‘Devil Gate Drive’ is a song by American singer Suzi Quatro. It was Quatro's second (and final) solo number one single in the UK, spending two weeks at the top of the chart in February 1974. According to ukcharts.20m.com, she only reached number one again, in the UK, 13 years and 26 days later (as part of the Ferry Aid band in a charity version of the Lennon–McCartney song ‘Let It Be’).
This song describes a trip to Devil Gate Drive, a fictional place where all the kids get their kicks. In a In an interview with Suzi Quatro, she said: "It's the place where you go when you're a teenager, and your parents say, 'Where are you going?' 'I'm going out.' 'Don't you dare go to such-and-such.' That's 'Devil Gate Drive,' and that's where you go. Of course, as soon as your parents say, 'Don't go,' that's where you go."
Written and produced by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman, ‘Devil Gate Drive’ was the second number one in a row for the "ChinniChap" writing and production team, following the success of ‘Tiger Feet’ by Mud. The single was re-recorded for Quatro's 1995 album What Goes Around as the opening track. The track was the B-side to the re-release in 1987, when ‘Can the Can’ became a minor hit.
Quatro was born and raised in Detroit, but made her biggest impact in the UK, where she relocated in 1971 to join Mickie Most's RAK label. ‘Devil Gate Drive’ was her second UK #1, following ‘Can The Can.’ In America, it was released only as a promotional single because she had no real fanbase there. In 1975, she made a push to break through in the States, but even after landing a Rolling Stone cover and touring with Alice Cooper, she still didn't catch on. She did land the role of Leather Tuscadero on the TV show Happy Days, playing the lead singer of the group Leather Tuscadero & the Suedes. When she finally had a US hit in 1979, it was a lite-rock duet with Chris Norman called ‘Stumblin' In.’
A vocal extract was used on Orbital's "Bigpipe Style". The song was featured on the show Happy Days, during season 5, on the episode "Fonzie and Leather Tuscadero, Part II". Quatro played Leather Tuscadero on the show.
Label – RAK Records
Songwriters – Nicky Chinn, Mike Chapman
Producers – Nicky Chinn, Mike Chapman
SONG LYRICS
[Intro]Hey, y'all wanna go down to Devil Gate Drive? (Yeah!)
Well, come on! (Oh yeah!)
Welcome to "The Dive"
Ah-one, ah-two, ah-one, two, three!
Yeah!
Yeah!
[Verse 1]
Well, at the age of five they can do their jive
Down in Devil Gate Drive
And at the age of six they're gonna get their kicks
Down in Devil Gate Drive
[Pre-Chorus 1]
Well your mama don't know where your sister done go
She gone down to the Drive, she's the star of the show
And let her move on up, let her come let her go
She can jive down in Devil Gate Drive
[Chorus]
So come alive (yeah!), come alive (yeah!)
Down in Devil Gate Drive
So come alive (yeah!), come alive (yeah!)
Down in Devil Gate, down in Devil Gate
Down in Devil Gate Drive
Down in Devil Gate, down in Devil Gate
Down in Devil Gate Drive
[Verse 2]
When they reach fifteen, that's when they all get mean
Down in Devil Gate Drive
When I was sweet sixteen, I was the jukebox queen
Down in Devil Gate Drive
[Pre-Chorus 2]
I led the angel pack on the road to sin
Knock down the gates, let me in, let me in
Don't mess me 'round, 'cause you know where I've been
To 'The Dive' down in Devil Gate Drive
[Chorus]
So come alive (yeah!), come alive (yeah!)
Down in Devil Gate Drive
So come alive (yeah!), come alive (yeah!)
Down in Devil Gate, down in Devil Gate
Down in Devil Gate Drive
Down in Devil Gate, down in Devil Gate
Down in Devil Gate Drive
[Piano Solo]
Ooh, come alive
Come alive, come alive
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, ooh
[Pre-Chorus 3]
Well your mama don't know where your sister done go
She gone down to the Drive, she's the star of the show
And let her move on up, let her come let her go
She can jive down in Devil Gate Drive
[Chorus]
So come alive (yeah!), come alive (yeah!)
Down in Devil Gate Drive
So come alive (yeah!), come alive (yeah!)
Down in Devil Gate, down in Devil Gate
Down in Devil Gate Drive
[Outro]
Come on, boys!
Let's do it one more time for Suzi!
Are you ready, now?
Yeah! Ah-one, ah-two, ah-one, two, three!
Come alive (yeah!)
Come alive (yeah!)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, woo!