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Tag Archives: Suzi Quatro

FANNY – The Godmothers Of Chick Rock

12 Tuesday Mar 2013

Posted by psychorizon in Rockettes

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Addie Clement, Alice de Buhr, Arista Records, Arlene Quatro, BBC Radio 1, Billboard Single Charts, Brie Berry, Butter Boy, California Girls, Casablanca Records, Charity Ball, David Bowie, Deep Purple, Fanny, Fanny Hill, George Harrison, Harry Nilsson, Jean Millington, Joe Cocker, June Millington, Kim Fowley, L.A. All-Stars, Mother’s Pride, Musicians’ Referral Service, Nancy Quatro, Nickey Barclay, Patti Quatro, Reprise Records, Richard Perry, Ringo Starr, Rock And Roll Survivors, Rod Stewart, Rodney Bingenheimer, Suzi Quatro, The Kinks, The Pleasure Seekers, The Rolling Stones, The Runaways, The Svelts, The Who, Todd Rundgren, Whisky-a-Go-Go, Wild Honey

June Millington, born April 14, 1948 and her sister Jean Millington, born May 25, 1950, both in Manila, Philippines started making music in their childhood years, playing a rather traditional island instrument: the ukulele. The two are most renowned for founding Fany, one of the very first all-female Rockbands to be signed by a major record label, but this part of Rock history was still several steps away. Upon moving to Sacramento, California in 1961 they got touch with the contemporary folk sounds. Music is what kept their spirit high, being surrounded by strangers in a strange country. Thus they began performing as an acoustic duo in High School.

JJ acoustics, sideJean & June performing with their acoustic bass and guitar

Having put aside acoustic instruments, their first band prior to Fanny was called The Svelts, featuring drummer Brie Berry, who temporary left but would later join Fanny. In 1968 by guitarist Addie Clement (former member of the California Girls) and drummer Alice de Buhr, who had moved from Mason City, Iowa to California at the age of seventeen in search of the proverbial fame and fortune. The four girls toured around the west in a pimped bus, mainly playing cover versions. Later on in 1968 Addie and Alice pursued their own vision and formed the all-girl band Wild Honey. Without anyone have seen OR heard them, Wild Honey got signed to WB subsidiary Reprise Records. In search for a keyboarder, Wild Honey had to face quite a struggle, as in the late 60s most girls would prefer the piano or church-organ over a Rockband – finally at the backstage area of the Whisky-a-Go-Go, June came in touch with Kim Fowley. He had an artist agent called Musicians’ Referral Service. A sort of agency that helps people finding each other. He helped Nickey Barclay find the musicians of Wild Honey, as he would later do for his most famous find The Runaways.

June-Millington-67-50The Svelts

Over several lineup shifts and changes, Wild Honey had June on guitar and Nickey rejoined after touring with the Joe Cocker Band, pretty much on advice of Mr. Cocker himself. The release of the first album was imminent and arouse the question of a new name – by the four musicians themselves, by their producer Richard Perry, by their label and by their management, the Blue peacock Company. Everyone agreed upon it ought to be a woman’s name, something short, memorable and at once feminine and bold. After considering a series of suggestions the band settled on the name Fanny, and the rest was history.

FannyFanny Reprise Promo

Admired and promoted by fellow musicians and so-to-speak scene makers like George Harrison, David Bowie, Deep Purple, The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Kinks, Rod Stewart, Ringo Starr, Harry Nilsson, Rodney Bingenheimer and Kim Fowley – even before their self titled debut was published – the media wasn’t too much interested in Fanny, accusing them for trying too hard. By now they had become one of the favourite bands to play at Whisky-a-Go-Go – they were booked there so often that it was effectively a residency for them. Despite all criticism, Fanny would stand their ground and pave way for many all-girl groups to come in the cause of history. Finally with their second output, 1971’s ‘Charity Ball’ was well-received by both critics and the public, it’s title track hit the singles charts in the US, peaking at number 40 on the Billboard singles charts in November, and Fanny toured extensively to support the breakthrough.

June at Whiskey a Go GoFANNY playing at Whiskey-a-Go-Go

jeanfanny1972 and 1973 saw the publication of Fanny albums three – ‘Fanny Hill’ – and four – ‘Mother’s Pride’, produced by Todd Rundgren – working their way to become a respected live act and kicking doors open for female musicians, Fanny was no longer laughed at. They even passed the rock-cred “test of fire” by having one of their singles, Young and Dumb, banned by BBC Radio 1 (and by being banned from playing live at the Albert Hall – for being “too provocative”!). Living up to the expectations of being both women and rock musicians took its toll and Fanny and caused a temporary brake-up, resulting in both Alice and June. Alice was replaced by Brie Berry, former drummer of The Svelts while June’s shoes were filled by none other than Patti Quatro, best known as a member of The Pleasure Seekers with her sisters Suzi, Nancy and Arlene. This new line-up recorded the final Fanny album with the meaningful title ‘Rock And Roll Survivors’, published via Casablanca Records. The single ‘Butter Boy’ entered the Billboard singles charts in February, 1975 at number 29 – but by than Fanny had disbanded. A final effort in the spring of that very year found sisters June and Jean together again, accompanied by June’s friend Patti Macheta on percussion and vocals and Wendy Haas, wife of Martin Mull and an old friend of the original Fanny band members, on keyboards and vocals.

At the end of their career, Fanny discontinued the use of the band name and referred to themselves as the L.A. All-Stars. Refusing to act as Fanny again, the band even turned down a possible deal with Arista Records in early 1976.

Inspired by:

Fanny Rock

June Millington

Metal Maidens

THE PLEASURE SEEKERS – Sisterhood Of Strings

04 Sunday Dec 2011

Posted by psychorizon in Rockettes

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Alice Cooper, Arlene Quatro, Art Quatro, Bob Seger, Cradle, Darline Arnone, Diane Baker, Leo Fenn, Mary Lou Ball, Nancy Ball, Nancy Quatro, Patti Quatro, Sherilynn Fenn, Suzi Quatro, Ted Nugent, The Pleasure Seekers, Unzipped

The Pleasure Seekers was a 1960s-era, all-female garage rock band from Detroit, Michigan. The band morphed into Cradle, changing direction musically. They are known due in large part to the later prominence of bandmember Suzi Quatro. According to Suzi Quatro in her memoir ‘Unzipped’, the sisters searched through the dictionary for a name for their band and on coming across “hedonist” used the definition “pleasure seeker” to come up with “The Pleasure Seekers”.

Patti Quatro (born 1948, Detroit, Michigan, USA) formed The Pleasure Seekers in 1964, and they were Suzi Quatro’s first band. After a few weeks practice, Patti dared Dave Leone to give them a slot at his popular teen night club, The Hideout in Detroit. He put them on stage two weeks later, and they never looked back, becoming well known and gaining momentum in the burgeoning and exploding Detroit music community, playing concerts and teen clubs with Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, Bob Seger, and others.

The original band included Suzi Quatro and Patti Quatro, Nancy Ball (drums), Mary Lou Ball (guitar), and Diane Baker, whose father was in Art Quatro’s band, on piano. Later on Arlene Quatro replaced Diane on the piano. Nan Ball played drums until late 1965 when Darline Arnone joined the band and stayed until late 1969. Arlene Quatro’s husband, Leo Fenn, managed the band.

The band had their first record out in 1964, when Suzi Quatro and her sister Patti Quatro were 15 and 17 years old, respectively, on the Hideout label. Both sides of their first single – ‘Never Thought You’d Leave Me’ b/w ‘What a Way to Die’ – have some prominence; the first is included on ‘Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 6’, while the other was featured in the cult film Blood Orgy of the Leather Girls (1988). Both songs (lyrics by Dave Leone) are included on the compilation album ‘Friday at the Hideout’, which offers a retrospective of Hideout Records, and charted regionally for the band.

In 1968, they were one of the earliest all girl rock group to be signed to a major label, Mercury Records. They released a second single, ‘Light of Love’ b/w ‘Good Kind of Hurt’, with both singles charting. The group matured into a dynamic show band and, using Detroit as home base, toured the U.S. Their show featured an entire Sgt. Pepper/Magical Mystery Tour revue, as well as a Motown sound revue, and everything in between, as well as featuring one of the earliest known light shows for their act.

In 1969, The Pleasure Seekers morphed into Cradle, changing direction musically in writing heavier original material and touring throughout the U.S. Arlene was now manager and sister Nancy Quatro had joined as vocalist and percussionist. The group toured vigorously, playing concerts and pop festivals throughout the U.S. 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 England and solo fame as Suzi Quatro. 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.

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.

Arlene Quatro and Leo Fenn are married and have a daughter, actress Sherilynn Fenn. Arlene Quatro 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 Quatro joined Fanny, appearing on their ‘Rock and Roll Survivors’ album and two singles, ‘I’ve Had It’ and ‘Butter Boy’, which reached #29 nationally. Patti left Fanny in 1975. She continued to pursue studio work on several albums, musical side projects (through many years), and modeling.

Suzi Quatro became very popular in Europe, enjoying a successful and long lasting music career. She sold over 55 million records and is still active as a touring and recording artist. She also branched out as a TV actress, stage actress, radio D.J. and author. She is well known for her role as Leather Tuscadero in the popular TV show Happy Days.

Inspiration:

1960s Garage Bands

Quatro Rock

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