Quiet Riot Singer Kevin DuBrow Dies at 52
- Posted on Nov 26th 2007 3:00PM by Gaylord Fields
- Comments (19)
Kevin DuBrow, the lead singer of neo-glam rockers Quiet Riot, was found dead in his Las Vegas home on Sunday. The cause of death of the 52-year-old frontman is yet to be determined. As one of the leaders of the '80s glam-metal scene, DuBrow's Los Angeles-based band scored a Top Five hit in 1983 with its cover of British rockers Slade's 1973 hit 'Cum On Feel the Noize.' Quiet Riot's third album, and first stateside release, 'Metal Health,' reached No. 1 at the same time, making them the first metal band to achieve that feat.The band is also famous as the spawning ground of guitar wizard Randy Rhoads, who left Quiet Riot in 1979 to join Ozzy Osbourne's group, before perishing in a plane crash in 1982.
Reader Comments(1 of 1)
Merryat 11-26-2007
Wow, that is really sad news. :( They were my favorite back in the day!! Everybody in the 80’s loved “Cum On Feel the Noize” off Mental Health. The song actually inspired Kiss to create their trademark rock anthem ‘Rock & Roll All Nite.’
Mental Health was a great CD, oh yeah…love “Slick Black Cadillac.’ Since I only have that on tape I’m going out to get the cd Mental Health and the Greatest Hits too!!!!
I pray Kevin will Rest In Peace.
George William Gockelat 11-26-2007
I am sad and I also am sorry to hear that Quiet Riot's lead singer Kevin Dubrow died at age 52. I saw Quiet Riot and Whitesnake at the LA Forum in 1984 when I was 17 during Quiet Riot's Condition Critical concert and it was during Quiet Riot's Condition Critical that it was my 1st Heavy Metal. I have Metal Health on LP. I have Condition Critical on pre-recorded-audio-cassette-tape. Now Quiet will take thier time to for a new lead singer. I am 40.
Tim Tobiasat 11-26-2007
This was sad news. I remember the first time I heard Cum On Feel the Noise. My family had just moved in to a house, after being homeless for a few weeks. That was a scary time for a 15 yer old kid. I flopped down on my bed, turned on the radio, and there was Kevin DuBrow, belting out Cum On feel the Noise as only he could, and I somehow knew that no matter what, everything was going to be alright. Kind of sappy, but every word is true. I finally got the chance to see him sing live, back in September at the Henderson Pavillion, outside of Vegas. What a show. A few weeks ago, I bumped into him at an Albertson's in Vegas. All I could choke out at the time was "Thank you". He shook my hand, gave me a two-pat man hug, and said "You're welcome". How often do you get to thank one of your heroes for what he and the rest of Quiet Riot did for me and other kids like me, whose first taste of heavy metal came through a cracked radio speaker? God Bless Kevin's family, and may he rest in peace. A real and remarkable icon and influence on hard rock and metal music is gone...there won't be another Kevin DuBrow! Peace...
Susieat 11-26-2007
Rest in peace Kevin.
DJat 11-27-2007
“Cum On Feel the Noize” off Mental Health. The song actually inspired Kiss to create their trademark rock anthem ‘Rock & Roll All Nite."
That would be pretty impossible, since Kiss released "Rock n Roll all night" in 1975 and QR came out with "Cum on feel the noise" in 1983.
RIP Kevin DuBrow and prayers to the family and friends.
Daveat 11-27-2007
"Cum on feel the noize" Amazing, how a guy could have hated a song so much to intentionally sing it as bad as he possibly could, (on purpose) and still win all our hearts. Who would have thought we would miss him this much?
LeatherHarIotat 11-27-2007
Quiet Riot brings back good memories of partying during the 80's. It's sad to see us losing so many of the great band members of that era.
RIP Kevin
Mark Jahrlingat 11-27-2007
I heard the news and fell to my knees. I partyed with them in the 80s 3 times, and Kevin was a Warm person, kinda quiot, but we chatted got some pictures taken, the memories will alwas be there, my prayers got to his family as all to the band and the rodies and all who Bang You Head to there music,soo sad..to young 52. I bet him and Randy are jamming..R.I.P Kevin
appollyonxat 11-27-2007
One of the first Heavy Metal experiences I had was Metal Health.They defined that 80's metal sound and helped to influence a generation of Metal musicians.Kevin Dubrow will be sorely missed.My heart goes out to his family and bandmates.
peteat 11-28-2007
RIP KEVIN. IT WAS THE OLD SANDBAR IN PASADENA, MARYLAND. IT WAS MY 45TH B-DAY AND KEVIN AND THE GANG SURE DID MAKE IT THE BEST ONE I EVER HAD. THE TIME BEFORE THAT WAS THE OLD HAMMERJACKS IN BALTIMORE. IF YOU NEVER GOT A CHANCE TO SEE THEM, WELL SHAME ON YOU! WELL KEVIN, NOW YOU AND RANDY CAN MAKE SOME NOISE IN HEAVEN! MY DEEPEST SYMPATHY GOES OUT TO YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS AND BAND MATES. I FOR ONE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU!
Tooniat 11-27-2007
Kevin was the rudest person I've ever worked with. Prima donna to no end...I had to laugh watching him climb into the car with his fat-azz sqeezed into a pair of skin-tight pleather pants. And that stupid wig was hilarious!
A truely pathetic sight.
peteat 11-28-2007
hey tooni. you a man or woman with name like that. bet you never had the nerve to tell him that when he was alive? but took that check didnt you? if you a man, maybe you upset that he was doing your girl. if a woman, maybe you to ugly and he woldnt do you. sounds as if you have been scored! got nerve bashing someone when there gone. try me im still here! rip kevin!
dayat 11-29-2007
"cum on feel the noise" was actually a remake of slade's song. i saw slade do it in the mid-70's. they were on tour with either kiss or aerosmith...cant remember. those who can remember the 70's really didnt experience the 70's!!!!
fredat 11-29-2007
METAL HEALTH not mental health birdbrains!! and i salute you MR.DUBROW
ICYat 11-29-2007
May he rest in peace
FemMate.comat 12-02-2007
It's sad to hear such bad news.
Adam Fouladat 12-03-2007
G-d Bless Him! He was a great singer and friend and now he is hopefully Jamming with Randy Rhoads (the best guitarist to walk this earth)! Keep Rocking it man from beyond the grave!
Billat 12-26-2007
Kevin was a very good friend of mine in high school, at Van Nuys High. We were both music freaks and went to several shows together; in fact, the first time he ever smoked any hashish was in my 1958 VW on the way to a blues show at Royce Hall at UCLA (it was funny-he thought we were going REALLY fast when in fact I was driving the speed limit). In those days we were just spectators, seeing shows and buying LOTS of LP's. Kevin also had a fairly successful T-shirt silk-screening business going, mostly music stuff. My favorite was the iconic symbol Traffic used on their albums.
After high school, I lost touch with him until another friend, an Englishman named Simon who produced music videos, told me he was doing a QR video. He related to me the story Kevin had told him of being "discovered," I think at the Rainbow, by RR or someone else from the band who said they liked his "look" and asked him if he could sing-which he had never tried. So I guess Kevin spent two or three days in front of a mirror, auditioned and got the job. Simon said (as one of the posters above said) that Kevin was a real pain in the ass to work with, but that was just Kevin. Simon died in '94 from the same thing Kevin did.
I eventually relocated to San Diego and always intended to get to one of Kevin's shows, but regretfully I never did. I would have liked to have spoken to Kevin again, because he really did have a joy for living.
I read of Kevin's passing the Tuesday following and was deeply saddened. I had a dream that night where I saw him, not as the 52 year old man he was, but as that kid in high school that I knew. I wanted to hug him and apologize for getting him so high in that old VW, but when I reached out he was a ghost and my arms went right through him.
I hope Kevin's family and friends are able to focus on the good memories, of which I am sure there were very many. I further hope that any of his fans who are caught up in the cycle of substance abuse will be inspired to move on to a more spiritual way of life.
Kevin, save me a seat up there. I'll be glad to see 'ya when when I get there.
j.k. geigerat 1-10-2008
this is such depressing news. saw them in 83@ darien lake's amphitheater in upstate n.y. no warm up, just them! what a freckin great great show. also was 1st show with the best friend a guy could EVER have...bill(foxy) fox. 1st of well over 100 shows w/him. i'm deeply moved by his passing. cant wait 2 c both of them. foxy left us prematurely also. peace and love all