In praise of: Quiet Riot - Metal Health

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The first metal record to sit atop Billboard's album chart. Likewise, the first metal record to damage young suburban ears that weren't expecting it. In hindsight, Quiet Riot were probably the least talented band in the genre at the time (Cavazo wasn't then and will never be a guitar god, Banali plays drums one way and one way only...loud!). Somehow, this sloppy mess of a record transcends its cumulative weaknesses.

How did Metal Health drive you mad?

Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 4 November 2004 15:54 (twenty years ago)

I bought it on cassette the same day I bought the cassette of Eliminator by ZZ Top. I can see myself occaissionally playing the latter, though the former hasn't aged especially well.

Cavazo wasn't a great guitar player, no, but there were worse. Banali was just a hirsute walloper from Queens (nothin' wrong with that). Rudy Sarzo? Eh, nothin' much to say about him.

Quiet Riot was and is exclusively about Kevin DuBrow and his inherent awfulness. The band was otherwise bereft of a single original idea.

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 4 November 2004 16:02 (twenty years ago)

As a kid, I learned the secrets of the pros from a 3 cassette instructional bass playing course taught by Mr. Rudy Sarzo....in hindsight, why I would want to "learn" from such a horseshit bass player is a mystery.

Metal Health was one of the first "metal" records I ever loved though....it's pretty good in it's corny way.

M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Thursday, 4 November 2004 16:05 (twenty years ago)

...hasn't aged especially well.

Yeah, it's totally in and of its time. Probably even more than other metal records from the same year.

--------

Matt, did you learn how to lick your fingers between the verse and the chorus?

Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 4 November 2004 16:09 (twenty years ago)

no, and I felt ripped off.

however he did teach me a fairly useless way of plucking with 3 FINGERS (!!) on the right hand to better facilitate super speedy, galloping basslines!

M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Thursday, 4 November 2004 16:22 (twenty years ago)

"Wanna kiss your lips/ not the ones on your face"!!!

dave q, Thursday, 4 November 2004 18:02 (twenty years ago)

however he did teach me a fairly useless way of plucking with 3 FINGERS

It works for Steve Harris!!

Wasn't Randy Rhoads involved with QR at some point?

Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 4 November 2004 18:11 (twenty years ago)

Wasn't Randy Rhoads involved with QR at some point?

It pre-dates their radio/video hits.

I think some of the recordings are actually available now for the completist, if there are any QR completists.

Edward Bax, Thursday, 4 November 2004 20:22 (twenty years ago)

Props to dave q for quoting the most horrible lyric ever!

Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 4 November 2004 20:38 (twenty years ago)

I found a bootleg of sorts that features Mr. Rhoads with QR, but it's pretty disappointing stuff.

darin (darin), Thursday, 4 November 2004 20:55 (twenty years ago)

three years pass...

http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=85558

Herman G. Neuname, Monday, 26 November 2007 16:15 (seventeen years ago)

Whoa. RIP indeed.

"BANG - YOUR - HEAD!"

Ned Raggett, Monday, 26 November 2007 16:17 (seventeen years ago)

wow, bummer. I was just watching the whole QR section of VH1's "Heavy - The Story Of Metal" mini-series over the weekend.

Alex in Baltimore, Monday, 26 November 2007 16:24 (seventeen years ago)

"In For the Kill," his solo album of glam covers was very good.

And this remains a fine record.

Gorge, Monday, 26 November 2007 17:05 (seventeen years ago)

"Love's a Bitch" and "Slick Black Cadillac" deserve a lot more love.

I can't say it was the first metal I ever heard (my parents were into hard rock), but this record definitely hit me at the right time and place.

AND it introduced me to Slade.

Nate Carson, Monday, 26 November 2007 23:31 (seventeen years ago)

Hmmm. I wasn't very nice to him upthread, was I. Oh well. Poor guy.

Alex in NYC, Tuesday, 27 November 2007 00:52 (seventeen years ago)

sixteen years pass...

why am i listening to "Condition Critical" what has gone wrong in my life?

Bitchin Doutai (Noodle Vague), Friday, 29 March 2024 11:31 (one year ago)


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