10 Worst Times Hard Rock Bands Changed Singers
7. Quiet Riot
Although the Los Angeles rockers became known for their massively successful Metal Health album in 1983, Quiet Riot had actually been formed a decade earlier by legendary guitarist Randy Rhodes. He formed the original line-up with bassist Kelly Garni, drummer Mildred Pierce, and vocalist Kevin DuBrow. Brought in for his energy and enthusiasm, DuBrow was not well liked by his bandmates. Tensions between him and the band caused Garni to drunkenly threaten to attempt to murder him after Rhodes refused to fire DuBrow. Garni was the one who ended up fired.
The band would record two albums with Randy Rhodes and they were only officially released in Japan. Rhodes was unhappy with the direction of the band and left to be in Ozzy's new band. Without their virtuoso guitarist, Quiet Riot floundered through the LA music scene and ultimately disbanded.
DuBrow, with permission from Rhodes, reformed Quiet Riot with bassist Rudy Sarzo. After Rhodes' death in '82, the group almost didn't continue, but ultimately landed a US recording contract and released the album that would make them famous. Their cover of "Cum on Feel the Noize" was the first metal track to land in the Hot 100. After their next two albums couldn't replicate the success of Metal Health, DuBrow grew frustrated and began lashing out and the band fired him in 1987.
His replacement was Paul Shortino who had previously fronted the band Rough Cutt. In 1988, they released the album Quiet Riot IV (or as Shortino later dubbed it QR). While it was favored a bit more positively by critics, the album was again another commercial disappointment and the band split to work on different projects. This led DuBrow to go to court to reclaim the Quiet Riot name.
With the band legally his, DuBrow and Quiet Riot went on to release 6 albums, including the re-mixed compilation album The Randy Rhodes Years. DuBrow died of a cocaine overdose in 2007. The remaining members have released 3 albums and worked with 6 different singers (including American Idol's James Durbin.