February 2025 has seen the release of a new book by yours truly, Bang Your Head, Feel the Noize: The Quiet Riot Story. And as the title clearly states, tells the complete history of what many consider the first-ever metal band to score a #1 album on the Billboard Charts, when their classic LP Metal Health hit the top spot on November 26th, 1983.
And while the group’s anthemic metal translated perfectly to the masses, thanks to such popular singers/videos as “Cum On Feel The Noize” and the album’s title track, what also made the group stand out from the rest of the headbanging pack was their look. Below is an excerpt from the book, in which the group’s unique look and fashion choices is analyzed and determined how it came about…
One of the things that made Quiet Riot stand out was their unique look. Whereas most hair metal singers tried oh-so-hard to look oh-so-sexy, Kevin DuBrow would often be spotted mugging for the camera in music videos and in photographs. And also, not opposed to sporting some zany stage outfits (and having a serious fetish for black and white stripes – whether it be on his shirt, trousers, or mic stand, a look that UFO’s Pete Way popularized, and Iron Maiden’s Steve Harris fancied, too).
In a way, it was almost a throwback to Cheap Trick, where there were two oddballs (Rick Nielsen and Bun E. Carlos) and two handsome rock stars (Robin Zander and Tom Petersson) in the band’s line-up. But the only difference with Quiet Riot was that there was one oddball…and three handsome rock stars!
“Kevin’s look was very unique,” admitted Don Jamieson. “He kind of did the spandex and all that stuff, but he didn’t have the perfectly coifed hair until many, many years later – all of a sudden, he kind of looked like Greg Giuffria…with darker hair. But those early videos and everything, he had that short, curly hair, and he was balding then. But this guy came with so much attitude. I loved the way he put the electrical tape around the mic stand. And the way Rudy Sarzo played the bass. The image and the stage performance was very powerful.”
“Kevin’s look made him stand out because he was different looking, but the way he performed and the way he used his voice was really what people focused on. But also, the power of Kevin’s vocal on top of that was just incredible – to hear somebody sing with that much power. And at that time, a lot of singers were trying to sing real high. And he sang more gritty and in a lower register. And, had more power. But he could get up there at that time.”
Former DuBrow bandmate Greg Leon also attempted to sum up the singer’s look circa the early ’80s. “He was trying to be Rod Stewart meets Freddie Mercury… and Steve Marriott. Those were the guys he loved and emulated. None of which were sex symbols.”
Also impossible not to notice in the “Cum On Feel The Noize” clip are the QR members’ fashion choices: Kevin DuBrow donning skin-tight leopard skin trousers and a black leather vest, Carlos Cavazo sporting a sleeveless striped shirt, and Frankie Banali modeling a sleeveless skull n’ crossbones shirt. But it was Rudy Sarzo who showcased the snazziest piece of fashion.
“I’m not like the most fashionable guy,” the bassist admitted. “I do most of my shopping at malls. I was on tour with Quiet Riot, and I needed to get a shirt. So I went to a shopping mall, and there was a store called The Merry Go Round. And I saw a shirt that had a target. That’s what I wound up wearing in the ‘Cum On Feel The Noize’ video. That shirt kind of became an iconic shirt for metal or Quiet Riot.”
“So then The Merry Go Round started running their own ads on MTV, but instead of having us, they had Slade! [Laughs] It was their song, and I guess that was the only way they could get permission for ‘Cum On Feel The Clothes’ or something. So if you’re talking about fashion, my contribution to fashion on MTV was that round target shirt from Merry Go Round.”
To order Bang Your Head, Feel the Noize: The Quiet Riot Story, click here.
