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Quiet Riot with Randy Rhodes

So, hold onto your wigs and spandex, folks, because we’re diving headfirst into the glittery abyss that is Quiet Riot’s origin story. Yes, that’s right, before they were 1980s arena rock deities, they were just a bunch of rock ‘n’ roll misfits trying to find their way.

Let’s set the stage: it’s the mid-1970s, and we’ve got a motley crew featuring Kevin DuBrow belting out the anthems (a role he’d own for years to come), guitar maestro Randy Rhoads, Kelly Garni thumping the bass, and Drew Forsyth pounding the skins. You see, this wasn’t the Quiet Riot that would conquer the charts; this was the underground, early days version of the band.

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Believe it or not, this ragtag gang recorded not one but two studio albums, and guess where they were released? Japan, of course!

Because nothing says “rock ‘n’ roll glory” like your albums collecting dust on the other side of the world.

Then came a plot twist, the kind you’d expect in a rock ‘n’ roll epic.

Rhoads hopped on a rocket ship called Ozzy Osbourne’s band, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Rhoads would become a guitar legend, his name forever etched in the pantheon of axe-wielding gods, even though his journey was cut short by a tragic plane crash.

Now, you might be wondering about those fabled albums that Rhoads played on – well, hold onto your leopard-print hats, because they never saw the light of day in America.

No Remore Records would re-release them in 2022. You can find limited amounts on Amazon, but not at all in the main streaming services.

Well kids, what’s the verdict on these clandestine gems?

They’re not your run-of-the-mill Quiet Riot anthems, that’s for DAMN sure.

Instead of the arena-rocking behemoths we’d come to love (or loathe, depending on your stance), these early tunes have a different flavor – think hard edged  power pop meets tooth and nail rock ‘n’ roll rebellion.

Yes, DuBrow’s unmistakable voice is there, but the overall sound is a far cry from the commercial breakthroughs that would come later.

These albums are raw, underproduced, and charmingly unrefined, like that vintage leather jacket you can’t bring yourself to throw away.

Their 1977 debut is a window into the band’s formative years, with Rhoads and company dishing out straightforward power pop with a hint of youthful exuberance.

It’s a bit of a mixed bag, with some cringe-worthy moments sprinkled in, but tracks like “Mama’s Little Angels” and a fiery Small Faces cover “Tin Soldier” show the promise of a band on the cusp of something bigger.

Sure, there are a few bumps along the way (I’m looking at you, Dave Clark Five cover), but the sheer youthful energy and enthusiasm are infectious.

Quiet Riot’s debut might not be a polished gem, but it’s a damn fine starting point in the rock ‘n’ roll saga that would eventually bring them fame, fortune, and more hairspray than anyone should ever need.

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Szul