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12/02/2015

Quiet Riot issue brilliant documentary and return to Portland

By RUBEN MOSQUEDA //

Quiet Riot will return to Portland after their successful Portland earlier this year. Frankie Banali and Co will appear at The Roseland on December 5th.

 

Quiet Riot will forever be known as the band that was founded by the late Randy Rhoads and the later Kevin Dubrow. The band will also be remembered as the band that received the first number 1 ‘metal’ record with the band’s 3rd (but 1st issued in America) effort on the Billboard 100 chart. While, I question Quiet Riot being labeled a ‘metal’ band---they were certainly at that time one of the heaviest bands in existence. The band also played the infamous US Festival which also featured blockbuster acts like; Van Halen,. Judas Priest, Scorpions and the up and coming Motley Crue.

Dubrow was charismatic no doubt but for as charismatic as he was also a talker. Dubrow liked to talk and he let you know exactly what was on his mind. His honesty was admirable however; he had no filter and words rubbed his contemporaries the wrong way---as it should have.

Now You’re Here There’s No Going Back the Quiet Riot documentary directed by Regina Russell takes us through the beginnings of Quiet Riot through the passing of lead singer Kevin Dubrow in 2007. Drummer Frankie Banali after some soul searching, mourning and receives a blessing from Kevin’s mother to continue with Quiet Riot and Banali begins his quest for a singer. After a ‘cattle call’ the band found their man in Mark Huff who is better known in So Cal as the frontman for the Van Halen (Sammy Hagar-era) Tribute band 5150. After a makeover he was pushed out on stage and then hilarity ensues---with good editing of course. Huff ran his course in the band after several months and several on stage mishaps. The band then enlisted former Montrose singer Keith St. John to fill in the remaining dates before reconvening and ultimately continuing the search for ‘the guy.’

The next guy selected was Scott Vokoun who auditioned for Quiet Riot in a hotel room in Las Vegas prior to guitarist Alex Grossi’s wedding! Vokoun is a dead ringer for the late Dubrow--more so than Huff was. The band enlisted Vokoun on the spot and he gigged with Quiet Riot for several months before you guessed it---he was dismissed! In the end the band have pressed forward with singer Jizzy Pearl who is known for his work with Love/Hate. Pearl has stepped into big shoes in other 80s acts having sung for L.A. Guns and Ratt. Pearl much like Mark Huff and Scott Vokoun is a great fit----better actually because he’s not a Dubrow clone.

Chuck Wright you are credited in the reissue of ‘Metal Health.’ I have a copy and you’re in there.

Quiet Riot will return to Portland after their successful Portland earlier this year. Frankie Banali and Co will appear at The Roseland on December 5th as part of The Brew’s ‘Not So Silent Night’ holiday event which will also feature BulletBoys. The doors open at 7 PM and the show kicks off at 8 PM---this is a 21 + event.

The aftermath:

I spoke with Mark Huff in the spring of 2012 months after his dismissal from Quiet Riot. “I woke up on January 1st (2012) and I had a seizure. I woke up in the hospital actually. I was told that I had an AVM, which is arteriovenous malformation, in my brain. I was told that it was something that needed to be taken care of right away, but I would make a full recovery. I contacted the guys in Quiet Riot and let them know. In the coming days no one from Quiet Riot came down to see me. I had to find out through the internet that I had been fired from the band” say Huff.

Frankie Banali issued a statement in regarding the dismissal of Huff back in January of 2012.

“With regards to Mark Huff; my policy has always been not to air out the dirty laundry in public. That policy remains the same even in light of those who chose to make accusations. The fact is that Mr. Huff’s medical condition had nothing to do with the decision that was made, though it is unfortunate that it comes at such a time. His wife assured me that Mark would be home this week, and as legal protocol dictated, a certified letter was sent informing Mark of the decision that was made and why it was made. The content of that letter is a private matter unless Mr. Huff decides to make the reason for his dismissal made public, which I believe would be counterproductive for him. I will not go tit for tat with this issue. If certain persons wish to villainize me, that is their prerogative.”

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