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Post Info TOPIC: Kevin Dubrow Found Dead at 52
DPJ


Born Again

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Date: Nov 26 12:57:36 2007
Kevin Dubrow Found Dead at 52


The Associated Press reports that the death last month of Kevin Dubrow, lead singer for the 1980s heavy metal band QUIET RIOT, has been ruled an accidental cocaine overdose.

Clark County coroner spokeswoman Samantha Charles confirmed the cause Monday (December 10) after toxicology results were received.

Dubrow was found dead Nov. 25 at his Las Vegas home. He was 52.

QUIET RIOT was perhaps best known for its 1983 cover of "Cum on Feel the Noize". The song, featuring Dubrow's powerful, gravelly voice, appeared on the band's album "Metal Health" which was the first by a metal band to reach No. 1 on the Billboard chart.

DuBrow recorded a solo album in 2004, "In for the Kill", and the band's last studio CD, "Rehab", came out in October 2006.



Quiet Riot drummer, Frankie Banali, has confirmed that vocalist Kevin Dubrow was found dead in his Las Vegas home on Sunday 11-25-07.  We at Full in Bloom Music would like to express our deepest sympathy to friends, fans and family.  Coincidentally, we were planning to post a PART II of our interview with Kevin Dubrow this week.  We were unaware of his passing when we began putting the interview together, but we are still planning on completing it. 


On Frankie Banali's website he stated the following:

"I can't even find words to say. Please respect my privacy as I mourn the passing and honor the memory of my dearest friend Kevin DuBrow. "


-- Edited by DPJ at 00:50, 2007-12-11

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DPJ


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Date: Nov 27 15:15:05 2007

Comments from Nikki Sixx

I was thinking about sitting in Kevin's apartment in 1979. I had just been over to Randy Rhoads' (who still lived with his mom at the time) learning some of their songs. Randy called Kevin while I was there and told him they should get me to be the bass player in QUIET RIOT. I passed... 'cause we all had a destiny.
Today is a sad day.
He always did what he loved most music and always said what was on his mind. And that is the measure of a man.
He will be missed.
I'm grateful to have those early memories.... before the fame, just kids with dreams.
I send my love and support to his family and friends... I know this is a hard time."

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DPJ


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Date: Nov 27 15:16:31 2007

Gregg Journigan, producer of the nationally syndicated radio show "Rockline", had these words to say about Kevin Dubrow:

"Sitting in Japan I read a rumor [Sunday] night that Kevin DuBrow had passed. My first thought was it's way early in U.S. and 'I haven't seen it on Blabbermouth.' Upon returning from dinner, there it was. My first thought was.it's begun. The timetable of our metal icons and rock stars of the '70s and early '80s is ticking. I always think of when it will begin to happen because it's been relatively few, of natural causes. Let's hope this is too.

"As a kid on Hollywood in the early '80s, the first 'club' gig I was able to sneak into was a DUBROW gig at the Starwood in '82. This was the QUIET RIOT 'Metal Health' lineup before they released 'Metal Health', but as revamped QUIET RIOT. It was life-changing and set the table for next few years of working the Hollywood metal scene.

"Back then we didn't have the Internet and the only source, for the hardcore, was a little British mag called Kerrang! It was the bible. It was how we discovered what was going on everywhere, even in L.A.

"I got a job at a record store as the metal buyer because I had told the owner to buy lots of copies of the Japanese QUIET RIOT releases with Randy Rhoads and he sold them all out.

"Watching the '70s and newer metal
ock bands begin to come up big was awesome. With the words 'heavy metal' still underground, it was and still is to this day QUIET RIOT that brought the term to the mainstream. While today metal to me is a state of mind it was all-encompassing to many of us in the last 20+ years. Seeing this band and all the great bands at the US festival II we knew that metal had arrived.

"I used to sit out front of 'Rockline' in high school and get autographs and offer to haul gear. One night they let me come in to watch a show, the band was QUIET RIOT and they were the biggest thing in rock at the time. I was naïve but they were the coolest they could have been to a punk kid off the street.

"Jump ahead to earlier this year. Bob Coburn [host of 'Rockline'] had QUIET RIOT on 'Rockline' and they were playing live in our studio. Producing the live show and taking pics of the band and Kevin screaming 'Cum on Feel the Noize' right in my face was as cool now as back in the day. Sitting with him and talking about music, vinyl, THE FACES and, of course, HUMBLE PIE, here was a guy who was in apparent good health, somewhat self-deprecating but fully comfortable in what his role and legacy were, both good and bad.

"Few times have I got in conversations with our bands on the show where I thought I might be in over my head in regard to rock n' roll history. What I saw in he and Frankie were working musicians, not rock stars. There are very few real rock stars left.

"I never saw LED ZEPPELIN, QUEEN or THIN LIZZY in their day. I never thought I'd get to see KISS in make-up or SABBATH with Ozzy or Dio (epic) but luckily I did as well as newer bands in their heyday like OPETH, IN FLAMES or even a PANTERA or MEGADETH. These bands are not making money selling records anymore than the QUIET RIOTs and JUDAS PRIESTs are. It is mainly only via touring.

"Go see these bands when they come to your town, support the metal community for all metal genres and keep yours and all our metal health in a good state."

-- Edited by DPJ at 15:17, 2007-11-27

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DPJ


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Date: Nov 27 15:18:33 2007

Comments from Quiet Riot guitarist, Alex Grossi:

"I really don't know where to start.

"Kevin was a beautiful soul and I feel more than fortunate to have known, worked and learned from him. Kevin was always a positive influence in what sometimes can be a very negative business. I am proud to have called him my friend, and always will be.

"Kevin DuBrow was a true lover of music and was EXTREMELY dedicated to his craft.

"I am honored to have been part of a band that changed the face of hard rock forever and to have been given the opportunity to play, write, and most importantly be part of his life. He will be forever missed.

"Rest in peace, my friend."

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DPJ


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Date: Nov 27 15:19:41 2007

Comments from Quiet Riot / Giuffria / House of Lords bassist, Chuck Wright:

"I'm completely shocked and devastated. I've truly lost a brother and it's a very sad loss for the world of rock n' roll. I'm so very fortunate to have been a part of his life these past 26 years. I have so many fond memories and it's a blessing that these recent few years have been so great with the band. There is no reason to say 'I wish we could have...' We did! I still can't believe I won't be sharing the stage with his larger-than-life presence ever again. The man left a mark wherever he went and I'm heartbroken that he is no longer with us."

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DPJ


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Date: Nov 27 15:20:44 2007

Comments from Poison drummer Rikki Rockett:

"I have known Kevin DuBrow for close to 20 years or so. QUIET RIOT put metal on the radio in the early '80s in spite of the vanilla new wave surge of DURAN DURAN clones at the time. However he died or why, let's just remember the colossal contributions that he made. Rest in peace, my brother."

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DPJ


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Date: Nov 27 15:23:41 2007

Comments from Glenn Hughes:

"We are all grieving.

"Kevin and I were brothers. We spoke daily, and I mean on the phone, not e-mail.

"The Kevin that I knew was a beautiful human being. He was kind, giving, nurturing. And generous. He would stay at my L.A. home when he was in town.

"I never saw Kevin loaded. He respected my sobriety. He always spoke how about the change of my lifestyle, and how he also wanted to change his.

"The last conversation I had with him 10 days ago was about this subject; he said he had to make some life changes. I was so happy and elated to hear this.

"Gabi [Glenn's wife] and I spoke to him last on Friday, November 16. He wanted to know if I could pick him up at LAX. On the 23rd, the day of a party at my house. Then there was nothing, no communication. Zero. Come Thanksgiving I knew something was strange. At the house, Kevin's room was prepared as always, with his fave candies next to the bed. He always requests them when he stays. I thought, he's gonna come jumping through the door any minute and demand to play the winner of the pool game between Chad Smith and myself.

"As the party ended, Gabi and I spoke of his absence. She was very upset. All along, I felt something seriously wrong. Come Sunday morning, I couldn't take it anymore and called Lark Williams, Kev's ex-girlfriend. She was in San Francisco. I asked her if she knew a paramedic who could go over to Kev's house and investigate. Dana, the medic, got in the house only to find my sweet brother at peace.

"I am completely shellshocked. We were planning to go to Hawaii for some relaxation in the New Year.

"For those of you that didn't know him, he was a true, true friend.

"l'm gonna miss our dinners at the Palm in Beverly Hills. I'm gonna miss his loud voice bellowing through my house. I'm gonna miss those oh-so-corny jokes. We all will miss him.

"Sleep well, brother. Your legacy is in good hands with me.

"Your loving brother, Glenn."

-- Edited by DPJ at 15:27, 2007-11-27

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DPJ


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Date: Nov 27 15:26:22 2007

Comments from former Quiet Riot bassist Rudy Sarzo:


"All of us are in shock trying to deal with this," Sarzo told Headbanger's Blog. "The last thing you expect when you get up in the morning is something like this. He was somebody who really loved life. He loved to have fun and have a great time. Every day to him was like a party that's what it was like when I played with him."

Sarzo added, "I think hell be remembered for being a hell of a rock singer. He was definitely one of the best singers of the '80s."

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DPJ


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Date: Nov 27 18:11:41 2007

 
TWISTED SISTER frontman Dee Snider has released the following statement in regards to the passing of QUIET RIOT singer Kevin Dubrow:

"Kevin DuBrow is dead. This hits pretty damn hard.

"QUIET RIOT and TWISTED SISTER had a lot of respect for each other. The basis for this came from the fact that both QUIET RIOT and TWISTED SISTER formed in 1973 long before the rebirth of heavy metal or 'hair metal,' as it came to be known, in the '80s. When QUIET RIOT (on the West Coast) and TWISTED SISTER (on the East Coast) were formed, it was an outgrowth of the glam rock movement of the early '70s and both our bands fought the good fight against the onslaught that was disco (ugh!). When most other bands gave up or switched allegiances to what was more commercially viable at the time, both of our bands refused to bend or break, for that matter and carried the torch for heavy rock through the dark days of the mid-to-late '70s. As a result, QUIET RIOT were not only at the forefront to the L.A. metal scene, they were the inspiration for many other bands who went on to find fame and fortune.

"If you were to look back at old issues of L.A. music papers, you'd see every band who ever became anything out of L.A. opening for QUIET RIOT. And it was Kevin DuBrow and QUIET RIOT's perseverance and refusal to take no for an answer that literally destroyed the barriers of the record industry, television and commercial radio and opened the door for all metal bands to follow into the promised land. And we all know the glory days of metal that followed.

"Thank you, Kevin.

"And because TWISTED SISTER was doing, and had done, the same thing for the music scene on the East Coast, our two bands have always shared a mutual respect for one another. We know that none of the other bands (with the possible exception of Y&T, who were doing pretty much the same thing in Northern California) had been through the shit that we'd been through. We had earned our battle scars and our right to stand on those coliseum stages...while we felt many others had not.

"It's because of this connection that the passing of Kevin DuBrow hits us particularly hard. You've all heard the saying, 'There by the grace of God go I.' Well, it's never been truer than now.

"The metal community has lost a powerful voice and a great frontman, but let it never be said that Kevin DuBrow did not leave his mark. You kicked our asses, Kevin, you really did."


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DPJ


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Date: Nov 28 12:04:00 2007

Article from the LA TIMES 

The life of Quiet Riot singer Kevin DuBrow, who died at age 52 over the weekend in Las Vegas, had not been on a completely even keel after he'd broken up this month with his girlfriend of more than seven years, Las Vegas television personality and KXPT-FM radio DJ Lark Williams, according to friends saddened Monday by the news of his death.

Nevertheless, "his mood the last couple of months was stable," said former Deep Purple bassist and singer Glenn Hughes, who said he had communicated with DuBrow several times a week since they had become reacquainted after a 2001 performance by Hughes in Las Vegas. "He did not sound agitated or paranoid or anything at all -- he was just normal Kevin," Hughes said. He added that Quiet Riot's recent tour had gone well.

Williams said she didn't think DuBrow had any health problems. "He was as strong as an ox, that boy. He ate well, took a lot of vitamins. He worked out, and of course when he performed it was quite a workout," she said Tuesday from Las Vegas. "He never looked better." She said she had last communicated with him about a week ago by text message, with no indications that anything was awry.

As of Tuesday, the Las Vegas police were not investigating the death as a suspicious one. Samantha Charles, the communications officer with the Clark County coroner's office, said that an autopsy was performed Monday on DuBrow and that official determination of the cause of death would depend on results of toxicology tests, which could take six to 12 weeks.

"With everything that's happening," Williams said, "I'm just trying to take care of Kevin's cats."

He had two of them. Said Hughes: "He was crazy about those cats," and Williams agreed -- she said she and DuBrow had picked them out together.

DuBrow was a regular guest at Hughes' ocean-adjacent Los Angeles home. "He was truly like a little brother to me," Hughes said by phone Tuesday. "He was a very, very sweet, generous, kind, sensitive man. Loud and proud, yes, we all know about that, but there was a very personal side to Kevin that I will miss very, very dearly." Hughes helped write the songs on Quiet Riot's 2006 album, "Rehab," and was working on material for DuBrow's next project.

"There's a myth, I guess, if you're a rock 'n' roller, and you're of an age, you're a partyer," said Hughes, his proper English upbringing sounding in his voice. "But I can report that I never saw Kevin out of control, ever."

Hughes said that the residence in which DuBrow's body was discovered Sunday belongs to DuBrow's mother. The Quiet Riot singer lived alone, Hughes noted, and enjoyed the bachelor life, a predilection that contributed to his split with Williams, a tall blond with a photo-op figure who had helped DuBrow try to adopt a healthier lifestyle in recent years.

DuBrow was expected to fly in Friday night for a party at Hughes' house but uncharacteristically had not been in contact for a week. When he didn't show up or respond to messages, Hughes called Williams on Sunday to ask that authorities investigate.

DuBrow led Quiet Riot to the top of the charts in 1983 with the group's hit "Cum on Feel the Noize," which propelled the group's third album, "Metal Health," to sales of more than 6 million copies.

"He was one of the best singers rock has ever seen," said Blackie Lawless, singer-bassist of the L.A. extreme-metal band WASP, contacted Tuesday while on tour in Germany. "He had a voice like a razor blade that just cut right through you. And that voice is now silent."

"He was one of the first people I ever met when I came to L.A.," said Lawless, adding that he'd kept up the acquaintance for 32 years. "Kevin and I had a unique kinship, because our styles were similar, and we were both the same age. The third gig I ever played in L.A. was with him and Quiet Riot, when [guitarist Randy Rhoads] was still in the band."

"Quiet Riot [was] the first real MTV rock band," Lawless observed. "I always used to tell everybody that when people write rock 'n' roll encyclopedias, you'll see your '64 British invasion, the '56 Elvis chapter and the '69 Haight-Ashbury chapter -- well, L.A. will have its own '82-'83 chapter, and Quiet Riot would really be the beginning of that chapter."

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/music/la-et-quiet28nov28,1,5384628.story?coll=la-entnews-music


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DPJ


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Date: Nov 28 12:29:54 2007

Message from Jeff Scott Soto:

'I met Kevin back in 1986 when Quiet Riot were on the bill with us (Yngwie Malmsteen) for a few shows in the US. He was a funny, high spirited, overall good guy. Through all that he created his image of the 'mouth that roared', I found him to be a very endearing & genuine soul. He's was a saint then & continued to be such a humble person always treating me with absolute respect since day one. I was a Quiet Riot fan when the Metal Health album came out & through knowing Kevin & Co, continued to support the guys & their quest to continue the path they set for themselves from the ground up.
As we drove to soundcheck today here in the UK, I was given the information that Kevin has passed away. My deepest condolences go out to his family, those near & dear & especially to the boys in QR. Kevin leaves us with his legacy of work that we should always remember him by & knowing him, he doesn't want us to be sad for his passing, he'd want us to celebrate by 'screaming until our throats bleed!'. RIP my friend, we'll meet again!"


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DPJ


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Date: Nov 28 14:17:44 2007

ABC's Las Vegas affiliate KTNV-TV reports: Police say after a distressed call from family members, QUIET RIOT lead singer Kevin DuBrow's next door neighbor and friend kicked down the door to find the 52-year-old dead.

Police say DuBrow had been dead for about six days before his body was discovered.

Lori Lee Samson, DuBrow's fiancée, was the last person to see him alive.

She says when days passed, she new something was wrong.

Among the collection of memories, Lori Samson will forever save DuBrow's last words.

"At 2:40 am Monday he texted me I love you so much," Samson says.

His death has sent shockwaves to fans and family.

Samson says she will cherish the last moments spent with him and her son.

She never knew the man she met years ago was a legendary rock star.

Still rocking into his 50s, they celebrated Dubrow's birthday just two weeks ago.

Samson says Dubrow performed for charities, growing more humble with age.

At 52 years old, QUIET RIOT's vocalist finally found the one.

The couple was supposed to appear on A&E for a roast of Gene Simmons.

The coroner's office is now investigating the exact cause of death.

Samson says something fans never knew is that alcohol was not allowed backstage at their concerts.

This was in support of band members' struggle with sobriety.


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DPJ


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Date: Nov 28 18:46:39 2007

Report from Kelly Garni:

No need to state the obvious. First off I want to thank all of you who either called or emailed me. I'm sorry I can't respond to them individually as it would be a huge endeavor. I also want to thank everyone who refrained from jumping to conclusions and starting rumors. This has been a very traumatic tragedy to me and because of the fireworks usually associated with Kevin, I was expecting an avalanche of negativity that both me and Frankie usually have to deal with. And I'm happy to say that for the most part, everyone did nothing but express good feelings. Unfortunately what negativity that did occur was internal and while inconvenient , I was able to handle.

On Sunday, while I was working I got a phone call from Kevin's home security company. It was at about 3:15 in the afternoon. I am the only one who gets a call when ever his alarm goes off and usually I go to his house and let the guards in to check things out. However, Kevin had had his front doors replaced a few weeks ago and I did not yet have a key so I told them to send the guards and if there was a problem I would go there and take care of it. They also told me that Kevin's voice mail was full. That was the first sign of trouble to me. I got on the phone to Frankie in LA and asked if Kevin was with him. He said no and that he hadn't talked to Kevin in about 10 days. He said he thought Kevin was with one of his girlfriends. From there, I started to track her down. I have never met her and only after Frankie gave me her name was I able to find her which was relativity easy. By now about 10 minutes had passed. She said that Kevin had missed Thanksgiving with her (one of 2 girls he was supposed to have thanksgiving with. Well, he IS Kevin) She said she had gone to his house and left him many messages without response and that she had a very bad feeling about this. Right then, my other phone rang. I have 3 phones in my house and little did I know soon all 3 would be ringing nonstop. I put the phone down on the table with girlfriend #2 still on the line and it was Frankie on the phone. He told me what had happened. I lost all composure at that point and told FB I would call him back. Now to the other phone where I had the unpleasant task of telling #2 the news. Needless to say she freaked. GF#1 was Lark Williams who was in San Fran at the time. She was worried about Kevin as well and she had called a paramedic friend of hers to go check on Kevin. The guy happened to be very close to his house. With Lark on the phone, the guy went to Kevin's and was looking into windows and told Lark he could see his keys on the counter. Lark told him to break in immediately. It was a very ballsy and good thing she did. The guy broke in (hence the call from the alarm co.) and found Kev. This all happened in about 20 minutes time. From there, police, fire, everybody was called. He was found in bed. I talked with a Detective who was there and they hadn't even removed Kevin yet. He said "We have found no signs of foul play and are ruling this an accidental death". Last I heard from Kevin's brother, there was going to be a service this Sunday in Corona del Mar, Ca. Kevin will be buried next to his father. But then I was told that the coroner was still not done so that was kind of up in the air. I have not heard from them since. Peter Margolis was one of the first people I called. I had had to tell the news to Kevin's brother as well and I really didn't want to go through that again with others who are important in our lives. He was very kind was immediately saddened and said right off he wouldn't wish this on anybody. I read his statement and can say that he did in fact want to work out the differences between Kevin and himself. From here, I am not going to point out all the other things to you that people say when an icon dies. Kevin was what he was and he lived his life as such.

To me, Kevin was my brother for 35 years. And like brothers, we had our differences. But many many times over dinner, we discussed how great it was to be able to sit across from each and laugh about all the terrible things we said and did to each other. He was always there for me, and I was always there for him. The last time I saw him was on our mutually shared birthday, Oct 29, He gave me a big hug and a really great present. The best present though was the hug. I will miss him terribly. I pray that those who had issues with him don't take this opportunity to celebrate this. If you knew Kevin well enough to have a beef with him, then you knew him well enough to know he had a very good side to him as well. Thank you all for all your kindness. Please remember him for the one thing he wanted to be since he was born. A ROCKSTAR.


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DPJ


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Date: Dec 7 04:55:30 2007

Y&T pays tribute to Kevin Dubrow



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Learning to Fly

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Date: Dec 8 16:49:52 2007

Thanks for the rest of the interview. How sad he is gone.

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DPJ


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Date: Dec 11 00:52:04 2007

The Associated Press reports that the death last month of Kevin Dubrow, lead singer for the 1980s heavy metal band QUIET RIOT, has been ruled an accidental cocaine overdose.

Clark County coroner spokeswoman Samantha Charles confirmed the cause Monday (December 10) after toxicology results were received.

Dubrow was found dead Nov. 25 at his Las Vegas home. He was 52.

QUIET RIOT was perhaps best known for its 1983 cover of "Cum on Feel the Noize". The song, featuring Dubrow's powerful, gravelly voice, appeared on the band's album "Metal Health" which was the first by a metal band to reach No. 1 on the Billboard chart.

DuBrow recorded a solo album in 2004, "In for the Kill", and the band's last studio CD, "Rehab", came out in October 2006.

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