Quiet Riot Singer Dead at 52

[balogna pogna]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Music/11/26/obit.dubrow/index.html

(CNN) -- Kevin DuBrow, the lead singer of the 1980s heavy metal band Quiet Riot, has died, CNN has confirmed. He was 52.

Kevin DuBrow and Quiet Riot hit No. 1 with "Metal Health" in 1983.

DuBrow died at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada, according to TMZ.com. The Clark County coroner's office was examining the body to determine the cause of death, according to TMZ.

"I'm at a loss for words. I've just lost my best friend," Quiet Riot drummer Frankie Banali told CNN. "Out of respect for both Kevin and his family, I won't comment further. There's going to be a lot of speculation out there, and I won't add to that. I love him too much."

Quiet Riot hit the top of the charts with its 1983 album, "Metal Health," considered by some sources as the first heavy metal album to hit No. 1. The album was driven by the group's cover of Slade's "Cum on Feel the Noize," which hit the Top 40.

The band's other hits included "Bang Your Head (Metal Health)" and another Slade cover, "Mama Weer All Crazee Now."

The band formed in the mid-1970s behind DuBrow and guitarist Randy Rhoads, who later joined Ozzy Osbourne's band and died in a tour accident. After several years, during which time the band disbanded, regrouped and built an audience, everything came together for "Metal Health," which put Quiet Riot in the vanguard of the Los Angeles heavy metal movement.

But the band's rushed follow-up, "Condition Critical," didn't do as well, and DuBrow started taking shots at other L.A. bands, such as Motley Crue and Ratt, according to Allmusic.com. Within a few years, the band had mutinied (leaving DuBrow at a hotel in Hawaii while other members returned to California, Allmusic's Eduardo Rivadavia observes) and taken on a new lead singer. The bad blood prompted a lawsuit from DuBrow.

By the 1990s tempers had calmed and the band got together again, putting out a live album in 1999 and a new studio set, "Guilty Pleasures," in 2001. According to Allmusic, the band broke up once more after its release.

[Esau.]

Heard about this earlier today.

Much too young.

[ollie]

Sad news. These guys were huge when I was in grade 7. Those suspenders were horrible though Kevin.

[Gr8FuL]

52 in metal rocker years is like 136 regualr years he lived a good life rip

[ollie]

52 in metal rocker years is like 136 regualr years he lived a good life rip

That's awesome dude.

[Jay Funk Dawg]

bad suspenders - but what a screem!!

[Gr8FuL]

52 in metal rocker years is like 136 regualr years he lived a good life rip

That's awesome dude.

Haha there's a formula used to convert the years but i seem to have lost it.... so ya just have to tak emy workd for it

[balogna pogna]

CNN Update:

His bandmates may have thought he had kicked the habit, but according to the Clark County coroner, Quiet Riot lead singer Kevin DuBrow died of a cocaine overdose.

Samantha Charles, spokeswoman for the coroner's office, said after toxicology results were received Monday, "The cause is cocaine intoxication."

Investigators called to DuBrow's home the night he died said there was no forced entry and no suspicious circumstances.

[Northern Wish]

I remember being in my parents garage with my buddies in Grade 5 lip synching that Mental Health album. We thought we WERE rock stars.......

Sean

[kc]

Come on Feel the Noise was an anthem back when I was in like grade 6.

[Rob Not Bob]

Did they do anything that wasn't a cheap cover of a Slade song?

[Whitey]

Man, how much blow does someone have to do to overdose? That can't be pretty.

[Freak By Night]

... that Mental Health album. .......

That album was called METAL Health. It's a play on words.

I hated Quiet Riot. I found them cheesy. For a lot of people, it was the first heavy metal they had ever heard (or seen, because of their exposure on MTV). Real metal bands like Sabbath and Priest were way better. In my not-so-humble opinion, of course.

[Jaimoe]

Back in the 80's, I considered Quiet Riot a novelty metal band in the same league as Twisted Sister. I agree with Freak that the real metal bands were Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Sabbath and even early Scorpions.

[Northern Wish]

You guys are older than us, I had never heard of Judas Priest by the time I owned Halen, Ratt, Poison, Crue and Jovi tapes..........

[Jaimoe]

Van Halen was the Tool of their time, meaning, the only metal band that mattered. Disco still ruled the charts and Sabbath went the Dio route. Van Halen's first album kicked metal back into the mainstream consciousness. And then came Ozzy...

[Freak By Night]

...and then came Ozzy with two former members of Quiet Riot in his band! So we've come full circle.

[Jaimoe]

Indeed.