Quiet Riot

Quiet Riot is a heavy metal band from Los Angeles, formed in 1973 by guitarist Randy Rhoads, bassist Kelly Garni and vocalist Kevin DuBrow. The original lineup also includes drummer Drew Forsyth. The band becomes known on the Los Angeles club circuit in the 1970s and develops an early rivalry with Van Halen before either group secures a major recording contract.

Early years and first recordings

The first two Quiet Riot albums, Quiet Riot and Quiet Riot II, are released in Japan rather than the United States. Internal conflict affects the early band, including tension between Garni and DuBrow, and Garni is dismissed after threatening DuBrow. Randy Rhoads becomes the central creative figure during this period. Rudy Sarzo replaces Garni shortly before the original lineup ends, although he does not play on the second album. Rhoads later leaves to join Ozzy Osbourne’s band, and a short continuation under DuBrow, Forsyth and guitarist Greg Leon ends in 1980.

Breakthrough line-up

DuBrow reforms Quiet Riot in 1982 with drummer Frankie Banali, guitarist Carlos Cavazo and bassist Chuck Wright, with Rudy Sarzo later joining. This lineup records Metal Health, which becomes the band’s breakthrough in 1983. The album reaches number one on the Billboard 200 and is often described as the first heavy metal album to top that chart. Its cover of Slade’s “Cum On Feel the Noize” reaches number five on the Billboard Hot 100, while the title track “Metal Health (Bang Your Head)” also becomes a hit. The album sells several million copies in the United States.

Line-up changes and later albums

The follow-up, Condition Critical, appears in 1984 and has moderate success. Sarzo leaves in 1985, and the band goes through more personnel changes. DuBrow is dismissed in 1987 and replaced by Paul Shortino, with the group releasing Quiet Riot, also known as QR IV, in 1988. That version of the band ends in 1989.

DuBrow regains the rights to the name in the early 1990s and reforms Quiet Riot with different musicians. The band releases Terrified in 1993 and Down to the Bone in 1995, followed by Greatest Hits in 1996. The successful lineup briefly reunites in 1997 with Sarzo back on bass, leading to Alive and Well in 1999 and Guilty Pleasures in 2001. The group breaks up again in 2003.

Later period

DuBrow reforms Quiet Riot again in 2004 with Banali, Wright and guitarist Alex Grossi. The band releases Rehab in 2006. After DuBrow dies in 2007, Quiet Riot continues under Banali, first with new vocalist Mark Huff and later with singers including Keith St. John, Scott Vokoun, Jizzy Pearl, Seann Nicols and James Durbin. During this period the band releases Quiet Riot 10 in 2014, Road Rage in 2017 and Hollywood Cowboys in 2019.

Banali is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2019 and dies in 2020. The band continues with drummer Johnny Kelly, and Rudy Sarzo rejoins in 2021. Quiet Riot remains active and is widely credited as one of the early commercially successful heavy metal bands of the 1980s. It also appears in rankings of influential hard rock, glam metal and hair metal acts.