-QUATRO-OFFICIAL-FAN-CLUB/106218856068295

http://twitter.com/#!/Suzi_Quatro

The Cradle CD (From left to right: Suzi, Nancy, Patti and Nancy Rogers)