Most people inevitably equate Quiet Riot with the late, lamented wizard Randy Rhodes… unsurprising perhaps, but also a little unfair to the current band who have been recording high quality rock for a number of years. With Frankie Banali (Drums), Chuck Wright (Bass), Alex Grossi (Guitar) and James Durbin (Vocals) their star is obviously in the ascendency again, as they proved at the Frontiers Rock Festival in 2018. The concert was recorded and is now on release as One Night In Milan. It also goes a long way to prove that they are way more than a throw back and way more than their two best-known songs.
They open with ‘Run For Cover’ in a very Rainbow fashion before hitting their stride and delivering a great version of a great song. Sure, we get the two Slade covers they’re famous for. ‘Mama Weer All Crazee Now’ appears early in the set after a Cozy sort of intro and ‘Cum On Feel The Noize’ is left until last… they are just great covers and Durbin is no Noddy clone but gets it right on both songs and the crowd are having a ball. Other highlights are the heavy weight ballad ‘Loves A Bitch’ with Durbin in fine form and the brand new ‘Can’t Get Enough ’which isn’t that one, but a single in the making that rocks and has the sing-a-long chorus. The encore is, of course, their most famous and successful track… ‘Bang Your Head’ which starts off nice and slow with the crowd singing to the intro before “metal health’ is fully restored.
This is a first class live album and although just listening to it, rather than being there, means a lot of the audience participation and Durbin’s playing them does get a little wearisome but, if you like heavy rock there is a lot to be gleaned from this one.
