Kevin DuBrow

Kevin DuBrow
DuBrow performing
Background information
Birth name	Kevin DuBrow
Born	October 29, 1955(1955-10-29)
Origin	Hollywood, California
Died	November 19, 2007 (aged 52) Las Vegas, Nevada
Genres	Heavy metal, hard rock, glam metal
Occupations	Singer, songwriter
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1973–2007
Associated acts	Quiet Riot, DuBrow

Kevin DuBrow (October 29, 1955 – c. November 19, 2007) was an American rock singer, best known as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Quiet Riot from 1973 until his death in 2007. During Quiet Riot's commercial heyday in the 1980s, DuBrow was known for his on-stage charisma, black-and-white striped microphone stand, gravelly bluesy voice, and suspenders. On December 10, 2007, media reports stated that DuBrow was first pronounced dead on the afternoon of November 25, 2007, and was later determined to have died of a cocaine overdose.^[1][2]

Biography

Early life

DuBrow grew up in Plainview, California, and attended Laurel Elementary School before settling in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Van Nuys at age 13. DuBrow was raised Jewish and had the nickname "Butch" growing up. DuBrow's first band consisted of 11-year-olds that played only one gig to an audience of senior citizens who were not particularly fond of rock music.^[3] By the time he was in his mid-teens he had developed an appreciation for a number of British rock acts including the Small Faces, Slade, Spooky Tooth, Rod Stewart and Humble Pie. It was the latter of those influences that would leave the biggest impact on DuBrow and act as a compass in his musical career.^[4]

With Quiet Riot

Quiet Riot was formed by Randy Rhoads and bassist Kelly Garni (who would be replaced by Rudy Sarzo) in 1973, who recruited DuBrow and drummer Drew Forsyth. This lineup disbanded in 1980 when Rhoads went on to join Ozzy Osbourne's band, with Randy personally enlisting Greg Leon (who would eventually leave the band to join an early incarnation of Dokken) as his replacement. For a time the band's name was changed to DuBrow, which had a rotating lineup of members including Leon,Chuck Wright, Frankie Banali, and brothers Tony and Carlos Cavazo. After Rhoads' death in a plane crash in 1982 while on tour with Osbourne, DuBrow changed the name of the band back to Quiet Riot, which his record company felt would allow the band to capitalize on wide name recognition in the wake of Rhoads' death. Rudy Sarzo left Osbourne's band and rejoined Quiet Riot shortly before the release of Metal Health, which stormed to the top of the charts, making Quiet Riot the first metal band to achieve number one status on their (U.S. release) debut album. Songs like "Cum on Feel the Noize" (originally written and recorded by English band Slade in 1973), and "Metal Health (Bang Your Head)" then launched them into national fame. Nevertheless, when asked to compose more successful albums, they were unable to do so. This, coupled with DuBrow's diatribes against contemporary metal bands, the press, and eventually his own record company led to the decline of Quiet Riot. DuBrow at one point was even fired from Quiet Riot during a tour's end at Hawaii in 1987; he was abandoned in a hotel while the other members of the band left on an earlier flight.

Shortly after his 1987 departure from Quiet Riot, DuBrow signed with Kim Richards for personal management.^[5] With Richards' help, DuBrow formed and began recording with a new band named "Pretty Women." Richards, who was working on the soundtrack for the Blake Edwards directed movie "Switch" at the time, arranged for the DuBrow penned "Slam Dunk" to be included on the movie's soundtrack.^[6]

In 1991, DuBrow regrouped with his Quiet Riot bandmate Carlos Cavazo in a new band called Heat. (Quiet Riot had continued on in 1988 with new singer Paul Shortino of Rough Cutt but by this time were disbanded.) By 1993, Heat had renamed themselves Quiet Riot and rejoined with Frankie Banali on drums.

Quiet Riot continued through the 90s in several different incarnations. They released several albums including Terrified, Down to the Bone, Alive and Well and Guilty Pleasures.

In 2004, DuBrow recorded a collection of cover versions for his first solo album, In for the Kill. This album was recorded in Kevin's current hometown Las Vegas, Nevada.

DuBrow also worked as a DJ for the Rock Station in Las Vegas, KOMP 92.3

During 2006, Quiet Riot worked on a new studio album that was expected to be released in either 2006 or 2007. The band stated that they had set no timetable for the release of the album, that they were financing the project themselves, and that it would be released when they saw fit and on their terms.^[7]

The album, Rehab, was released on October 3, 2006. The lineup on the album was DuBrow, Frankie Banali, Tony Franklin, and Neil Citron. Singer Glenn Hughes also made a guest vocal appearance on the album.

Later years

When Dubrow was 40, he lived in Newport Beach, California as he waited for his Las Vegas home to be built. During this time, Dubrow was quiet offstage. He spent a lot of his spare time cooking and shopping.

"Kevin wasn't one of those flashy guys," said Susan Emmett, general manager of the Villa Nova restaurant in Newport Beach. "Sometimes celebrities are so high-maintenance, but Kevin was so unpretentious, warm and friendly."

Dubrow's brother described him as always active and upbeat.^[8]

Death

On November 25, 2007, The Vegas Eye reported on its website that DuBrow had been found dead that day in his house in Las Vegas.^[9] Drummer Frankie Banali confirmed DuBrow's death in an email to Spain's The Metal Circus.^[10] Banali wrote:

Initial reports were confirmed by local authorities and reported by major news outlets on November 26, 2007. The cause of death was determined to be an accidental overdose of cocaine.^[11] KTNV in Las Vegas reported that he had died about six days before his discovery, November 19, 2007.^[12] DuBrow was buried in Pacific View Cemetery in Corona del Mar, California, next to his stepfather, Harold Mandell. A rabbi presided over his funeral service on November 30, 2007.^[3]

Discography

With Quiet Riot

• 1978 Quiet Riot
• 1979 Quiet Riot II
• 1983 Metal Health
• 1984 Condition Critical
• 1986 QRIII
• 1993 Terrified
• 1995 Down to the Bone
• 1999 Alive and Well
• 2001 Guilty Pleasures
• 2006 Rehab

Solo

• 1985 Hear 'n Aid "Stars"
• 1998 Thunderbolt: A Tribute to AC/DC - cover version of "Highway to Hell"
• 1998 The Side Effects of Napalm by The Neanderthal Spongecake. Guest vocals on remake of "Metal Health '98"
• Appetite for Reconstruction – cover version of "Welcome to the Jungle" on Appetite for Reconstruction, a Guns N' Roses tribute album
• 2004 In for the Kill

Kevin DuBrow

References

External links

• Kevin DuBrow Official Site-Not Active
• History of Quiet Riot w/ Kevin Dubrow
• Obituary in The Times, 11 December 2007
• Kevin DuBrow at Find a Grave