Suzi Quatro on Freedom: “Nobody Held My Hand… I Did It My Way”
In this new conversation with Now Spinning Magazine, Suzi joins me to discuss her brand-new album Freedom, released March 27. The record marks her third collaboration with her son and producer L.R. Tuckey, and it’s one of the most unapologetically rocking albums she’s released in years.
From the moment she burst onto the charts with Can the Can and Devil Gate Drive, Quatro established herself as a powerful presence in rock music. Over five decades later — and with over 55 million records sold worldwide — she is still pushing forward with the same determination that built her career.
And if Freedom proves anything, it’s that Suzi Quatro has no intention of slowing down.
A Return to Raw Rock ’n’ Roll
From the opening moments of the title track, Freedom announces itself as a full-blooded rock album.
Blues-driven riffs, punchy bass lines and energetic guitars define the sound — something Suzi intentionally leaned into while working with her son.
“Every song that made it onto the album has that vibe. It’s a return to my roots — totally.”
The title track came together through an unusual writing process. L.R. Tuckey would often send Suzi instrumental tracks without lyrics, leaving her to build the vocal and lyrical structure from instinct.
Sitting with headphones, bass guitar in hand, she allowed the music to guide her.
“When it got to the chorus I suddenly sang ‘Freedom’ — and there was the song. That’s how creation works sometimes.”
The result is a song bursting with fast, bluesy rock energy — the kind of track that feels instantly at home alongside the classic Quatro catalogue.
The Guitar Power of L.R. Tuckey
Throughout the interview, Phil repeatedly praises L.R. Tuckey’s guitar work, which plays a central role in the album’s sound.
Quatro describes watching his musical development over the years.
“You’re hearing a young boy wanting to be in the business… getting better and better and then finally going — bang, here I am.”
His playing carries clear blues influences and at times hints at players like Stevie Ray Vaughan, but Suzi also hears echoes of another guitarist close to home — his father, Len Tuckey, who played in her band for many years.
Together, the two have developed a creative rhythm that pushes Suzi vocally and emotionally.
Songs That Reflect a Lifetime
Several songs on Freedom explore themes of independence and resilience — none more directly than “Choose Yourself.”
The track almost became the album’s title before the impact of the song Freedom shifted the direction of the project.
“Choose yourself. Don’t black and blue yourself. Life is too short to lose yourself.”
Another standout track, “Nobody Held My Hand,” reflects on Suzi’s journey through the music industry.
L.R. encouraged her to write honestly about the reality of forging her own path.
“Nobody helped you. Nobody held your hand. You did it yourself.”
For Quatro, it was an opportunity to revisit the determination that defined her early career.
Detroit Roots and Rock Heritage
Suzi’s pride in her Detroit musical heritage runs through the album — and nowhere is that clearer than in the explosive cover of Kick Out the Jams, originally by MC5.
For this version, she teamed up with fellow Detroit legend Alice Cooper.
Recorded together in Detroit, the session captured a moment of spontaneous musical chemistry.
“We captured Detroit. We captured our friendship. You can’t manufacture that.”
The recording even includes a playful reference to Quatro’s classic hit Can the Can, dropped unexpectedly by Alice Cooper during the session.
Rocking at 75
Perhaps the most remarkable part of the conversation is how energetic and driven Suzi remains.
Before joining the interview, she had already been practicing bass and rehearsing songs for the upcoming tour.
Her daily routine includes:
Bass practice
Piano exercises
Vocal preparation
Running through her entire live show at home
“Your energy level has to stay up here. If you want to remain good, you keep your chops up all the time.”
And the tour schedule certainly proves her point.
The Freedom Tour
Suzi’s UK tour includes major dates across the country: From there she continues across Europe — with dates already scheduled into 2027.
As she says with a laugh:
“I’m not ready to stop yet.”
Determined: The Word That Defines Her
Near the end of the interview, Suzi shares a fascinating story.
While preparing for two upcoming films about her life, she asked friends, family and fans to describe her in three words. Those responses formed a “word wheel.”
At the centre — the most common description — was one word:
Determined.
And perhaps that single word sums up the spirit of Freedom.
This album isn’t nostalgia. It’s not a farewell.
It’s a declaration.
At 75, Suzi Quatro sounds exactly like the title of the record: free, fearless, and still rocking.
Because if Freedom proves anything, it’s that rock ’n’ roll isn’t about age… it’s about attitude.
Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine
