“He’s still the best”: The greatest bassist of all time, according to Suzi Quatro
Whatever happens to Suzi Quatro, music has got her covered. “This is what I’ve done my whole life,” she once said. “When things get tough, I create. When my first marriage was going bad, I wrote a musical. Creativity, that’s what saves me every time.” At 74 years old, this is a mantra she holds dearly, even when she postpones musical creativity in favour of spaces discussing the artistry of others.
As a singer, presenter, bass player, actor and songwriter, it seems like Quatro’s skills are limitless, which also qualifies her to be a significant voice in the music industry when it comes to assessing the talents and legacies of others. Although a lot of her wisdom comes from her experiences, a significant amount comes from her approach, which has always centred around open-mindedness.
“I was 14 years old, newly in my first band, The Pleasure Seekers, working the clubs and perfecting my bass and singing, and my mind was like a sponge,” the musician explained, noting her early appreciation of Bob Dylan. “After seeing the Blue Magoo’s at the Chessmate in Detroit, my home town, we ended up hanging at their hotel. I heard, for the first time, [Blonde on Blonde].”
After discovering Dylan’s opus and realising “all roads lead to Bob”, Quatro began a lifelong journey using music as a conduit for all life’s emotions and experiences, all while recognising the true recipe to long-term success. “A lot of people made it at the beginning of that era out of sheer luck, but people who only make it out of luck don’t usually stick around,” she candidly told Guitar World. “You don’t hear about them later. The ones who have been mentored, and have the true artists’ skills, are around for life.”
At the start of her career, Quatro had Mickie Most, who, according to the singer, was vital in getting her off the ground. “Mickie put us out on the circuit, got us an agent, and helped to buy equipment,” she recalled. Moreover, he put her on a pedestal, and while some may view that as unnecessary, it worked, at least for her, it did. “I remember him saying to the rest of the band, […] she gets the best equipment because she’s the most important,” she said.
Although Quatro didn’t have many female bassists to look up to at the time other than Carol Kaye, she realised she found everything she needed in just one male figure—James Jamerson. “Why would I?” she asked when racking her brain for female bass influences. “I had James Jamerson as my example of what good bass playing could be. You really can’t wish for better than that. I was weaned on Motown music, so it’s in my DNA. He did his fancy licks, but he didn’t overplay.”
Noting how he influences her own sound, she added: “He’s still the best. I very much take my style from him. I’m a cross between his style and boogie.”
According to Quatro, it’s hard to think of anyone better than Jamerson because “you’re talking perfection”. Jamerson didn’t just inspire the musician because of how much she wanted to replicate his technicality; he did so because he completely influenced the sound of Motown. As she put it: “The drums, the bass, and the tambourine were what made the Motown sound”.
