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DuBrow and Banali Won't Go
Quietly |
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Quiet Riot singer Kevin DuBrow once said, “If hair was gold, we’d all be millionaires.”
Now in 2006, it’s a good bet DuBrow wishes hair still carried the value, albeit metaphorically, that it did in the 80s. His locks are as full as ever and Quiet Riot still plugs away. They never stopped, really. They had a run where DuBrow was out of the band in the early 90s, but every few years the band had a new album on the shelf. Some of it was good – as good as their critically acclaimed “Metal Health” album – the first ever metal album to reach No. 1 on the charts. Some of it wasn’t so good, and strayed far away from the sound that made the band famous. But regardless, the band has kept its name familar with constant touring, contributions to numerous tribute records and 80s compilations, and they are set to release a new record this fall. “The crowing achievement is still being able to do this for a living,” DuBrow said in a recent phone conversation. There have been clear business achievements, but I still get to earn a living doing what I love.” In recent years, and on recent albums, DuBrow wasn’t having so much fun. He speaks with clear disdain in his voice for former bassist Rudy Sarzo, often mentioning if he had things to do over again, he’d do them sans utility bassist. Sarzo also played with Whitesnake and currently is on the road with Ronnie James Dio. He was on the band previous two studio efforts, “Alive and Well,” and “Guilty Pleasures.” “His contributions did not add anything positive to the makings of the records he was on,” DuBrow said. Despite popular belief, Sarzo did not play on the band’s most popular album. That task belonged to Chuck Wright, who was back with the group for a time, then away, then back. The bass slot for Quiet Riot has pretty much been a revolving door, but for DuBrow, that’s a lot better than having to play with Sarzo. “He creates as many problems for me personally as musically,” DuBrow said. “If I had it all to do over again I would’ve rid myself of a lot of the negativity that came along with him.” For a long time in the 80s, it was DuBrow, not Sarzo that was considered the beacon of negative comments with the band. Many of which ultimately doomed them when the group was at its high point. DuBrow has since admitted much of what he said wasn’t a very positive reflection on the band, and he and drummer Frankie Banali have pretty much been attached at the hip since their reconciliation. “While Quiet Riot may not be anything close to a religion, Kevin’s actions regardless if I or anyone else agreed with what he said and did, has virtually lifted him onto a cross of persecution,” Banali said. _____________________________________________________________________________________ |
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“While it did greatly affect the popularity of the band at the time, it’s in the past, and I will not add to the notoriety of it or perpetuate it.” The bands attitude is ultimately what’s carried it through some slim years, and has finally brought them back to a comfortable place within nostalgic 80s enthusiasts. You don’t see too many kids at the Quiet Riot show these days, but television networks, namely VH1, has helped to glorify and cement the 80s, and has also helped give the band the forum to keep plugging away. Still, if not for an overwhelming sense of realism, Quiet Riot would’ve likely befallen the fates of other 80s rock outfits like Warrant, Ratt, L.A. Guns and Skid Row. While those bands still tour and continue to release material, it’s with different lineups, new singers, and serves as little more than an excuse for the bands to keep playing. The same could probably be said for Quiet Riot, except the band’s core, DuBrow and Banali, remain intact – and keeps this band far more legit than its peers. |
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“Twenty three years after the release of the “Metal Health” record, Quiet Riot continues as viable careers for Kevin and I – the nucleus that created that version of the band in the first place,” Banali said. “People are the way they are as people regardless if they are musicians or stock brokers,” Banali said when asked why Quiet Riot remains so down to earth in a field of egos and rock-star tirades. “A person’s personality, which is susceptible to ego, temper tantrums and behavior not unlike a four-year-old child, generally carry that behavior regardless of their trade. In the rock music business, personalities are pampered with and prone to ridiculous displays of inconsideration and self worth. But overall, it’s the person that defines their actions, both good and bad, not their trade.” Quiet Riot is set to release a new album in the fall – the first in a long time that will see the band strip away its arena rock anthems and focus solely on putting out the best possible product. “There are no 80s anthems on it,” DuBrow said. “A lot of the reason we had that on ‘Guilty Pleasures’ is because it’s all that Rudy and Carlos (Cavazo, former guitarist) were capable of playing. The new album is more 70s retro meets modern rock.” It’s hard to say how Quiet Riot will fare with its new record and if they can cross a line where they appeal to more than just their hardcore following. But it does finally seem that the group has stripped away all of the outside factors that have hindered it in the past, and for DuBrow and Banali, could mean the closest thing to a resurgence since the group lost its initial surge of popularity. Don’t bank on seeing them headlining arenas any time soon, but you can certainly count on DuBrow and Banali keeping the Quiet Riot name viable for as long as they possibly can. “We’re just guys that have had good lives trying to entertain people in music,” DuBrow said. “The best revenge is happiness.” -FIN-_____________________________________________________________________________________ -BJ Lisko |
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Ironically,
this was said in the 80s, before a balding DuBrow, according to an
interview he did with metalsludge.tv, got hair extensions.