Live Review: Rockstar Suzi Quatro Rocks Hard in Perth 2025
22nd October 2025 at the RAC Arena Perth, Western Australia
Review by Sheldon Ang
Photography by Sheldon Ang Photography
“Fifty years ago, the face of Rock’ n Roll changed…” as clips from her archives appeared on the screen. Anticipation brewed. The thundering stomps of the drum drove the rhythm and the power of glam, which she helped to pioneer over fifty years ago. It is the force and sound that is synonymous with Suzi Quatro. Each thunderous beat shook the arena, drawing a cacophony of excitement. No pyro, just the sonic introduction that propagated the maniacal hype.
She then waltzed with her bass guitar, with her band waiting on stage. The night commenced with The Wild One, a song title of thematical significance to spark the night – yes, you are the wild one, Suzi. But it was more than a spark, rather an end-to-end powerhouse of rock propagation that drove the inferno. The queen of rock – enshrined by a solid band consisting of guitarists Tim Henwood and Nat Allison, keyboardist Paul Cecchinelli , drummer Johnny Salermo was scintillating from the get-go. The grit, the zippy zapping across the stage, those wide-eyed moments when she screamed, and the orgasmic look were plastered all over the stage by the musicians. Fans were punching the air with rock god gestures like in a scene of a rock festival.
I May Be Too Young, Daytona Demon and Tear Me Apart carried the momentum. Four songs in, the fans were already saturated by the energy propelled across the RAC Arena.
“This is my 41st tour in Australia. I’ve been over 50 years in this business. We are going to hear your favourite hits. You have just heard four of your favourite songs. You are going to hear music all the way from 1973…to the present day.”
And so far, her stage presence and vocal calibre were electrically fused with rock n’ roll allegory. She zig zags across the stage, swooping and weaving and saying hi to her musicians, with a facial countenance and posing demeanour that oozed rock-stardom-ship, and occasionally swinging her bass guitar in a three sixty combined with ninety ninety-degree rise, and often eyeing in gleaming euphoria at her guitarist, Nat Allison of Melbourne – also a friend of this photographer/writer. And there wouldn’t be a Suzi show without her facing her back to the audience and bending for a casual tease. The crowd roared with approval.
The hits kept thundering in, with the biggest one so far – Stumblin’ In. It was a 1989 track that became popular amongst the millennials, thanks to the dance version in 2024 by Cyril. “Do you want to listen to the original version?” The crowd roared and many were on their feet.
The thundering stomp beats returned, serving the addiction that Suzi had also made famous in 48 Crash. Fans were clapping to the cadence of the rhythm section.
“I was born in 1950. That means I am 75 this year.”
By now, some unsuspecting fans would have realised that Suzi Quatro is an American rock legend. But it shouldn’t take them more than 50 years to realise that the septuagenarian is the wonder woman in rock and showbiz. With the aid of the screen, she told us that she has published eight books, is a radio host on the BBC, and has appeared on several TV shows. But it was the image of The Fonz and Suzi beamed on the screen that drove the fans to ahhh, in a spill of kaleidoscope nostalgia from the 70s.
“Til this day, I’m still friends with Henry Winkler, Ron Howard and the cast of Happy Days”. Silence brewed, soaking in the beautiful memories. When it rains, it pours; we were drenched in nostalgia, a memory from the golden age of rock. Not only is Suzi Quatro a rock legend, but she is also a national treasure.
She was on keyboard for Can I Be Your Girl, in a poignant solo performance dedicated “to my mother, who gave me life…and to my father, who gave me music.” And halfway through, the band joined in for support. It was the undulation between rock fest and intimate melancholy that made Quatro a three-dimensional performer.
To further showcase her musical aptitude, Suzi also jammed with the percussionist for a minute or so before the call of rock god – the intro scream that led to Can the Can and Devil Gate Drive – tracks that rose to number 1 in Australia and the UK in 1973 and 1974.
Each musician then showcased their talent through a solo performance, and to cap it off, there was the bass masterclass by the legend herself that went for five minutes. She slapped the bass string, placed the guitar body between her legs, and raised the head and teased the audience by stroking the 4 strings, while wagging her tongue, and at the climax, raised the guitar to the heavens, as if a dedication to the rock gods. We’ve just witnessed the best bass moment since Gene Simmons expelled his blood-spitting shenanigans in 2023 at the RAC Arena.
The encore consisted of If You Can’t Give Me Love and Sweet Little Rock N Roller. Everyone left their seats and started stomping on the ground. But it didn’t end there, as Suzi returned for one more song, covering Desperado as she sat on a box. All lights were off, just a spotlight on her, with a towel wrapped around her neck. We were drenched in the poignancy. By the end, the tears were streaming from her face, before the night faded into a video of Singing With Angels.
After the show, this writer/ photographer told Suzi backstage, “I’ve seen you perform three times since 2022, but tonight was the best. It was like watching KISS.”
She replied, “Oh there were moments when I got emotional.”
“Those are real tears hey,” I asked.
“Oh yes, it was, those were real.”
Setlist 2025
ACT ONE
The Wild One – Quatro (1974)
I May Be Too Young – Your Mamma Won’t Like Me (1975)
Daydream – The Devil in Me (2021)
Tear Me Apart – Aggro-Phobia (1977)
Mama’s Boy – Suzi… and Other Four Letter Words (1979)
Stumblin’ In – Single with Chris Norman / If You Knew Suzi… (1978)
48 Crash – Suzi Quatro (1973)
No Control – No Control (2019)
Sold My Soul Today – The Devil in Me (2021)
Rockin’ in the Free World – Neil Young cover (Live performance staple)
Can I Be Your Girl – The Devil in Me (2021)
ACT TWO
Rock Hard – Rock Hard (1980)
Bad Moon Rising – Cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival (Live performance staple)
She’s in Love with You – Suzi… and Other Four Letter Words (1979)
Shine a Light – The Devil in Me (2021)
Bass Solo – Live instrumental segment (not from studio album)
Can’t Stop – No Control (2019)
Devil Gate Drive – Quatro (1974)
Gimme Some Lovin’ – Cover of The Spencer Davis Group (Live performance staple)
Sweet Little Rock ‘n’ Roller – Your Mamma Won’t Like Me (1975)
Desperado – Cover of Eagles (Live performance staple)
Sheldon Ang Media would like to thank Duet Group, Pat Doonan and Suzi Quatro for the media accreditation.
About the writer/photographer: The founder of Perth-based Sheldon Ang Media (est. May 2022) has been accredited to more than 200 of the hottest acts including Taylor Swift (ERAS Tour in Sydney), Coldplay (Perth), Backstreet Boys, KISS, Iron Maiden, RHCP, P!NK and of course Suzi Quatro on three occasions with reviews shared by the likes of Belinda Carlisle, Roxette, Tina Arena, UB40, Delta Goodrem, Leo Sayer and Tina Arena on social media. He has interviewed rockers Suzi Quatro, Ace Frehley (KISS), John Steel (The Animals), Frank Ferrer (Guns N Roses), Phil X (Bon Jovi), Andrew Farris (INXS) plus over 70 artists. He’s also a contributor on Triple M Radio as a music journalist.
