Watch Quiet Riot playing socially distanced concert in Vineland, New Jersey (March 6th).
Band’s current lineup includes drummer Johnny Kelly (Danzig, Type O Negative), who replaced Frankie Banali last year.
Talking to “Music Mania” podcast and how Johnny came to be involved with Quiet Riot, guitarist Alex Grossi said:
“When Frankie got sick, one of the first phone calls he made to me was regarding getting a substitute drummer. And Johnny and I had worked together, and still work together, in that band Hooker & Blow, that cover band we do for fun. And he just made perfect sense on so many levels, because he’s not totally intertwined in the L.A. music scene and doesn’t really get involved with the gossip and this and that. Because keep in mind, Frankie wasn’t public about his cancer until several months after his diagnosis.
“Johnny, he’s family to me, and Frankie and him were friends. And he can definitely fill the role onstage and off; he’s a total pro and he’s a friend. It worked out great, because the first show that Frankie was gonna miss was in Dallas, Texas, which is when Johnny Kelly lives. So we were able to fly in, do one song for soundcheck, and then trial by fire, do the whole show. He had never played with us before. And Chuck [Wright, bass] and our singer had never even met him. So it was definitely a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants-type moment, but Johnny rose to the occasion, and we’re thankful he’s onboard to help us out.”