Suzi Quatro donates bass guitar to Chelmsford Museum

An Essex-based rock star has donated a five-string bass from her personal collection to a museum in the county.

Suzi Quatro, 73, best known for chart hits such as Can the Can and Devil Gate Drive, gave her black Sterling to Chelmsford Museum.

The bass was used while Quatro recorded her Back to the Drive album when she needed a low B note which could not be achieved with four strings.

It will be used as part of the museum's 20th Century display.

After producer Andy Scott acquired the five-string bass for recording the album he later gave it to Quatro.

Quatro, who has worked for 60 years in the industry, after she started at 14, said: "I'm having more fun now than I ever had.

"I just did four big gigs last year and later this year I've got my 38th tour of Australia. It's joyous, I've never really worked as I love my job.

"Although there have been female musicians all the time, I was the first one to play an instrument and front a rock 'n' roll band and have success, so that's my legacy."

In return for the donation of the Sterling by Music Man, Quatro requested to take back her "good luck charm" - a pink paisley Fender she previously donated to the museum.

The rock star first fell in love with the Fender at a music shop in Nashville, USA, but did not buy it because she could not transport it back to the UK.

However, she later saw the guitar in a music shop in London and bought it.

The guitar had been displayed at the museum since 2017, but now Chelmsford Museum has agreed to swap the instrument.

Quatro is from Detroit, Michigan, but settled in Essex after meeting her ex-husband, who is from Romford, east London. She has brought up her two children in the county.

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