Kevin DuBrow

The death of Quiet Riot vocalist Kevin DuBrow certainly wasn't the news I expected to read on Monday morning. It took me several hours to really collect my thoughts and I'll try to keep it brief. I wouldn't say I was a huge fan, but Quiet Riot were certainly one of the maybe first ten or so hard rock/metal bands that I got into around 83-84. DuBrow got criticized for being a big mouth and other things. After the hugely successful Metal Health things began to go down hill for the band and by the end of the decade Kevin was kicked out of the band he had helped form. Then the 1990's came and this whole style of music fell out of favor. Yet DuBrow made his mark because Quiet Riot along Motley Crue, Ratt and others were some of the first LA bands of the 1980's to get noticed, achieve commercial success and help open up the LA hard rock scene. DuBrow was outspoken, but he was enthusuiastic, entertaining and those are all traits of a good frontman which is what he was. What he did in the 1980's would have been enough to earn him his due in the hard rock scene. Still he kept coming back to Quiet Riot over the years with different line-ups. He stayed busy working in music as well whether it was Quiet Riot albums, his solo album, shows or guesting on other artist's albums. He interviewed several times at Metal Sludge and was often one of the best interviews they had. Now older, his outspoken nature was now seen as him being an honest person who was open about his opinions due to his experience rather than his arrogance. He stuck at his music career and seemed to really love his fans and be happy with his role in music. I firmly expected he would play and be around longer, but that was not to be. I will remember him as a solid frontman who worked hard and seemed to enjoy what he was doing.
So long, Kevin.