SHE may have a career spanning more than 40 years, but original rock chick Suzi Quatro shows no signs of slowing down.

Suzi – famed for her leather-clad look – is in the middle of a world tour, playing venues and festivals in Europe, Australia and her native America.

And the Seventies star is heading for Holmfirth Picturedrome on July 11, the only UK stop on the tour.

Suzi’s performance at the Holmfirth venue is her first, but she’s looking forward to coming back to West Yorkshire.

She says: “I’ve had a career over 40 years so I’ve been to the area before.

“I think the area’s really pretty. I’ve heard of Last of the Summer Wine but I’ve never seen it – I’m more of a movies kind of girl.

“I’m definitely excited about playing to the crowd. The gigs are great, there’s lots of the original fans coming and they’re bringing their family.”

Now 59, Suzi is as busy as ever performing and making music.

Born in Detroit, she was one of three daughters of jazz band leader Art Quatro.

At just 14 she teamed up with her sisters to form a band called The Pleasure Seekers.

Suzi says growing up in a musical family prepared her for life in the spotlight.

She says: “I was brought up in a family who taught me to play musical instruments so I naturally took to it.

“I was ready for it, I treated it like it was my job. It’s very different now where they have these shows where you can be famous overnight.

“It’s great TV but I’m not sure they give the right images – these poor people are thrown into the limelight then wrenched back out again.”

Suzi and her sisters stayed together for five years and in 1970 were spotted playing a gig at a Detroit club by successful British recorder producer Mickie Most.

He signed Suzi to his new RAK label, which brought success to Hot Chocolate and Mudd.

Suzi came to England to work on an album – where she has stayed ever since and raised her family – and in 1972 supported Slade on tour.

Her first single, Rolling Stone, failed to make a great chart impression, but her second single Can The Can raced up the UK charts to number one and remained in the top 30 for more than three months.

In the beginning Suzi didn’t enjoy as much success in her home country as she did in Europe and Australia.

But once she started playing more gigs in the States her fortunes changed and in 1978 Stumblin' In reached number four in the US charts.

In 1980 her song Rock Hard featured on the soundtrack of film Times Square and in 1985 collaborated with the likes of The Kinks and Dr Feelgood for a charity version of David Bowie’s Heroes.

Suzi says she always knew she would be a successful solo artist.

“I was different. I was the first girl that was a serious rock and roller and played music like the guys did.”

And establish herself as a success she did, selling over 50 million records worldwide.

Suzi also found fame as an actress, appearing as Leather Tuscadero in popular US sitcom Happy Days as well as UK series Minder and Midsummer Murders as well as stage shows.

In more recent years she has found success as a record producer and for the last 11 years has presented BBC Radio 2 show Wake Up Little Suzi.

Suzi has continued touring all over the world and is aiming for massive chart success once again with her new ‘back to basics’ album, due out next year.

But says Suzi there’s no chance of her hanging up her guitar just yet.

“I’ve been doing this since I was 14 and the buzz of being on stage is the best.

“As long as it still feels natural I’ll carry on.”

Tickets for the Holmfirth gig cost £25. Visit www.picturedrome.net for details.