Rating: 
Summary: Alive and well . . .
Review: Quiet Riot broke out of LA's vibrant metal scene in 1983 with their crunching anthem Metal Health. Some 20 years later on Live! in the 21st Century, the group is still intact, and looking good for rockers in their mid 40's, fronted by the ever boisterous Kevin DuBrow, with colorful Rudy Sarzo on bass, and Frankie Banali bashing the drums. Guitarist Carlos Cavazo, who can still pass for an 80's version of The Monkees Mickey Dolenz, has lost none of his skills as a stringbender.
While drawing selections from Metal Health and Condition Critical, the band's set features material from just two other studio recordings. The group performs three songs from Terrified, a somewhat obscure 1993 release, and a pair from 2001's Guilty Pleasures. Songs like Vicious Circle and Psycho City definitely rock hard, however the song selection results in a package that may not be too familiar to the casual fan.
Recorded at The Key Club in Hollywood, the performance is not a straight ahead metal assault, as the group takes an acoustic break to perform Itchykoo Park and Don't Want to Let You Go. The later is an under appreciated tune, that while still good acoustic, is a killer tune in the original electric version. Performing Thunderbird, DuBrow and the band pay tribute to Randy Rhodes, the guitarist who left Quiet Riot to achieve legendary status playing with Ozzy Osbourne, before perishing in a plane crash. While Rhodes may have been there at the beginning, it was Cavazo's signature licks that helped bring Quiet Riot to prominence, and it seems a bit unfair that he be cast in Rhodes's shadow after all this time. These days Cavazo displays his versatility covering classic metal tunes playing with the Hollywood Allstarz.
The quality of the video is clear and sharp, and views mostly unobstructed. Sound options are 5.1 Dolby surround sound and standard stereo. The bonuses are mostly assorted short clips from the mid 80's, and a slide show. Nice, but an interview with the band, or career retrospective would have made it more complete. In addition to the DVD, a CD with audio of the performance is also included.
At this time Quiet Riot still exists, but minus Cavazo and Sarzo. So unless there is a reunion (always a possibility) this is may be your best opportunity to see the classic lineup in a recent performance. The show is a bit uneven, and all the songs may not be familiar, but fans of the band should not be too disappointed. With the current popularity of metal near "condition critical', it's good to see that acts like Quiet Riot are still around and kicking. QR has a CD of live material scheduled for release in January 2005. Bang your head, metal health will still drive you mad.
Rating: 
Summary: Quiet Riot-rocks the house!
Review: Quiet Riot rocks hard and puts on a great show of old and new.After being pushed back a few times,the wait was well worth it.This is definetly MUSIC-DVD of the year*.
Rating:
Summary: Finally! A Great Live Band, captured in all its Greatness --
Review: Quiet Riot! A name Synonomous with turning millions of 80's children onto the Metal!
Now 20 years after they broke all the rules, they are featured in a Live Concert setting.
Quiet Riot knows how to put on a show, move a crowd and hit all of the notes. Seeing them live demonstrates and gives people a taste of what great musicians they really are. A polished fun act and an atmosphere that will pull you into the screen.
If you have never seen Quiet Riot live, you are in for a treat, if you have seen them live, this will help you relive the experience over and over again.
This is definately one Concert Video every music lover should have.
Sadly, the band is no more, having recently (Sept. 2003) going their separate ways -- Now this is trulyu a collectors item and a Showcase of one ofthe best live bands EVER! Rock On QR and long live your music!
Rating:
Summary: Nice...very, VERY nice!
Review: These guys have always worked harder than anybody else to deliver a high-energy, great-sounding, professional concert- and that is just what you get. The sweat is just pouring off of them as they rock out! This performance doesn't try to be something it is not; it is raw and in your face! You get to see 4 of the best (and most under-rated) musicians of metal up close and true to form. I have also really enjoyed the audio CD included. It has a good mix, and it is solid & consistent. The bonus material was cool as well. (You get to see rare glimses of Carlos Cavazo acting goofy!) This DVD is true to their live shows, and I think you will be pleasantly surprised. So... buy one for you AND your friends! P.S. I can't stop singing THUNDERBIRD from this recording!!!
Rating:
Summary: Nice...very, VERY nice!
Review: These guys have always worked harder than anybody else to deliver a high-energy, great-sounding, professional concert- and that is just what you get. The sweat is just pouring off of them as they rock out! This performance doesn't try to be something it is not; it is raw and in your face! You get to see 4 of the best (and most under-rated) musicians of metal up close and true to form. I have also really enjoyed the audio CD included. It has a good mix, and it is solid & consistent. The bonus material was cool as well. (You get to see rare glimses of Carlos Cavazo acting goofy!) This DVD is true to their live shows, and I think you will be pleasantly surprised. So... buy one for you AND your friends! P.S. I can't stop singing THUNDERBIRD from this recording!!!
Rating:
Summary: Is it hot in here or is it just me?
Review: This DVD rocks. From start to finish, it is a Quiet Riot lovers dream. The sound is incredible, it was the first thing to really grab my attention, and the picture quality is perfect. From the begining song "Vicious Circle" to the awesome finish with "Metal Health (Bang Your Head) I felt just like I was in the front row.
Having seen Quiet Riot live many times, I can say that the DVD performance truly captured the energy and excitement you feel when you see them live. Getting pumped up through "Vicious Circle" and "Slick Black Cadillac", I was banging my head during "Terrified" and hungry for more. And more is what you get! With "Mama weer all crazy now" and the powerful "Feel the Pain". Now the set takes a turn and goes acoustic, with an awesome performance of "Itchykoo Park". Kevin and Carlos on guitar and Frankie Banali on Conga drums. One of my favorite parts of the whole DVD. Next up is "Don`t wanna let you go" one of my favorite Quiet Riot songs, and having never seen the band perform the song live it was a real treat for me to see it on the DVD. Thunderbird: words can hardly describe how this wonderful song touches you during the DVD performance. With footage of Randy Rhoads throughout the song, you are left teary eyed. Picking you back up with "Danger Zone" and "Sign of the times" you are then mezmerized by Carlos` shreading guitar solo "Battle Axe" with awesome camera angles and killer lights, taking you into "Psyco City" and then a most awesome drum solo "Swinging Lumber". You just don`t want Frankie to stop! Not since John Bonham`s performance of "Moby Dick" from the Led Zeppelin DVD have I been so hypnotized by a drum solo! The set then goes into "Cum on feel the noize", the Who`s "My Generation" and last but not least, the anthem "Metal Health (bang your head)". With all of that plus bonus features of home video clips, this DVD is a Headbangers dream come true! I highly recommend it to any Quiet Riot fan. To the band: Thanks for 20 years of great music and fun!
Rating: 
Summary: Have we not forgotten the lameness of Kevin DuBrow?
Review: Twenty years have not been long enough to contain the tainted memories of Quiet Riot and their ill-fated boost to stardom (and subsequent downfall). In a band that Randy Rhoads started and then left (realizing that they would very likely never attain stardom)to join Ozzy, we realize that the creative efforts left with him. Although Randy-era QR was about as mediocre (aside from the guitar work, which Randy took with him and translated into Ozzy classics)as it became without him (those lyrics, those vocals, those costumes . . . eeek!) Can we now look ahead to the hair-implanted, over-tanned, heavily tattooed Kevin DuBrow and really take him seriously this time? He was a dork then, and I really can't say that I think my opinion of him will ever change. Did he go to Frontman School between tanning salon visits and tattoo appointments? A geek, after all, is still a geek, no matter how much packaging you put over him. Rudy Sarzo, eh, big deal. Rudy spent most of his years playing someone else's bass lines (i.e. Bob Daisley, kewel hair but mostly a poser. Franki Banali you typical rock drummer along the lines of the technically-retarded Bobby Blotzer (Ratt) and Mick Brown (Dokken). I will spare Carlos Cavazo the critique. I'm sure the offense will go up, but please, living mostly off the memory of a dead gutarist (and taking total credit for some of Randy's old songs) and then , what, remaking a few Slade songs that were lame to begin with . . . QR should be buried way back in the closet with Cinderella and Kingdom Come and Autograph. Lameness is forever, and integrity cannot be bought with hair extensions and tanning gels.
|
