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"As I sit in hospital and wait for my brain surgery, I have been let go. And nobody's had balls to tell it to my face. I have to read the news in a post that's not even directed to me. WTF?"
Mark Huff was riding high last January, when he hit the Ramona Mainstage as the new singer for '80s headbangers Quiet Riot. A documentary film being made at the time was to feature the local singer's own unlikely road from barroom tributes to replacement rockstar.
So when Huff found out via online reports he'd just been replaced by former Montrose singer Keith St John, he took to his Facebook page to vent.
“Let me tell all my friends: don’t count my out. Watch what happens. It’s obvious what I ever meant to this situation. I deserve better treatment. Don’t worry about me, worry about your own bad selves. I am gonna take the high road – I have so much shit I could speak. Stay tuned.”
Longtime Quiet Riot mainman Frank Banali later posted his own take. “Mr Huff’s medical condition had nothing to do with the decision that was made, although it is unfortunate that it comes at such a time...his wife assured me Mark would be home this week, and as legal protocol dictated, a certified letter was sent informing Mark of the decision that was made, and why it was made."
"The content of that letter is a private matter unless Mr Huff decides to make the reason for his dismissal public, which I believe would be counterproductive for him.”
Huff was first interviewed by the Reader in September 2010, shortly after he was announced as the new singer for ’80s headbangers Quiet Riot. (Original vocalist Kevin DuBrow died from a reported cocaine overdose in 2007.)
Huff is a veteran of two local tribute bands, OU812 (Van Halen) and Deeper Purple (duh). He also sings for L.A.-based VH tribute Atomic Punks and their spin-off, Sammy Hagar–era salute 5150.
With former members such as the late Randy Rhoads and star bassist Rudy Sarzo, Quiet Riot was the first metal band with a song in Billboard’s top five, a cover of Slade’s “Cum on Feel the Noize,” while their 1983 LP Metal Health was the first metal album to top the charts at number one.
Having last performed in 2007, founding drummer Frankie Banali reunited a latter-day version of the band, along with fellow former Rioters Chuck Wright (bass) and Alex Grossi (guitar).
46 years old in 2011, Huff lives in Carlsbad and was still maintaining his local day job as foreman for a house-painting company. “If you go to the official Quiet Riot [web]site, you can hear the rerecordings that I did for three of their hits."
"We did ‘Cum on Feel the Noize,’ ‘Slick Black Cadillac,’ and ‘Bang Your Head.’ It was awesome...we recorded up in L.A.”
According to the group’s website, the re-recordings are “not intended as replacements for the original versions. They will not be used for commercial exploitation.”
Huff and bassist-singer John Osmon left OU812 in 2010, though both still occasionally play with Deeper Purple. “We only do it a few times a year,” said Osmon at the time. “Right now, even with Quiet Riot, they’re not out on tour yet.”
Regarding Huff’s new gig, Osmon told the Reader “They announced it a couple of weeks ago, but he’s been working with them for a while...even when they had Kevin DuBrow, they were kind of playing smaller venues. I don’t know how cool it’s gonna end up. But, you know, at least he’ll be able to say that he sang with Quiet Riot.”
A documentary about Huff joining the band was being filmed when Quiet Riot appeared at the Ramona Mainstage on Friday, January 28, 2011, planned for release later this year. A YouTube trailer for Well Now You’re Here There’s No Way Back features Lita Ford, Rudy Sarzo, Eddie Trunk, Alice Cooper, Steven Adler, and Glenn Hughes. The film was written, produced, and directed by Regina Russell.
On Huff's Facebook page, many comments of support have been posted, as well as a few backing Quiet Riot's decision as sound (if poorly timed, given Huff's impending surgery). Huff responded to the pro-Rioters:
"Rally round the mighty quiet riot. you can all have a frontal labotomy for fkn breakfast.why would I make up some bullshit story.truth is ...i suck as a singer and just couldnt handle the gig...lmfao!!! The truth will set me free. So dont dally.....so you all can have a candle light vigil for the future of the greatest band in the land.you might think it drama...but I am perfectly intitled to say what ever I want......everybody else does? Why cant I?.im done.i need no sympathy,.......just watch what I serve up.this is america.....and im just expressing my freedom of speech......im gonna rest for my surgery."
RELATED STORIES:
Borrowed music, Borrowed look, Borrowed Fame - Some musicians see tribute groups as a way to get a foot in the door of the music industry. Others have been on the other side of that door, only to find more closed doors. Copping someone else’s successful act may seem the only chance at earning a bit of applause, adulation, and -- ultimately -- affirmation, however secondhand... http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2009/mar/18/borrowed-music-borrowed-look-borrowed-fame/
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/bands/2007/oct/21/just-sing-the-hits-when-bands-barely-reunite/
"As I sit in hospital and wait for my brain surgery, I have been let go. And nobody's had balls to tell it to my face. I have to read the news in a post that's not even directed to me. WTF?"
Mark Huff was riding high last January, when he hit the Ramona Mainstage as the new singer for '80s headbangers Quiet Riot. A documentary film being made at the time was to feature the local singer's own unlikely road from barroom tributes to replacement rockstar.
So when Huff found out via online reports he'd just been replaced by former Montrose singer Keith St John, he took to his Facebook page to vent.
“Let me tell all my friends: don’t count my out. Watch what happens. It’s obvious what I ever meant to this situation. I deserve better treatment. Don’t worry about me, worry about your own bad selves. I am gonna take the high road – I have so much shit I could speak. Stay tuned.”
Longtime Quiet Riot mainman Frank Banali later posted his own take. “Mr Huff’s medical condition had nothing to do with the decision that was made, although it is unfortunate that it comes at such a time...his wife assured me Mark would be home this week, and as legal protocol dictated, a certified letter was sent informing Mark of the decision that was made, and why it was made."
"The content of that letter is a private matter unless Mr Huff decides to make the reason for his dismissal public, which I believe would be counterproductive for him.”
Huff was first interviewed by the Reader in September 2010, shortly after he was announced as the new singer for ’80s headbangers Quiet Riot. (Original vocalist Kevin DuBrow died from a reported cocaine overdose in 2007.)
Huff is a veteran of two local tribute bands, OU812 (Van Halen) and Deeper Purple (duh). He also sings for L.A.-based VH tribute Atomic Punks and their spin-off, Sammy Hagar–era salute 5150.
With former members such as the late Randy Rhoads and star bassist Rudy Sarzo, Quiet Riot was the first metal band with a song in Billboard’s top five, a cover of Slade’s “Cum on Feel the Noize,” while their 1983 LP Metal Health was the first metal album to top the charts at number one.
Having last performed in 2007, founding drummer Frankie Banali reunited a latter-day version of the band, along with fellow former Rioters Chuck Wright (bass) and Alex Grossi (guitar).
46 years old in 2011, Huff lives in Carlsbad and was still maintaining his local day job as foreman for a house-painting company. “If you go to the official Quiet Riot [web]site, you can hear the rerecordings that I did for three of their hits."
"We did ‘Cum on Feel the Noize,’ ‘Slick Black Cadillac,’ and ‘Bang Your Head.’ It was awesome...we recorded up in L.A.”
According to the group’s website, the re-recordings are “not intended as replacements for the original versions. They will not be used for commercial exploitation.”
Huff and bassist-singer John Osmon left OU812 in 2010, though both still occasionally play with Deeper Purple. “We only do it a few times a year,” said Osmon at the time. “Right now, even with Quiet Riot, they’re not out on tour yet.”
Regarding Huff’s new gig, Osmon told the Reader “They announced it a couple of weeks ago, but he’s been working with them for a while...even when they had Kevin DuBrow, they were kind of playing smaller venues. I don’t know how cool it’s gonna end up. But, you know, at least he’ll be able to say that he sang with Quiet Riot.”
A documentary about Huff joining the band was being filmed when Quiet Riot appeared at the Ramona Mainstage on Friday, January 28, 2011, planned for release later this year. A YouTube trailer for Well Now You’re Here There’s No Way Back features Lita Ford, Rudy Sarzo, Eddie Trunk, Alice Cooper, Steven Adler, and Glenn Hughes. The film was written, produced, and directed by Regina Russell.
On Huff's Facebook page, many comments of support have been posted, as well as a few backing Quiet Riot's decision as sound (if poorly timed, given Huff's impending surgery). Huff responded to the pro-Rioters:
"Rally round the mighty quiet riot. you can all have a frontal labotomy for fkn breakfast.why would I make up some bullshit story.truth is ...i suck as a singer and just couldnt handle the gig...lmfao!!! The truth will set me free. So dont dally.....so you all can have a candle light vigil for the future of the greatest band in the land.you might think it drama...but I am perfectly intitled to say what ever I want......everybody else does? Why cant I?.im done.i need no sympathy,.......just watch what I serve up.this is america.....and im just expressing my freedom of speech......im gonna rest for my surgery."
RELATED STORIES:
Borrowed music, Borrowed look, Borrowed Fame - Some musicians see tribute groups as a way to get a foot in the door of the music industry. Others have been on the other side of that door, only to find more closed doors. Copping someone else’s successful act may seem the only chance at earning a bit of applause, adulation, and -- ultimately -- affirmation, however secondhand... http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2009/mar/18/borrowed-music-borrowed-look-borrowed-fame/
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/bands/2007/oct/21/just-sing-the-hits-when-bands-barely-reunite/