Quiet Riot is an American heavy metal band. They are best known for their hit singles "Cum On Feel the Noize" and "Metal Health". They were founded in 1973 by guitarist Randy Rhoads and bassist Kelly Garni, under the original name Mach 1, before changing the name to Little Women and finally Quiet Riot in May 1975. The original line-up featured lead vocalist Kevin DuBrow, Rhoads, Garni, and drummer Drew Forsythe. Their current lineup features no original members from the Randy Rhoads era, and consists of lead vocalist Mark Huff, drummer Frankie Banali, bassist Chuck Wright, and guitarist Alex Grossi. Both Banali and Wright are from the Metal Health era, as Wright played bass on two songs from the album Metal Health, including the hit song "Metal Health", and sang backing vocals on the entire album.
In a radio interview given by the band in 1979, DuBrow said the band's name was born of a conversation with Rick Parfitt of British band Status Quo in which Parfitt said he'd like to name a band "Quite Right". With his thick English accent, it sounded like he was saying "Quiet Riot". They are ranked at number 100 on VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock".
Kevin DuBrow, lead singer of the band for the majority of its existence, was found dead in his Las Vegas, Nevada home at approximately 5:20 p.m. on Sunday, November 25, 2007. The cause of death was ruled a cocaine overdose. Quiet Riot temporarily disbanded after his death, and was recently revived by Banali in 2010.
Quiet Riot were one of the more successful hard rock acts in Los Angeles in the late 1970s, but were nonetheless unable to procure a US recording contract. By 1977 they were able to secure a deal with Sony, but their records would be released only in Japan. The original four members recorded their debut album Quiet Riot, or QRI, in 1977. The second album Quiet Riot II, or QRII, was recorded at The Record Plant and released in Japan in 1978. Once recording was completed, bassist Kelly Garni left the band. Although Garni's replacement Rudy Sarzo was pictured and credited on QRII, he did not join before its recording. In 1979, guitarist Randy Rhoads auditioned for Ozzy Osbourne's new band after the editors of a small, Los Angeles based magazine, Raw Power asked future Slaughter bassist Dana Strum to contact Rhoads to see if he would be interested. Osbourne himself has stated that he hired Rhoads immediately. Kevin DuBrow and Drew Forsythe tried to keep the band together following Rhoads' departure, with the addition of guitarist Greg Leon and former Suite 19 bassist Gary Van Dyke. During this period of 1980-1982, the band changed its name to DuBrow and also played shows with former Gamma drummer Skip Gillette.
Later, DuBrow attempted to reform Quiet Riot. None of the other original members were interested. Carlos Cavazo, whom DuBrow had previously played with in a band called Snow, joined as lead guitarist. Rudy Sarzo re-joined the band on bass, and his friend, drummer Frankie Banali, completed the lineup.
In September 1982, with help from producer Spencer Proffer, they were signed to CBS Records in America. On March 11, 1983, their American debut album Metal Health was released. Their two previous albums, QRI and QRII, have still not been released in North America, despite the band's subsequent success.
Despite his previous insistence that Quiet Riot could never return as a live performing entity, in September 2010 Frankie Banali announced a new version of Quiet Riot: himself on drums, Chuck Wright on bass, Alex Grossi on guitar and newcomer Mark Huff on vocals (formerly of Van Halen tribute band 5150). The band has sought the blessings of the DuBrow family (DuBrow's mother encouraged Banali to revive the band), has recorded new versions of classic hits with Huff singing, and is seeking to do a full US tour.
