Quiet Riot singer found dead in Las Vegas
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"Quiet Riot" singer found dead in Las Vegas
By Dan Whitcomb
Kevin DuBrow, lead singer of the popular U.S. 1980s heavy metal band Quiet Riot, has been found dead from unknown causes at his home in Las Vegas, authorities said on Monday.
Quiet Riot singer Kevin DuBrow
DuBrow, 52, was found dead at about 5:20 p.m. on Sunday, a spokeswoman for the Clark County Coroner's Office said. She said an autopsy was under way on Monday to determine the cause of death.
"I can't even find the words to say," Quiet Riot drummer Frankie Banali said on his Web site. "Please respect my privacy as I mourn the passing and honor the memory of my dearest friend, Kevin DuBrow."
Quiet Riot, which was founded in Los Angeles in the mid-1970s, shot to the top of the Billboard charts with their smash 1983 album "Metal Health." It sold more than 6 million copies and is considered by many to be the first heavy metal record to top the pop charts.
The album's sales were spurred on by the band's monster hit, "Cum on Feel the Noize," featuring DuBrow's powerhouse vocal, and the song's video, which was played in heavy rotation on MTV.
Quiet Riot's follow-up albums did not sell nearly as well and DuBrow was essentially fired from the band amid the ensuing rancor.
DuBrow regrouped Quiet Riot in the 1990s and the band has since played sporadically, last releasing an album in October 2006.
(source: Yahoo News) -
Cum feel the noize.... R.I.P
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ANNIHILATOR Guitarist: KEVIN DUBROW 'Helped Make Metal What It Has Become Today'
Guitarist Jeff Waters of the long-running Canadian thrashers ANNIHILATOR has posted the following message on the band's official forum:
"QUIET RIOT had an impact on me when I was a teen and when I wasn't listening to their music, I was playing it or seeing a cover band that was playing it! 'Metal Health' was a brilliant record and his voice and [guitarist Carlos] Cavazo's playing was damn good for that time... and very influential to many others. From [bassist Rudy] Sarzo licking his thumb to the spandex and posing; pure cheese but great cheese! Their music was rock and metal and party music all in one.
"It is a sad day for metal, as DuBrow and QUIET RIOT helped, in their own way, make metal what it has become today.
"RIP, dude. You will be missed by many and thanks for the memories and the music." -
BANG YOUR HEAD!
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R.I.P
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Original QUIET RIOT Bassist Explains How KEVIN DUBROW's Body Was Discovered
Bassist Kelly Garni, who was one of the founding members of QUIET RIOT, has released the following statement regarding the passing of the group's lead singer, Kevin DuBrow:
"I want to thank everyone who refrained from jumping to conclusions and starting rumors. This has been a very traumatic tragedy to me and because of the fireworks usually associated with Kevin, I was expecting an avalanche of negativity that both me and Frankie [Banali, QUIET RIOT drummer] usually have to deal with. And I'm happy to say that for the most part, everyone did nothing but express good feelings. Unfortunately what negativity that did occur was internal and while inconvenient, I was able to handle.
"On Sunday [November 25], while I was working I got a phone call from Kevin's home security company. It was at about 3:15 in the afternoon. I am the only one who gets a call whenever his alarm goes off and usually I go to his house and let the guards in to check things out. However, Kevin had had his front doors replaced a few weeks ago and I did not yet have a key, so I told them to send the guards and if there was a problem I would go there and take care of it. They also told me that Kevin's voice mail was full. That was the first sign of trouble to me.
"I got on the phone to Frankie in L.A. and asked if Kevin was with him. He said no and that he hadn't talked to Kevin in about 10 days. He said he thought Kevin was with one of his girlfriends. From there, I started to track her down. I have never met her and only after Frankie gave me her name was I able to find her, which was relativity easy. By now about 10 minutes had passed. She said that Kevin had missed Thanksgiving with her (one of two girls he was supposed to have thanksgiving with. Well, he IS Kevin). She said she had gone to his house and left him many messages without response and that she had a very bad feeling about this. Right then, my other phone rang. I have three phones in my house and little did I know soon all three would be ringing nonstop. I put the phone down on the table with girlfriend #2 still on the line and it was Frankie on the phone. He told me what had happened. I lost all composure at that point and told FB I would call him back.
"Now to the other phone where I had the unpleasant task of telling #2 the news. Needless to say she freaked. GF#1 was Lark Williams who was in San Fran at the time. She was worried about Kevin as well and she had called a paramedic friend of hers to go check on Kevin. The guy happened to be very close to his house. With Lark on the phone, the guy went to Kevin's and was looking into windows and told Lark he could see his keys on the counter. Lark told him to break in immediately. It was a very ballsy and good thing she did. The guy broke in (hence the call from the alarm co.) and found Kev. This all happened in about 20 minutes time. From there, police, fire, everybody was called. He was found in bed. I talked with a detective who was there and they hadn't even removed Kevin yet. He said, 'We have found no signs of foul play and are ruling this an accidental death.'
"Last I heard from Kevin's brother, there was going to be a service this Sunday in Corona del Mar, Caalifornia. Kevin will be buried next to his father. But then I was told that the coroner was still not done so that was kind of up in the air. I have not heard from them since.
"Peter Margolis [director of the upcoming Randy Rhoads documentary film] was one of the first people I called. I had had to tell the news to Kevin's brother as well and I really didn't want to go through that again with others who are important in our lives. He was very kind was immediately saddened and said right off he wouldn't wish this on anybody. I read his statement and can say that he did in fact want to work out the differences between Kevin and himself.
"From here, I am not going to point out all the other things to you that people say when an icon dies.
"Kevin was what he was and he lived his life as such.
"To me, Kevin was my brother for 35 years. And like brothers, we had our differences. But many many times over dinner, we discussed how great it was to be able to sit across from each and laugh about all the terrible things we said and did to each other. He was always there for me, and I was always there for him.
"The last time I saw him was on our mutually shared birthday, October 29, He gave me a big hug and a really great present. The best present, though, was the hug.
"I will miss him terribly. I pray that those who had issues with him don't take this opportunity to celebrate this.
"If you knew Kevin well enough to have a beef with him, then you knew him well enough to know he had a very good side to him as well.
"Thank you all for all your kindness. Please remember him for the one thing he wanted to be since he was born: A ROCK STAR."