Biography
For a short stretch around 1983-1984, Quiet Riot frontman Kevin DuBrow stood out among heavy metal vocalists for his memorable remarks, a trait that later contributed to the unraveling of both the singer and the group. Born October 29, 1955, in Hollywood, California, DuBrow entered the rock world first as a photographer, capturing live shots of acts including Humble Pie—an outfit he repeatedly cited among his top favorites and primary influences—during the early 1970s. He soon set the camera aside for a microphone, crossed paths with guitarist Randy Rhoads, and co-founded Quiet Riot. Although the band cultivated a strong local audience and shared bills with the rising Van Halen, its commitment to heavy metal and hard rock anthems clashed with the prevailing demand for disco and punk on the Sunset Strip, creating persistent obstacles.
Unable to land an American contract, Quiet Riot nonetheless put out two albums in Japan: the 1977 self-titled release and 1978’s Quiet Riot II. No U.S. deal followed, and Rhoads departed in 1979 to join Ozzy Osbourne’s solo outfit. DuBrow pressed ahead, briefly renaming the group after himself. Mentions of Quiet Riot by Rhoads during interviews for the Ozzy band sparked renewed curiosity, an interest that intensified after Rhoads’s fatal accident in April 1982. Reverting to the original name, the band secured a deal with Pasha/Sony. The lineup now featured DuBrow, guitarist Carlos Cavazo, bassist Rudy Sarzo (a returning member from the late 1970s), and drummer Frankie Banali. Their March 1983 album Metal Health blended metal riffs, pop hooks, and anthemic choruses; it took several months to gain traction but ultimately reached number one on the Billboard album chart, propelled by the hit singles “Metal Health” and the Slade cover “Cum on Feel the Noize.”
Once Quiet Riot attained major success, DuBrow leaned into a wild, party-centric image. As later recounted on VH1’s Behind the Music, heavy cocaine use appeared to amplify his self-importance, prompting public criticisms of prominent metal figures such as Mötley Crüe and Ozzy in print. The backlash among fans was swift, and the follow-up, 1984’s Condition Critical, fell well short of Metal Health’s commercial peak. After 1986’s QR III, DuBrow was dismissed from the band he had helped start a decade earlier.
By the early 1990s the rift had healed; DuBrow resumed his role as frontman with 1993’s Terrified and continued touring and recording with Quiet Riot. He also contributed to various metal tribute projects and issued the 2004 solo album In for the Kill, a collection of covers drawn from 1970s classic rock acts. On November 26, 2007, reports confirmed DuBrow’s passing; authorities later established the date of death as November 19 and the cause as an accidental cocaine overdose. Though frequently labeled “the mouth that roared” by the press, DuBrow played a central role in the mid- to late-1980s pop-metal surge that elevated similarly styled acts such as Ratt, Cinderella, and Poison, a development traceable to his work with Quiet Riot—most notably Metal Health.
Unable to land an American contract, Quiet Riot nonetheless put out two albums in Japan: the 1977 self-titled release and 1978’s Quiet Riot II. No U.S. deal followed, and Rhoads departed in 1979 to join Ozzy Osbourne’s solo outfit. DuBrow pressed ahead, briefly renaming the group after himself. Mentions of Quiet Riot by Rhoads during interviews for the Ozzy band sparked renewed curiosity, an interest that intensified after Rhoads’s fatal accident in April 1982. Reverting to the original name, the band secured a deal with Pasha/Sony. The lineup now featured DuBrow, guitarist Carlos Cavazo, bassist Rudy Sarzo (a returning member from the late 1970s), and drummer Frankie Banali. Their March 1983 album Metal Health blended metal riffs, pop hooks, and anthemic choruses; it took several months to gain traction but ultimately reached number one on the Billboard album chart, propelled by the hit singles “Metal Health” and the Slade cover “Cum on Feel the Noize.”
Once Quiet Riot attained major success, DuBrow leaned into a wild, party-centric image. As later recounted on VH1’s Behind the Music, heavy cocaine use appeared to amplify his self-importance, prompting public criticisms of prominent metal figures such as Mötley Crüe and Ozzy in print. The backlash among fans was swift, and the follow-up, 1984’s Condition Critical, fell well short of Metal Health’s commercial peak. After 1986’s QR III, DuBrow was dismissed from the band he had helped start a decade earlier.
By the early 1990s the rift had healed; DuBrow resumed his role as frontman with 1993’s Terrified and continued touring and recording with Quiet Riot. He also contributed to various metal tribute projects and issued the 2004 solo album In for the Kill, a collection of covers drawn from 1970s classic rock acts. On November 26, 2007, reports confirmed DuBrow’s passing; authorities later established the date of death as November 19 and the cause as an accidental cocaine overdose. Though frequently labeled “the mouth that roared” by the press, DuBrow played a central role in the mid- to late-1980s pop-metal surge that elevated similarly styled acts such as Ratt, Cinderella, and Poison, a development traceable to his work with Quiet Riot—most notably Metal Health.
Albums
Singles
