Monday, November 23, 2015

Review: Quiet Riot - Well Now You're Here, There's No Way Back




Fans seeking the definitive Quiet Riot documentary that unveils even the tiniest of details about the band’s history will not find it in Well Now You’re Here, There’s No Way Back. Those fans would be best suited watching the Quiet Riot episode of Behind The Music. However, for fans seeking an entertaining look at what happened to Quiet Riot after Kevin Dubrow’s passing, understanding why Frankie Banali continued on after he said that he never would again, and curious about why there have been several lead singers since Kevin Dubrow, this is the one to watch.

Frankie Banali is a man who understands loss. Over the course of just a few short years, this once on top of the world heavy metal drummer lost his best friend, his band, his wife, and his career. All that was left when the dust finally settled was Banali and his young daughter. Suddenly, one of the prince’s of heavy metal was a single Dad raising a teenage girl.

Well Now You’re Here, There’s No Way Back is a terrific documentary that looks into the world of Quiet Riot---past, present, and future. The film begins by giving a brief but informative background on the start of Quiet Riot. It chronicles the band’s journey on the road to becoming the first heavy metal band to have a number one album. Metal Health launched Quiet Riot into stardom and the band’s career was flung forward at full force. Over a decade later, the music scene had changed, things were tough for metal bands from the 80s, and lead singer extraordinaire, Kevin Dubrow, had passed away. Frankie Banali was left to pick up the pieces and determine what to do. He decided to shut Quiet Riot down for good.

After a few years passed, he changed his mind. This is where Well Now You’re Here, There’s No Way Back gets extremely intriguing. This is the chronicle of the band getting back together, the search for a lead singer, and bassist, Chuck Wright accepting that he is not the well known member of the band that he should be.

The history of the Mark Huff era Quiet Riot is fascinating, especially as it gives Frankie Banali’s view on what happened and why Huff was let go. Huff admits his mistakes as well and understands his firing from the band. There’s a moment in Huff’s interview, where I just shook my head. I can’t understand how the lead singer of Quiet Riot could forget the lyrics to “Cum On Feel The Noize.”

The rotating door of lead singers and how they got the opportunity to sing for Quiet Riot is extremely entertaining. But it is not just lead singers who have rotated in and out of Quiet Riot. My favorite moment of the documentary consists of Chuck Wright and lead guitarist Alex Grossi being asked to name every member of Quiet Riot. While they were unable to get very far, Frankie Banali, gives a white board history of band members that is just fantastic! I don’t think there is a band in the history of rock music that has had more members.

Well Now You’re Here, There’s No Way Back is an exceptional documentary. It is a wonderful look behind the curtain and gives an insider view on what happens to a former number one band when they attempt to overcome tragedy and make a comeback with new members. It shares the doubt, hope, fear, excitement, and joy of a band starting over. If you are a fan of Quiet Riot, or rock music in general, this is a documentary that you are bound to enjoy.

Visit: www.quietriotmovie.com to see the film for yourself. 


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