1975 to 1981

QUIET RIOT's career, led by singer KEVIN DUBROW for all but one album, had witnessed a rollercoaster of massive highs and slumps ranging from the massively selling 'Metal Health' US no. 1 album to rapid plummet in the mid eighties. In down periods for the band various members had found fame with other high profile acts, guitarist Randy Rhoads most famously with OZZY OSBOURNE, bassist Rudy Sarzo with OZZY OSBOURNE and WHITESNAKE and drummer Frankie Banali with W.A.S.P.

The original incarnation of QUIET RIOT was pieced together in 1975 by ex-VIOLET FOX guitarist Randy Rhoads and frontman KEVIN DUBROW. They were cheekily dubbed a 'quiet riot' by a visiting STATUS QUO guitarist Rick Parfitt and the name stuck. The band was rounded out by bassist Kelli Garni and drummer Drew Forsyth. Rhoads, who split his previous act VIOLET FOX which featured his brother Doug on drums, had formed the band in 1976 with DuBrow joining the ranks after an audition at the guitarist's house.

CBS Records in Japan picked up on the group and released two albums, 'Quiet Riot' in 1978 and 'Quiet Riot II' in 1979, the latter of which featured new bassist Rudy Sarzo. Kelli Garni would re-emerge in 1985 playing with Randy Rhoads' brother Kelle's band EMERALD before dropping out of music for a career as a paramedic, then a successful photographer.

The band split when Randy Rhoads, upon the recommendation of future SLAUGHTER bassist Dana Strum, hooked up with OZZY OSBOURNE, having become frustrated in his efforts to get an American record deal for QUIET RIOT. Sarzo was eventually to follow him, after a brief stint replacing Felix Robinson in ANGEL during 1981, into the former BLACK SABBATH vocalist's band once touring commenced, replacing Bob Daisley. This international exposure focused on Rhoads revolutionary of guitar playing caused the first two QUIET RIOT albums to rocket in both price and demand.

Whilst Rhoads and Sarzo were enjoying the success of a rejuvenated OZZY OSBOURNE, DuBrow stayed in Los Angeles. The singer then formed DUBROW with former SATYR guitarist Bob Stefan. Bass was supplied by erstwhile SNOW bassist Tony Cavazo. This band later included former SWEET 19 and DOKKEN guitarist Greg Leon. Dubrow and new drummer Frankie Banali then put in three rehearsals in 1981 with ex-SPIKE, JEWEL, FIREFOXX and DOKKEN bassist Juan Croucier.

Original QUIET RIOT drummer Drew Forsyth would turn up in 1989 in HIGHLANDER with guitarist Craig Collins Turner.

1982 to 1984

The QUIET RIOT family was dealt a major blow on the March 19th 1982 with the death of former guitarist Randy Rhoads. Just as OZZY OSBOURNE appeared to have the world at his feet the unbelievable happened and brought everything crashing down to reality. Randy Rhoads was tragically killed in an aircraft accident. Stopping over at bus driver Andrew Aycock's house in Leesburg, on the way to a festival to be headlined by FOREIGNER, Aycock took keyboard player DON AIREY up in his light airplane. Following a couple of circuits Rhoads and make up girl Rachel Youngblood boarded the plane. It is believed Aycock, tired from a long road journey, misjudged and clipped the tour bus in which Ozzy was sleeping, causing the plane to crash into the house. All three were instantaneously killed.

In the wake of the accident KEVIN DUBROW had switched the band name from DUBROW back to QUIET RIOT. He had already hooked up with ex-SNOW guitarist Carlos Cavazo, Tony's brother and replacing Leon who was later to form GREG LEON'S INVASION and enjoy brief stints in ROUGH CUTT and MARSHALL LAW, and retained the services of Wright.

Chuck Wright actually plays bass on two tracks on the resurrected QUIET RIOT's 'debut' album 'Metal Health'. Although Carlos' brother and ex-SNOW member Tony recorded tracks for the record Kevin DuBrow claims his work was re-recorded once Rudy Sarzo had rejoined the group after leaving Ozzy in the wake of the Rhoads tragedy.

Rudy Sarzo had always been trying to get his friend, drummer Frankie Banali, into the band in the Randy Rhoads period, having played with him for twelve years in the bar circuits of Florida, New York and Illinois. Banali, eking out a living playing sessions as well as being a member of STEPPENWOLF and that band's guitarist Michael Monarch's act STEEL MONARCH, was obviously an ideal choice to replace the long departed Drew Forsyth once the decision was taken to re-name DUBROW as QUIET RIOT. As a direct result of working on the 'Metal Health' album Frankie, who had just finished working with HUGHES/THRALL was tapped by producer Spencer Proffer to play drums on Australian legend BILLY THORPE's 'East Of Eden's Gate' album. Pat Regan played all keyboards on 'Metal Health'. The album surpassed everyone's expectations hitting the resurgence of Heavy Metal at its peak. The band's SLADE cover 'Cum On Feel The Noise' reached the American top 5 whilst the album itself made it all the way to number 1. As part of their global live campaign QUIET RIOT visited Britain in March 1984 playing dates supported by Mancunian Glamsters ROX.

Despite the denials by DuBrow that QUIET RIOT would not be recording another SLADE cover 'Mama Weer All Crazee Now' was laid down for the 'Condition Critical' album. The band even ended up releasing it as a single, although it could only manage to peak at number 51 in the American charts as it was in hot competition with a version of the same song by Irish band MAMA'S BOYS who got their effort to number 54.

1985 to 1986

In 1985 QUIET RIOT fragmented under a barrage of criticism. Sarzo teamed up with his erstwhile OZZY OSBOURNE colleague Tommy Aldridge to form the backbone behind what would become a project band DRIVER with vocalist BOB ROCK and guitarist TONY MACALPINE. The pair had originally worked together as SARZO/ALDRIDGE and recruited ex YNGWIE MALMSTEEN vocalist JEFF SCOTT SOTO and former STEELER guitarist Kirk James to the band managed by Ronnie James Dio's wife Wendy's management company Niji.

Ex-QUIET RIOT bassist Chuck Wright was persuaded to rejoin the band, the man having left the ranks of GIUFFRIA. The third album braved the media storm and still managed a worthy chart placing in America.

QUIET RIOT toured Japan in 1986 with WANG CHUNG and LIFE BY NIGHT man JEFF NAIDEAU on keyboards. Early 1987 brought with it the rumour that KEVIN DUBROW had parted company with the band, a tale later confirmed as fact at the end of March as the singer bowed out citing personal differences with the other members of the group as the reason for the split.

After producing demos by Florida outfit JULLIET, DuBrow planned on forming a new band and recording a solo album with ex-RAINBOW drummer COZY POWELL and ex WHITESNAKE and THIN LIZZY guitarist JOHN SYKES although such plans came to naught.

1987 to 1989

Ex-ROUGH CUTT vocalist PAUL SHORTINO was announced as KEVIN DUBROW's replacement in April 1987 and the band began work on a new album for Pasha. In June the same year Rudy Sarzo was reported to have quit the NRG project that DRIVER and M.A.R.S. had evolved into after the departure of ROB ROCK and TONY MACALPINE. Sarzo rejoined QUIET RIOT after Chuck Wright had gone back to GIUFFRIA in order to record what would become the debut HOUSE OF LORDS album.

However, Sarzo had also linked up with Tommy Aldridge again to form the rhythmic backbone in the latest WHITESNAKE line-up in addition to recording the new QUIET RIOT album. This period of serious moonlighting would lead to Sarzo having to relinquish his position in QUIET RIOT by the end of the Summer to concentrate fully on his role in WHITESNAKE. He was replaced in QUIET RIOT by Sean McNabb. Session player Jimmy Johnson played bass on two songs on the resulting 'Quiet Riot' album. All keyboard parts come courtesy of Jimmy Waldo of NEW ENGLAND, ALCATRAZZ and BLACKTHORNE repute.

Due to poor sales the group splintered in 1989 with Shortino and McNabb sticking together to form BADD BOYZ and later reforming ROUGH CUTT. The bassist would later figure in GREAT WHITE. Frankie Banali temped with W.A.S.P. and FASTER PUSSYCAT whilst Carlos Cavazo keeping a rather low profile. Banali would reunite with DuBrow on the projected debut album for Tampa's JULLIET with the singer acting as producer and Banali as session drummer. However, although a full album was recorded, these tapes were shelved and JULLIET's record arrived revamped by SURVIVOR's Frankie Sullivan.

1990 to 2009

In January 1990 it was revealed that KEVIN DUBROW had pieced together a new group under the name of LITTLE WOMEN, actually the very original title of the Randy Rhoads version of the band pre-QUIET RIOT, with guitarist Sean Manning, bassist Kenny Hillery and drummer Pat Ashby. DuBrow and Cavazo reunited in 1991 with a band titled THE HEAT. As it turned out QUIET RIOT was to re-emerge in 1993 with the low key 'Terrified' album. Joining DuBrow for this outing were Cavazo, Banali and Hillery. Wright made an appearance on backing vocals and some tracks featured the drumming of RAINBOW and BLACK SABBATH man Bobby Rondinelli.

Another effort, 'Down To The Bone', surfaced the following year with Wright back in the bass position. The bassist would later depart to work with HONEY on a tour of Korea then ANTONIO NADIR.

Back on the road with QUIET RIOT DuBrow suffered a personal setback when it was claimed that he threw an audience member from the stage into the crowd breaking a Susan Hawkins leg. A judgment went against the singer who was ordered to pay $105'000 in damages.

The 'classic' line-up of DuBrow, Cavazo, Sarzo and Banali reunited in May 1997 at the F Musicfest in Los Angeles. After a number of shows in Canada the band made another comeback appearance in Las Vegas on May 30 with a show at The Joint, situated in the Hard Rock Hotel, in conjunction with the KOMP 92.3 radio station (the station DuBrow had been DJ-ing for). The gig was recorded for a possible live album. The group also recorded a version of 'Highway To Hell' for an AC/DC tribute album. This track would quite surreally be remixed for inclusion on the record by 80's British Shock Popsters SIGUE SIGUE SPUTNIK.

Unfortunately for Cavazo the same year the guitarist's home was broken into, the robbers giving Cavazo a severe beating in the process.

Back in business QUIET RIOT guested for UFO on their European dates. QUIET RIOT also later toured Germany during 1999 promoting their comeback album 'Alive And Well' and America as part of 'The Rock Never Stops' touring bill that also included TED NUGENT, SLAUGHTER and NIGHT RANGER.

DuBrow's past came back to haunt him when the vocalist was arrested and jailed overnight for failing to pay the 1994 ruling for breaking a fan's leg. The singer pleaded poverty. Meantime, in more positive news, Cavazo produced the debut album from SWIRL during 1999.

QUIET RIOT proved their staying power in 2000. To highlight the band's pulling power they performed two gigs in 24 hours by playing a show in Korea then hopping on a plane back to America for another show. They also put in three American shows within a day playing in front of 19'000 people in 24 hours.

QUIET RIOT were back in the limelight in mid 2001 being announced as special guests on POISON's mammoth 'Glam Slam Metal Jam' American arena tour alongside WARRANT and ENUFF Z' NUFF. The band also issued a new album 'Guilty Pleasures', which received generally commendable reviews, on Bodyguard Records.

Banali would also figure on another current album having laid down drums on W.A.S.P.'s 'Unholy Terror' opus. Sarzo meantime formed part of ex SHOUT vocalist KEN TAMPLIN's new project band CRUSADE. DuBrow would put in a further tribute album appearance, fronting up a version of 'Welcome To The Jungle' on an April 2002 Deadline Records GUNS N' ROSES collection. Banali would rejoin the W.A.S.P. recording line up for their 2002 'Dying For The World' album. As QUIET RIOT announced details of a twentieth anniversary DVD set the Arena label re-issued the band's 1993 album 'Terrified' for European release, re-billed as 'Cold Day In Hell' and sporting new cover art.

It would come as quite a surprise to fans in August to see Paul Shortino back fronting the band for a run of shows. Apparently DuBrow had been injured in a road accident after which he had succumbed to the flu. Not wishing to postpone shows QUIET RIOT pulled in their former comrade to fulfill touring obligations, Shortino resorting to using a music stand onstage in order to catch up with lyrics to new material.

The DuBrow / Cavazo / Sarzo / Banali, following an exhaustive series of live dates playing to healthy audiences, line up broke up during September of 2003 as reports suggested the relationship between Sarzo and DuBrow had reached breaking point. Rumours pointed to a fresh band union comprising the RAINBOW and DEEP PURPLE credited singer JOE LYNN TURNER, ex-WINGER and DOKKEN guitarist REB BEACH working alongside Sarzo and Banali. However, this proposal soon collapsed and by November Sarzo was in discussions once more with ANGEL. However, by early 2004 the bassist was ensconced in YNGWIE MALMSTEEN's touring band.

KEVIN DUBROW made his intentions clear before the close of the year, forming up a studio band to cut a solo album for Shrapnel records comprising seventies Hard rock covers. Joining him on this endeavour would be Kevin Curry on guitar, German bassist Gunter Nezhoda, GREAT WHITE's Michael Lardie on keyboards and former BADLANDS, UFO, MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP drummer and RACER X vocalist Jeff Martin. Meantime Carlos Cavazo was the subject of rumours placing him in a proposed new band unit including ex-RAINBOW and DIO bassist Jimmy Bain, BONHAM vocalist Chas West and former BLACK SABBATH and DIO drummer Vinnie Appice.

As it transpired, Cavazo and Banali hit the Los Angeles club scene in early 2004 with a unit dubbed THE HOLLYWOOD ALLSTARS, this act also comprising Chas West, the DOKKEN and DIO credited bassist Jeff Pilson as well as former GIUFFRIA and HOUSE OF LORDS man Alan Krigger. In April Rudy Sarzo was announced as the new bassist for DIO.

QUIET RIOT would still be in the news during May when the group's cover of SLADE's 'Cum On Feel The Noize' was selected by Guitar One magazine as the top rock cover of all time. To close out a run of solo shows across the USA, KEVIN DUBROW would put in a brief reunion with Frankie Banali and former QUIET RIOT bassist Chuck Wright at the 'Velvet Sessions' show at Hard Rock Hotel in Orlando, Florida on 24th June and 28th June at the Crowbar in New York City.

That same year Banali was revealed to be involved in a new band side-project initially dubbed DEVIL CHILDREN, a collaboration with KING'S X frontman DOUG PINNICK, former WINGER, WHITESNAKE and DOKKEN guitarist REB BEACH and WHITESNAKE keyboard player Timothy Drury. This outfit, minus Banali, evolved into THE MOB.

In October the QUIET RIOT name was resurrected once again as DuBrow and Banali formed up a band including former bassist Chuck Wright and BEAUTIFUL CREATURES guitarist Alex Grossi. Apparently the reconstituted QUIET RIOT entered into an "equitable and legal agreement" with longstanding bassist Rudy Sarzo making it possible for the continuation of the group. Former guitarist Carlos Cavazo chose not to participate. The band's first DVD, entitled 'Quiet Riot Live & Rare' was scheduled for January 2005 issue through Cleopatra Records. QUIET RIOT announced UK tour dates for February 2005, quite incredibly being the band's first visit to the country in 25 years.

April found ex-member Carlos Cavazo working up tracks for a new project dubbed 3 LEGGED DOGG, a union with ex-BONHAM singer Chas West, ex-RAINBOW and DIO bassist Jimmy Bain, guitarist Brian Young from the DAVID LEE ROTH band and former DIO and BLACK SABBATH drummer Vinny Appice.

In May, QUIET RIOT partnered with SKID ROW to perform a run of shows at US military bases in South Korea. An announcement was also made that the band was to form up the Summer 2005 US 'Rock Never Stops' tour in collaboration with CINDERELLA, RATT and FIREHOUSE.

In October Alex Grossi put in guest guitar on Hardcore act IGNITE's album recordings. The following month QUIET RIOT got into pre-production for a new album, working with a duet involving former DEEP PURPLE and BLACK SABBATH singer GLENN HUGHES on a cover version of SPOOKY TOOTH's 'Evil Woman'. For the band's 29th October performance at University of Utah in Salt Lake City former member Sean McNabb stood in for Chuck Wright on bass.

In December DuBrow and Banali announced that the veteran figure of L.A. GUNS and BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION guitarist Tracii Guns had joined the band. However, in mid-January 2006 an official statement emerged cancelling Guns involvement. That same month Chuck Wright teamed up with STEPHEN PEARCY's live band. Early February saw QUIET RIOT enlisting bassist Wayne Carver, from the Las Vegas act THE MUDCAT BLUES BAND and 'Erocktica Live' revue, and guitarist Billy Morris, a Cleveland veteran of acts such as KIDD WICKED, JEANNINE ST. CLAIR, THE GLORIOUS THINGS, the PAUL GILBERT band and WARRANT. Chuck Wright was then re-instated on bass. In a further quick turnaround, QUIET RIOT was joined by guitarist Neal Citron, a Toronto born veteran of such Californian based acts as CITRON, HERO and HEAD SHAKER. Meantime, ex-guitarist Alex Grossi hooked up with LOVE/HATE for European tour dates in April. The flux in QUIET RIOT's membership continued though, as in early March it was revealed that in fact none other than ex-THE FIRM and BLUE MURDER bassist TONY FRANKLIN had put down bass on the new album 'Rehab'. The record also featured a guest spot from GLENN HUGHES.

Alex Grossi returned to the QUIET RIOT guitar post in mid June. That same month ex-guitarist Carlos Cavazo unveiled his new act, launching the POWER PROJECT with the 'Dinosaurs' album through Powerzone Records. This Anglo / American quartet comprised seasoned players of high repute. Fronting the affair would be Welshman Carl Sentance, former singer of acts such as PERSIAN RISK, GHOST the GEEZER BUTLER BAND and KROKUS, the DOKKEN and DIO credited Jeff Pilson on bass and BLACK SABBATH and DIO man Vinny Appice on drums.

Carlos Cavazo announced another fresh band project in August 2006. BIG NOISE comprised a cast of elite players involving former FANDANGO, RAINBOW, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, MOTHER'S ARMY and DEEP PURPLE vocalist JOE LYNN TURNER, OZZY OSBOURNE, VINCE NEIL band, BEGGARS & THIEVES and BILLY IDOL bassist PHIL SOUSSAN, the CINDERELLA credited keyboard player Gary Corbett and drummer Vinny Appice, a veteran of DIO, WWIII and BLACK SABBATH. This project's first endeavour would be the making of a DVD for the corporate concert industry.

Frankie Banali featured on a metalized version of THE BEATLES 'Magical Mystery Tour' for the Restless Records tribute album 'Butchering The Beatles' released in October, this track also involving YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, guitarist Bob Kulick from BALANCE and the MEAT LOAF band, DOKKEN, DIO and FOREIGNER bassist Jeff Pilson plus JOURNEY singer JEFF SCOTT SOTO.

The QUIET RIOT opus 'Rehab' emerged in October through Chavis Records in the USA and Demolition Records across Europe. A guesting GLENN HUGHES duetted with Dubrow on a cover version of SPOOKY TOOTH's 'Evil Woman'. Although the album was recorded with guitarist Neal Citron and bass player TONY FRANKLIN, QUIET RIOT re-drafted Alex Grossi and Chuck Wright for live work. In July 2007 the band appeared at a once in a lifetime gathering of 80s Rock acts dubbed 'Rocklahoma', a three-day outdoor festival held in Pryor, Oklahoma, sharing the billing with RATT, VINCE NEIL, WARRANT, SLAUGHTER, POISON, WINGER, DOKKEN, JACKYL, FASTER PUSSYCAT, ENUFF Z'NUFF, STEELHEART, 36 INCHES, Y&T, FIREHOUSE, BULLETBOYS, BANG TANGO and GREAT WHITE.