Kevin DuBrow
On October 29, 1955, Kevin DuBrow, the lead singer of "Quiet Riot" and the voice behind "Metal Health", the album that in 1983 became the first heavy metal album in history to reach number one on Billboard's album chart, was born. Here are interesting facts about his life.
(Photo: Michael Ochs Archives)
1. He was born Kevin Mark DuBrow in Hollywood, California, to Laura and Alvin. He grew up in Los Angeles alongside his younger brother Terry Dubrow, who later became a plastic surgeon and television personality.
2. At 13 his family settled in the Van Nuys neighborhood of Los Angeles. DuBrow was raised in a Jewish family, and as a child he was nicknamed "Butch."
3. He learned to play 12-string guitar, and his first band, made up of 11-year-old kids, played only one gig, in front of an audience of senior citizens who were not especially fond of rock music.
4. As a teenager he fell in love with the British rock bands "Small Faces," "Queen," "Spooky Tooth" and "Humble Pie," as well as Rod Stewart. The biggest impression was left on him by singer Steve Marriott, who became a kind of musical compass for him throughout his career.
5. Between 1969 and 1975 he was an avid concert photographer, and his photos were sold to the rock magazines "Rock" and "Guitar Player." Among others he photographed Jeff Beck, Robin Trower and "Mott the Hoople." When he photographed a Rod Stewart show in 1970 he realized he wanted to be on stage rather than behind the camera, and as he said years later, shooting concerts is what made him a singer.
6. The band "Quiet Riot" was formed in Los Angeles in 1973 by guitarist Randy Rhoads and bassist Kelly Garni, and DuBrow and drummer Drew Forsyth soon joined them.
7. In 1979 Rhoads left to join Ozzy Osbourne's band, personally recommending Greg Leon as his replacement. The band changed its name to "DuBrow" and featured a rotating lineup that included, among others, Chuck Wright, Frankie Banali and the brothers Tony and Carlos Cavazo.
8. In 1982 Rhoads died in a plane crash during a tour with Ozzy. DuBrow changed the band's name back to "Quiet Riot," and Rudy Sarzo, who was then playing with Ozzy, left him and returned to the band shortly before the release of "Metal Health".
9. The band's American debut album, "Metal Health", was recorded in North Hollywood, produced by Spencer Proffer, and released in early 1983, with a lineup of DuBrow, guitarist Carlos Cavazo, bassist Sarzo and drummer Banali.
10. The band was dragged, against its will, into recording a cover of the 1973 "Slade" hit "Cum on Feel the Noize", but the song, whose video was widely shown on MTV, reached number five on Billboard's Hot 100 in November 1983 and became the first metal song to break into the top five.
11. On November 26, 1983, "Metal Health" reached number one on Billboard's album chart, replacing "Synchronicity" by "The Police," and became the first heavy metal album to do so. At the time "Quiet Riot" was opening for "Black Sabbath" on the "Born Again" tour, and the album eventually sold more than six million copies in the United States. The title track, "Metal Health (Bang Your Head)", also reached number 31 on the Hot 100.
12. In May 1983, half a year before reaching the top, "Quiet Riot" was the first band to take the stage on "Heavy Metal Sunday" at the US Festival, and its performance drew enthusiastic reviews.
13. On stage DuBrow was an unforgettable figure: a black-and-white striped microphone stand, suspenders and a hoarse, bluesy voice. At the height of his popularity, in 1983-1984, he was considered one of the most quotable singers in the world of metal.
14. But his big mouth cost him. DuBrow used to publicly attack other bands, the press and later his own record company. One famous story is that after he publicly insulted Ozzy, bassist Sarzo got punched in the face by Ozzy himself.
15. After the peak came "Condition Critical" in 1984 and "QR III" in 1986 with the hit "The Wild And The Young", but the band was not able to return to the heights of "Metal Health".
16. In between, in 1985, DuBrow took part in "Hear 'n Aid", a charity project of about 40 hard rock and metal artists meant to help drought victims in Africa, which produced the single "Stars".
17. In February 1987 DuBrow was fired from the band. According to Banali, management and the record label wanted it, but it took the band to carry out the move, and DuBrow's lifestyle, which included drinking and drug use, had made it impossible to keep working with him. "Quiet Riot" continued with singer Paul Shortino of "Rough Cutt."
18. After being fired he formed the band "Little Women" with the help of manager Kim Richards, who managed to get the song "Slam Dunk", written by DuBrow, onto the soundtrack of the 1991 film "Switch" by director Blake Edwards.
19. In 1991 DuBrow joined forces again with Cavazo, Kenny Hillery and Pat Ashby in a band called "Heat," which that June changed its name to "Quiet Riot." After years of changing lineups and even a full reunion of the "Metal Health" lineup, the band released "Terrified" in 1993, "Down to the Bone" in 1995, "Alive and Well" in 1999 and "Guilty Pleasures" in 2001.
20. In 2003 "Quiet Riot" broke up, and the following year DuBrow recorded his first solo album, "In for the Kill," a collection of covers recorded at his home in Las Vegas.
21. In Las Vegas DuBrow also worked as a host on the morning show of the rock station KOMP 92.3, alongside veteran host Craig Williams, until he left to go on tour again with "Quiet Riot."
22. On October 3, 2006 the last album he released in his lifetime, "Rehab," came out, with DuBrow, Banali, bassist Tony Franklin and guitarist Neil Citron, and singer Glenn Hughes appearing on it as a guest.
23. On November 25, 2007 DuBrow was found dead in his home in Las Vegas, at the age of 52. His friends had been unable to reach him for a week, and he did not show up for the Thanksgiving dinner hosted by his friend Hughes. According to Hughes, about ten days earlier DuBrow had told him that he wanted to change his lifestyle.
24. It is estimated that he died about six days before he was found, around November 19, while the date engraved on his headstone is November 25. The cause of death was determined to be an accidental cocaine overdose.
25. He was buried in Pacific View Cemetery in Corona del Mar, California, next to his stepfather Harold Mandell, and his funeral on November 30, 2007 was held in a ceremony led by a rabbi. His close friend, Banali, asked everyone to respect his privacy as he mourned his dearest friend.
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