Suzi Quatro, 70 years young, with 55 million records sold and half a century of rock and roll under her leather jumpsuit, is the perfect guest for Halloween. She can’t be scared. She can’t be tricked and doesn’t need your treat. She’s fearless with the ‘Bring it’ energy of a prize fighter about to enter the ring.

When you speak with her, every sentence counts, like maybe it’s a matter of life or death.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

Yes, we do. I spoke with her on the occasion of a new documentary about her life, Suzi Q (now streaming). Our talk covered her love of Elvis, her early, lonely years in London, her ability to “stay normal,” and who should play her in yet another movie, this one a big-budget feature. (Miley, Billie, Scarlett?).

She insists she “doesn’t do gender,” but women such as Joan Jett, Debbie Harry and Kathy Valentine are reduced to tears in her presence. They and others revere Suzi Quatro as a trailblazer, a profile in courage. Rosa Parks with a Fender bass. The first female rock star.

Admittedly, I didn’t know much about Ms. Quatro before her Thacker appearance but after picking up on her energy, even over a transatlantic phone line, and then listening to some of her tunes including her new song, No Control, I am now a fan.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

Also for our Halloween extravaganza, don’t miss Ghalia Volt, a slide guitarist from Brussels, Belgium now based in New Orleans. Her new album, Mississippi Blend was recorded at the Zebra Ranch near Coldwater, MS with Cody Dickinson, Lightnin’ Malcolm and Cedric Burnside. She burns the strings to make Suzi Quatro proud.

And to wrap up our treats, we’ll have a very cool songwriter, Erin Roberts, with her band, Porlolo. Erin is a self-described “sister, swimmer and stunt artist.”

Full moon, Halloween and Suzi Quatro. Hold on tight – and put your hands on the radio… or your device of choice.

Crank it!

J.D.

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Saturday, October 31 – The Thacker Mountain Radio Hour celebrates Halloween with legendary rock and roll trailblazer Suzi Quatro! Plus, blues slide guitarist Ghalia Volt and pop rockers, Porlolo.

Hosts: Jim Dees and our house band, the Yalobushwhackers

This week’s show celebrates Sarahfest with our friends at the Sarah Isom Center for Gender Studies at the University of Mississippi. Sarahfest is a month-long series of concerts, lectures, art exhibits and more. We’re delighted to be a part of it!

Air times:

Saturday. October 31 – 7pm (CT) Mississippi Public Broadcasting

9pm (CT) Alabama Public Radio

3 pm (ET) University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Thursdays 6 pm (CT) WUMS – University of Mississippi

Fridays 9 am (CT) WYXR Memphis Community Radio