Quiet Riot Returns – Your Opinions?

So drummer Frankie Banali has announced plans to resurrect Quiet Riot.  This after saying Quiet Riot was done forever after the surprising death of singer Kevin DuBrow.  Interestingly, the singer is unknown – which sort of makes me wonder why Frankie just didn’t form a new band but whatever. I guess he figures it will be easier to make some bucks using the Quiet Riot name. I don’t believe in the term scab. That’s not fair to anyone involved. Fair or otherwise, the singer is most usually the focal point of any band. With Quiet Riot, Kevin was definitely the star. I’m conflicted.

Here’s some of the official press release about the announcement:

After the tragic passing of co-founding Quiet Riot singer Kevin DuBrow in 2007, many figured that the band was over. But while going through the vaults of vintage video material for an upcoming documentary of the band's history, the spark was reignited once more for drummer Frankie Banali to kick Quiet Riot back in gear. The easy part was filling the guitar and bass slots — as former members Chuck Wright (bass) and Alex Grossi (guitar) promptly signed on. However, having to fill DuBrow's large shoes was no small task.

A longtime fan of heavy metal, singer Mark Huff came to Banali's attention while fronting a California-based Van Halen tribute band (that focused on the "Sammy Hagar era"). A true Cinderella story, Huff auditioned via a cattle call audition, promptly blew Banali away, and got the gig. After getting the blessing from DuBrow's mother to carry on with Quiet Riot (and to celebrate her son's music), the group was ready to rock once more.

Okay. So this Mark Huff impressed Banali. But do we want to hear a new singer in the Quiet Riot spot? As we all know, it is near impossible to replace a lead singer. Sure Van Halen did it (for awhile at least). It seems to be working for Alice in Chains. Skid Row continues to plod along…but Quiet Riot? I don’t know. It’s one thing to replace a singer that quit or was fired. It’s another to replace someone who died…out of the blue…and out of the band’s zenith.

I’m sure this means Quiet Riot 2.0 will be booked at all the Glam fests next summer. M3 anyone?

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Naturally, Quiet Riot is embarking on a tour…you know, like, soon. The dates haven’t been announced, but when they are, I’ll post here.

Gotta admit, this one shocked me.

Hear a sample track with Mark Huff on vocals. Thoughts?

Let's Talk About Kill Hannah!

Would you consider Kill Hannah a Glam band? They are probably alternative by record-label designation but they sure look and sound Glam to me. Of course, I'm thinking of a mix of 70s T. Rex or Bowie and Motley Shout at the Devil-era Glam. This isn't Faster Pussycat by any stretch of the imagination.

Kill Hannah formed in 1993 and since that time has had a slew of member changes (also a hallmark of many Glam bands!)

While Kill Hannah would probably fit in on the road with Motley Crue or even Def Leppard, it seems like the band most normally tours with emo or alternative acts like The Smashing Pumpkins and Chevelle. (Kill Hannah has toured with HIM and Papa Roach, though, further strengthening my thesis that they are a Glam band).

Don't know Kill Hannah? Get familiar.

The Cherry Bombz - 'House of Ectasy'

A little more quasi-obscure Glam for you this weekend. Today, the Cherry Bombz. The band once featured Andy McCoy of Hanoi Rocks. (Actually, Andy formed the band after Hanoi disbanded in the mid-80s). The Cherry Bombz released a couple records with some very rockin' songs! Here's one of my faves: "House of Ecstasy"

Jade - 'I'm Not Yours'

If you want obscure Glam, here you go: Jade. I know nothing about this band except they formed in the early 80s in Canada. I have to admit really enjoying the tune “I'm Not Yours” – in fact, Jade sounds way better to me than, say, Vixen.

I was able to dig up Jade's Myspace...the page bio has some interesting facts. Jade was involved with Roadrunner Records even. Go to the Myspace, check out the bio and listen to some tunes.

Here's “I'm Not Yours:”

Bands That Defeat the Sophomore Slump

A few weeks ago, I was driving along in my car, and I was scrolling through my MP3 player (not an iPod, but rather a Creative Zen X-fi2, as I did not want to buy into the iPod marketing campaign), and I decided upon Hellacious Acres by Dangerous Toys...which was an awesome choice. Listening to this album got me thinking about how, in my opinion, Dangerous Toys totally overcame the "sophomore slump" that many bands suffer when they put out their second album. The theory is that most bands have years to craft the 10 - 14 songs that make up their first album, so they put forth their best possible effort on that album, and then the follow-up album (the "sophomore" album) is lackluster compared to the first, as it is rushed and the band just does not have the material. Hellacious Acres is just an amazing rock album, and I think is actually a better effort than the self-titled debut.

Unfortunately, Dangerous Toys never reached the level of popularity with any of their follow-up albums than they did with their debut, so the tragedy is that many fans of the first album are probably not aware of how great the second album was. So this got me thinking of how many great sophomore albums are out there that I am not aware of. Two more that I can think of, off the top of my head, are Sixes, Sevens & Nines by Junkyard and Freakshow by the BulletBoys.

So what else is out there that I may be missing? What overlooked sophomore albums are out there that actually blow away the debut album, but never got the recognition they deserve? I have a long drive back and forth to work, so any new suggestions are definitely appreciated!

Mike Portnoy Leaves Dream Theater

Have you heard? Mike Portnoy quit Dream Theater! I have to admit being stunned by this one. The drummer released the statement last night:

"I am about to write something I never imagined I'd ever write.

After 25 years, I have decided to leave Dream Theater... the band I founded, led and truly loved for a quarter of a century.

To many people this will come as a complete shock, and will also likely be misunderstood by some, but please believe me that it is not a hasty decision...it is something I have struggled with for the last year or so...

After having had such amazing experiences playing with HAIL!, Transatlantic and Avenged Sevenfold this past year, I have sadly come to the conclusion that I have recently had more fun and better personal relations with these other projects than I have for a while now in Dream Theater."

I could tell Portnoy was having a great time drumming for A7X at the Columbus stop of the Uproar Festival...but good night! I wonder if this means an A7X announcement is forthcoming? After all, Avenged Sevenfold continually thanked Mike Portnoy for his help on the new album Nightmare and for drumming with them live...but he was never billed as an official member of the band. Methinks that is about to change. So, Dream Theater fans, what do you think about all this? I bet you're shocked like me.

So You're Metal. Now What?

If you're reading this website, you like metal. Actually, you probably love it and consider yourself a metalhead. Not a closet metalhead, either. The kind of metalhead that wears the distinction proudly. All your family and friends know that they can give you a Motley Crue T-shirt for your birthday and you'll be happy. Great.

Now what?

How much does metal define you and your life? Recently I realized that maybe metal - the 80s variety of course - was all anyone really knew about me. No, I don't mean like my parents or my husband. They know what really defines me - where I came from and where I'm going.

I wonder if we - as "super fans" - use our music as a shield.

I'm not a shy person, but I'm quiet. I don't easily interject myself into conversations and I don't just walk up to musicians and start talking. I leave that to other people. Still, when I'm in a social situation - and it usually revolves around music - having this website to mention doesn't hurt. But what are we missing?

I wonder if my friends - the people I consider some of my best friends - really know anything about me? Oh sure, Heather knows just about everything about me. But we worked together. We saw or talked to each other every day of the year for over three years in a row. When we weren't at work we were either at a show or shopping. That was life. But the rest? I don't know anymore.

I started a new job at the end of May. I love this job, by the way. But anyway, I was immediately defined as the young rocker. I mean, I didn't do anything to deter this definition - I suppose it fits - but sometimes I feel like I've lost my real identity. Maybe I'm having a pre-mid life crisis or something. The other day, one of my coworkers was talking about Shakespeare. Everyone was stunned when I threw out some facts and it was as if no one believed that Shakespeare was my focus of study when I was an undergrad. I mean, it's not like you can get a degree in Glam metal. Of course, if you could...I guess I could teach a course on it or something. That might be kind of cool. I digress.

Ever feel unfairly defined as a metal fan? Then again, you can't be who you're not. Respect, walk and all that I guess.