Las Vegas Mixtape v24: Buzzy Burgers, Beautiful Sounds, and a Metal Health Check-up

Track #4: Quiet Riot, Pavilion @M Resort Spa Casino in Henderson

Back in 1983, I wrote the Epic Records bio for Quiet Riot’s breakthrough third album, “Metal Health,” after listening to a cassette copy of it. Amazing to think it would become the first metal album to hit number #1 on the Billboard pop albums chart, move 10 million copies worldwide, and help kickstart (with Motley Crue) the glam metal genre with the band’s cover of Slade’s “Cum on Feel the Noize.”

Recently, at the packed Pavilion at the M Resort Spa Casino in Henderson, the band’s bassist Rudy Sarzo (one of rock’s major league players from the classic line-up), Vegas-based guitarist Alex Grossi, lead singer Jizzy Pearl, and drummer Johnny Kelly celebrated that album and its hit follow-up disc, 1984’s “Condition Critical.”

It was a blazing and commanding arena rock-worthy performance, with Pearl’s vocals easily and impressively hitting the high notes.

Songs like “Slick Black Cadillac,” “Party All Night,” “Metal Health,” and “Mama Weer All Crazee Now” (the band’s other Slade cover) sounded as youthful and optimistic as ever.  On this night in 2024, it was comforting to hear Quiet Riot tap into the days when the hedonistic Sunset Blvd rock scene had its eye on the next party and ladder to the top. The future looked so much brighter back then.