Quatro was born in Detroit, Michigan. She started playing bass guitar and formed a girl band, Pleasure Seekers, with her sisters when she was only 14 years old. She went to Britain in 1971 with record producer Mickie Most, who also worked with The Animals, Lulu, and Donovan. Her first hit single was "Can the Can" which went to number one on the sales charts in Europe and Australia. Other big hits were "Devil Gate Drive" (1974), "If You Can't Give Me Love" (1978) and "Stumblin' In" (1978).