The return of...Quiet Riot

[That 70s Guy]

blabbermouth.com

QUIET RIOT Back In Business With New Singer And Upcoming Tour - Sep. 13, 2010
After the tragic passing of co-founding QUIET RIOT singer Kevin DuBrow in 2007, many figured that the band was over. But while going through the vaults of vintage video material for an upcoming documentary of the band's history, the spark was reignited once more for drummer Frankie Banali to kick QUIET RIOT back in gear. The easy part was filling the guitar and bass slots — as former members Chuck Wright (bass) and Alex Grossi (guitar) promptly signed on. However, having to fill DuBrow's large shoes was no small task.

A longtime fan of heavy metal, singer Mark Huff came to Banali's attention while fronting a California-based VAN HALEN tribute band (that focused on the "Sammy Hagar era"). A true Cinderella story, Huff auditioned via a cattle call audition, promptly blew Banali away, and got the gig. After getting the blessing from DuBrow's mother to carry on with QUIET RIOT (and to celebrate her son's music), the group was ready to rock once more.

QUIET RIOT hit mega-success with their first-ever U.S. release in 1983, the classic "Metal Health". Spawning two hit singles that have gone on to become synonymous with heavy metal — "Cum On Feel the Noize" and "Metal Health" — the "Metal Health" album went on to become the first-ever metal U.S. debut to hit the No. 1 spot on the Billboard album chart, and resulted in a solid year of sold-out arena shows and non-stop MTV video airplay. However, it was the DuBrow-Banali-Wright-Grossi lineup that proved to be DuBrow's favorite touring line-up (and also, most stable).

QUIET RIOT is currently firming up plans for a full U.S. tour — their first in three years. And with the aforementioned documentary on the horizon, and the band's music being used in hit films ("The Wrestler", "Tropic Thunder"), video games ("Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks The '80s"), and even musicals ("Rock of Ages") — as well as QUIET RIOT being name-checked in songs by WEEZER and BEN FOLDS — QUIET RIOT remains a major force in heavy metal. And soon, you will get a chance to bang your head once more to QUIET RIOT, at a concert venue near you!

Check out a sample track featuring recorded versions of "Cum On Feel The Noize", "Metal Health" and "Slick Black Cadillac" with Mark Huff on vocals.

 

[Travelin' Man]

Huff doesn't have quite the bombastic edge that Kevin DuBrow had, but I have to say that he sounds pretty good. And he'll probably sound better with time.
I'd like to hear him belt out the scream "C' MOOOOOOOON!!!" that Kevin did going into the guitar lead for Cum On Feel The Noize, however. That'd help sell me on his mettle for metal.

I'll also add that had he been Quiet Riot's original lead singer, I'd have still bought the album.

 

[That 70s Guy]

New QUIET RIOT Singer: 'I Know It's Going To Be An Uphill Deal With The Fans' - Sep. 22, 2010
The Dalles Chronicle recently conducted an interview with Mark Huff, the San Diego, California-based vocalist who has signed on as lead singer for QUIET RIOT, succeeding Kevin DuBrow, who died in 2007.

"The first thing that strikes me, is that I know it's going to be an uphill deal with the fans," Huff said.

"I knew this was going to be an emotional thing on a lot of levels," he added. "Music is an emotional thing anyway. I've dreamt of an opportunity like this since I was a teen in The Dalles."

A longtime fan of heavy metal, singer Mark Huff came to QUIET RIOT drummer Frankie Banali's attention while fronting a California-based VAN HALEN tribute band (that focused on the "Sammy Hagar era"). A true Cinderella story, Huff auditioned via a cattle call audition, promptly blew Banali away, and got the gig. After getting the blessing from DuBrow's mother to carry on with QUIET RIOT (and to celebrate her son's music), the group was ready to rock once more.

"I've been a voice impressionist of sorts," Huff told The Dalles Chronicle. "Now I'm going to get a chance to put my stamp on things. I'm excited about that."

QUIET RIOT recently re-recorded some its classic songs with Huff on vocals, including "Cum on Feel the Noize" and "Metal Health". Huff laid down his tracks at a studio in Woodland Hills, California using one of the last microphones Kevin DuBrow used before his death.

Read more from The Dalles Chronicle.

Check out a sample track featuring recorded versions of "Cum On Feel The Noize", "Metal Health" and "Slick Black Cadillac" with Mark Huff on vocals.

QUIET RIOT 2010 is:

Chuck Wright - Bass
Alex Grossi - Guitar
Frankie Banali - Drums
Mark Huff - Vocals

 

[Cosmic Harmony]

Yeah....I'm not thrilled about this... :/

 

[METALPRIEST]

I felt better and more at peace with Kevin's passing when Frankie was all about NOT doing QR any longer. A drummer for the CATALANO sessions is pals with him...I'll need to get some scoop. I really thought he would keep playing...but with other bands and projects.

There's no Carlos...No Rudy and now no Kevin...who IMO is the ENTIRE spirit and driving force behind QR.

But I guess in the end we must let the music do the talking as Joe Perry once said.

 

[aeroplane]

Frankie Banali has taken a beating on a lot of music forums because he publicly said on numerous occasions that there was no way he was going to continue with Quiet Riot after Kevin died. This reformation would have been a little better received if he hadn't promised that he'd never get Quiet Riot back together again.

I think the new guy sounds all right, having listened to the recordings. I'm glad he is getting a "big break" since singing for Quiet Riot is a heck of a lot better than performing in some tribute band. I'm sure he'd also sound good live and on a new studio album but it isn't the same without Kevin. Nor is it the same without Carlos Cavazo, who up until he left was the only guy who remained in Quiet Riot the entire time without leaving. Cavazo was in there from the early 80's up until around 2004-2005 without ever being replaced by somebody like DuBrow, Sarzo and Wright were.

Even Banali himself was out of the group for half of the recording sessions of Terrified in 1993 before coming back. Bobby Rondinelli had replaced him in Quiet Riot for a short spell. QR was also using a drummer named Pat Ashby on tour a year or two before that.

 

[tomcat]

No Cavazo, No Sarzo -- No Thanks.

 

[aeroplane]

No Cavazo, No Sarzo -- No Thanks.

The Cavazo thing I agree with considering the one studio album they did without him was pretty dull.

However, I don't consider Sarzo that necessary and this is based on owning their entire catalog. Chuck Wright played a lot of bass on the Metal Health album that Sarzo ended up getting credit for. Depending on who is telling the story, Wright played anywhere between 25-75% of the bass parts.

 

[tomcat]

The Cavazo thing I agree with considering the one studio album they did without him was pretty dull.

However, I don't consider Sarzo that necessary and this is based on owning their entire catalog. Chuck Wright played a lot of bass on the Metal Health album that Sarzo ended up getting credit for. Depending on who is telling the story, Wright played anywhere between 25-75% of the bass parts.

Didn't know that. I just knew he was on all the vids. I really never followed QR that closely. I only had the first tape. I didn't like Kevin Dubrow because I knew Motley hated him, and I was a Crew fan then.

 

[METALPRIEST]

I didn't know that about Chuck Wright myself