Pleasure Seekers
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The Pleasure Seekers was the name of a 1960's-era, girls-only garage band from Detroit, Michigan. They are probably the best known all-female garage rock band, due in large part to the later prominence of bandmember Suzi Quatro[citation needed]. The name was taken from a then-current film starring Ann-Margret, The Pleasure Seekers.
The band had their first record out in 1965, 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 former is included on Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 6, while the latter was featured in the cult film Blood Orgy of the Leather Girls. Both songs are included on the compilation album Friday at the Hideout, which offers a retrospective of Hideout Records.
Next, they were the earliest all girl group to be signed (in 1968) to a major label, Mercury Records[citation needed]. They released a second single, "Light of Love" b/w "Good Kind of Hurt", a single that received moderate airplay nationally[citation needed]. 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 revue, and everything in between, as well as featuring one of the earliest known light shows for their act.
Patti Quatro 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. He also was the songwriter for both sides of their first single.
The original band included Suzi Quatro and Patti Quatro, Nancy Ball (drums) and 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. (Actress Sherilynn Fenn is their daughter). Pictured above are (left to right) Arlene Quatro on keyboard and vocals, Suzi Quatro on bass and lead vocals, Eileen Biddlingmeier on rhythm guitar and vocals, Darline Arnone, drums and vocals, and Patti Quatro on lead guitar and vocals.
The Quatro sisters were reared in a very musical family, with their dad (Art Quatro) enjoying musical success with his own band, booking agency, and house organist for the Detroit Red Wings. Their brother Mike Quatro was one of the earliest major promoters, bringing in groups like the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, and other legends of the day, as well as being a child prodigy on keyboards on the Lawrence Welk Show, and a booking agent in Michigan.
Later, the band morphed into Cradle, touring through the U.S. and gaining popularity, while writing much original material. Arlene was now manager, and sister Nancy had joined as vocalist. Soon after, Suzi was signed by Mickie Most, leaving for England, and solo fame with her male group, as Suzi Quatro. Patti continued on with sister Nancy in Cradle, then joined brother Mike's MQ Jam Band, recording an album, Look Deeply Into the Mirror. Soon after, in 1974, she joined Fanny, recording Rock and Roll Survivors album, and releasing two singles, "I've Had It", and "Butter Boy", which reached #29 nationally. Patti left Fanny in 1975, and continued on with studio work and other musical and recording side projects through many years. Suzi exploded in Europe first, then worldwide, enjoying an enormous and long lasting recording and concert career. She also branched out as a TV actress as Leather Tuscadero in Happy Days, a radio d.j., author, and actress on the English stage.
The Quatro sisters have enjoyed reuniting for special TV and concert projects through the years, reminiscent of the early Pleasure Seekers days.
