TWEET:🐥 Quiet Riot - Bang Your Head (Metal Health)

Metal health earworms might lead to persistent head banging. That's why they invented advil, ice and bandages.

Hi Wormheads!

Welcome to another TWEET mini-earworm post! As most EW@SL newsletters are fairly lengthy, I’m trying to mix it up with some shorter, more bite-sized pieces. For those new to TWEETs, here’s a quick explanation.

TWEETs (This Week’s Embedded Earworm Tune) are where I mention a song that has roosted in my head that day or week but without some lengthy personal essay attached.

My hope is that you, dear reader, will be inspired to share a song or two that has been stuck in your brain recently in the comments.

And a big thank you to all the new folks just joining the EW&SL. Welcome! And check out the extensive archive if you get a chance!

And if you like what you read, please tell your friends and cohorts! Sharing is caring.

“I banged my head one too many times and all my hair fell out.”

—What I say to kids who ask why I am bald

If I told you that early ‘80s metal superstars Quiet Riot were still around and kicking after 50 plus years in the music biz, I would bet a large percentage of you would be surprised. I didn’t say “alive and kicking” sadly, as original lead vocalist and the person most recognized as the face of the band, Kevin DuBrow, died in 2007 from a cocaine overdose.

To give a rundown of all the band member changes Quiet Riot has experienced over the years would make this post longer than the usual long earworm posts.¹

Rumor has it that an actual revolving door had to be installed to accommodate the continuous comings and goings.

I will mention though, that of the seven lead vocalists to man the stand, only one had lasted more than two years.

That would be vocalist #6, James Durbin. You might recognize the name if you are/were an American Idol fan, especially during season 10, where the hard-rockin’ competitor finished in 4th place.

As an ‘80 metal-head teen, I got a huge kick out of this AI performance with metal gods Judas Priest. (I chose the Spanish, on-screen lyric version cause of the great intro.)

I thought that Durbin’s vocals fit better with Priest than with Quiet Riot during his stint from 2017-2019, where he contributed vocals to two albums, Road Rage and One Night in Milan.

But someone close to the band thought Durbin was the perfect replacement for metal icon DuBrow.

According to a March 6, 2017 article in Inquisitr, DuBrow’s brother Terry, a plastic surgeon who’s famous in his own right from his stints on The Real Housewives of Orange County and Botched, the band finally got it right.

“Finally Quiet Riot gets a lead vocalist who will do my brother’s voice justice,” he told Billboard. “Every time I watched James in American Idol I would close my eyes and I would swear he was channeling Kevin. He’s got great range and the gravelly depth that launched Quiet Riot to stardom.”

I’ll be honest and say that I haven’t given those later Quiet Riot albums sufficient listening time to offer more than a cursory opinion.

That said, I am a big James Durbin fan, but Kevin DuBrow was one of those iconic heavy metal voices, like Bon Scott of AC/DC and Ronnie James Dio. To step into those shoes takes guts and confidence, both of which Durbin has in spades.

To get a taste of how Durbin handled singing the band’s biggest hit single, check out the video below.

One other big hit for Quiet Riot was a cover of Slade’s “Cum On Feel the Noize.” Here’s a side by side Spotify playlist of the two. I have to say I love both versions. I know some purists will say Slade’s version is untouchable but I disagree.

For those near my age, do you remember “Bang Your Head” during the early days of MTV? What do you think of Durbin’s version? Granted it’s live, but he does a pretty nice job, no? Yes? No?

Slade or Quiet Riot? Cum on leave your opinion in the comments!

Who knew that Randy Rhodes, guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne’s first two classic albums, was the original guitarist for Quiet Riot?

American Idol has led to some excellent rock royalty pairings over the years. Adam Lambert with Queen, Bo Bice with Blood, Sweat and Tears, and James Durbin with Quiet Riot. Thoughts on this trend?

Until we meet again,

Steve

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Quiet_Riot_members