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The Wright Quiet Riot
Interview with Quiet Riot Bassist Chuck Wright
By Debbie Rao
Oct 18, 2004
Bass player Chuck Wright has a Rock and Roll bio that would make any 80's musician proud. Born in Southern California, the talented bass player was destined to succeed in music. In the early 80's, Chuck Wright became friends with Kevin Dubrow of Quiet Riot and ended up replacing Quiet Riot bass player Rudy Sarzo, when Sarzo went off to join the Ozzy band with fellow QR guitarist Randy Rhoades. 
Soon after Wright joined Quiet Riot, the band signed a major record deal and began recording their first album to be released in America “Metal Health.” Most people don’t realize that Wright played bass on the tracks “Bang Your Head” and “Don't Wanna Let You,” from that aforementioned release. Unfortunately, Wright’s time with Quiet Riot this time was short lived. Original bass player Rudy Sarzo wanted back in the band after he left his position as bassist for Ozzy. Due to the fact that he was a higher profile musician, he was let back into the band. ‘Metal Heath’ went on to sell over ten million copies and was the first metal album to reach number one on Billboard Charts.
However, it didn’t take long for Wright to regain the spotlight. He was asked to lay down the bass tacks for a new and upcoming band signed to MCA -Giuffria. Although his time with Giuffria turned out to be short lived, only 11 months, he achieved what takes some a lifetime to accomplish. Giuffria had a top 40 hit, “Call To Your Heart” and they played to sold out arenas with Deep Purple, and Foreigner.
After Giuffria disbanded due to record label problems, Wright was contacted by his former band mate Gregg Giuffria and the two musicians put together another band called The House of Lords. The bands first two released were produced by Gene Simmons of Kiss and were released on the Simmon’s imprint Simmons Records. But, the band faced the similar fate of Giuffria and disbanded in 1989 after struggling to achieve commercial success.
After a few years out of the limelight, Wright resurfaced and toured during 2002 with Ronnie Montrose and then Alice Cooper. On the Alice Cooper Tour, which lasted 5 months, Wright played in seventeen countries, including Moscow, Paris, and Barcelona.
In 2004, Wright showed no signs of slowing down. This past summer, he played bass for Steven Adler, Kevin Dubrow, Bang Tango, and Jani Lane on the Bad Boys of Metal Tour. He also help re-form The House of Lords, who went on to record the brilliant melodic masterpiece ‘Power and Myth.’ Then in October of 2004, Wright was asked once again to re-join Quiet Riot. He agreed and now the band is booking an extensive tour. In addition to Wright, Quiet Riot now consists of Kevin Dubrow, Frankie Banali, and new wiz-kid guitarist Alex Grossi?
I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Chuck Wright when he played in Worcester with Steven Adler. In this interview, Chuck tells his fans at Glam-metal about his extensive career as a bass player, his new tour plans, and his recent tour with Bad Boys of Metal. For further info on him, check out his website at www.chuckwright.com
Chuck, it was so nice meeting you and seeing you perform in Worcester the other night with Steven Adler. So tell me, how did the Bad Boys Tour go this summer?
It was nice meeting and hanging back stage (in the basement) with you as well. I hope you enjoyed the Steven Adler all time party band. Well, The Bad Boys tour was unique in a lot of ways. There was one backline band (bass, guitar and drums) for all the different featured artists. I was playing bass for over 3 hours in the beginning. I guess you could say my chops were up by the end of that 5 week run. We traveled together, I mean 12 guys on a shitty bus – we actually went through 4 buses in 3 weeks. The agency that put this together was very penny wise and pound foolish. Not fun at all...waking up in a hot, coffin like box as if you were buried alive. Also, trying to fuse all these diverse personalities and life styles together wasn't easy. The best part of the experience was the actual playing- it was a great band and we had some awesome shows. Kip Winger actually joined us in New Jersey which was an outstanding one for the tour all around. You can see photos and day by day recounts of the "Tid Bits Of Buffoonery" on that tour on Jeff Martin's , Racer x web site @ http://www.racerxband.com/photos.htm
You played with Bang Tango, Jani Lane, and Kevin Dubrow, and Steven Adler on that tour right?
Yep - all of them and at 110% for everyone.Was it hard learning all the material for all those bands?
Not hard - just time consuming. I like to know every song without thinking about it. I knew a lot of Kevin’s set already so that made it easier.
How did that gig come about?
It was Kevin’s idea and it’s a very good one with the right components.
Now it was too bad that Jani Lane had to cut the tour short. It was cool that the other bands got to play longer though.
Jani disappeared eight shows into the tour. He has some issues he needs to deal with soon or he won't be alive much longer. I heard he just got out of a rehab center. Good for him, I hope he keeps it together. The band sounded great playing his newer material as well as doing the Warrant material ...as he said "better than anyone had played it before". I think he's a very good pop songwriter. We did add a few songs to the Bang Tango and Dubrow sets.
Now Steven Adler seems like a really cool band to play for. His band seems to be the ultimate party band onstage. Do you have any highlights of playing with Steven on the Bad Boys Tour this summer?
Like I said - they are all about the party aspects of rock-n-roll which works well when you're doing Gun-N-Roses material. The fans really love that music and it feels like the real deal the way Adler plays it. 
Chuck, I would like to congratulate you on your reunion gig with Kevin Dubrow. Now you were actually a member of Quiet Riot in the 80's. How does it feel to be back in the band and replacing Rudy again?
It's great to be working with Kevin and Frankie again in QUIET RIOT. I don't see it as replacing anyone, it's more like being part of a new chapter in the long history of QUIET RIOT.
Now did you recently played with Kevin in Florida a few months?
Yea, we did the Hard Rock Hotel in Orlando. That was a great time. Felt good to be "Banging My Head" again. Pat Travers joined us for a couple songs. I just completed doing the artwork for his "Travers and Appice" project and never had met him. Nice guy and a great guitar player. I also just played in Puerto Rico with Kevin and Frankie. That was the best time I've had all year.
Now does Quiet Riot have any upcoming tour plans?
I know we talked about the Mexico show Nov 13 with Dokken, Dio, and Twisted Sister
Besides the debut new QUIET RIOT date in Monterrey, Mexico, QUIET RIOT is now represented by Paradise Artists who are busy setting up potential touring opportunities.
Chuck, tell me about the new Quiet Riot CD that is slated for release in December. Is it live? Are their any new songs on it?
Actually, the release date is for the second week of January 2005, but I really don't know the details of the release. There will be updates on touring and the new record at the bands site. Go to:http://www.frankiebanali.com/QR2005.html
Back in the 80's, when you were in Quiet Riot, were the relationships in the band always so turbulent? Were you in the band with Kevin or when Paul Shortino was in the band?
Relations in bands are as turbulent as relations in any situation where more than one person is involved. It was no different in QUIET RIOT than in any other band. I played bass on the tracks "Metal Health-Bang Your Head" and "Don't Wanna Let You Go" for the Metal Health release, all of the bass on QR III and co-wrote the songs with them as well as touring for that release, I did all of the bass on "Down To the Bone" as well as doing live dates for that release. I also sang background on the first 3 Epic/ CBS releases and the "Terrified" and "Bad to the Bone" releases. I wasn't a part of the band when Paul Shortino was the vocalist. I was putting together House of Lords at that time.
Chuck, it is so cool that a band like Quiet Riot has such a huge following in 2004. How has the music scene changed since you first started playing in the 80's? It seems like bands today only have one hit and are dropped from their label.
You’re right. The labels today don't develop acts like they used to. A new band gets 6 weeks to prove themselves and if not, they're dropped. U2 and Springsteen would have been dropped after they're first records. U2's debut initially sold less than 200,000 units.bye bye Bono.
Now did you say that you play on Mental Health? You know, I was thinking all along that it was Rudy?
Yea, the first time I heard myself on the radio, I was driving down the highway and BAM - there it was and my bass was freckin loud...."Bang Your Head"... A lot of people don't take the time to read the credits but my name appears on that land mark release.
Chuck I was reading that you want to put back together House of Lords? Do they have a new CD out too? What line-up do they have these days?
I tried to put the band back together. We do have a new CD just out called "The Power and the Myth" which was released in the states this past August and in Europe and the Far East in March. With the linguistics and scheduling, it took over 2 years to get that made. I also did the CD package. I'm proud of most of that record. Check it out!!
Now you also played with Giuffria for a short time? They had a big hit and appeared quite frequently on MTV?
I was in Giuffria for a year. We were lucky to not only have a hit but we got to open on sold out arena tours with Deep Purple and Foreigner. 
It is should be interesting seeing Craig play with Dio on Nov 13?
I haven't seen Goldy in quite awhile. I spoke to him on the phone about a year and half ago wanting to do a project with him. I'm looking forward to seeing him. We were very good friends.
Why did you leave Giuffria?
I left the band when Kevin offered me the bass position in Quiet Riot. He said I could write with them as well. Since Giuffria was really the Gregg and David Eisley show and they wouldn't let others participate in the writing, I was outta there. Goldy left as well to join up with Dio.
Now do you think you will ever tour with Alice Cooper again?
My experience with Alice Cooper was unbelievable. That is a real pro operation. 73 cities in 17 countries with him. Alice is a sweet and gentle man...well, except when he's on stage cutting off heads! With the soon to be full Quiet Riot schedule, I doubt I'd be able to join Alice again. at least within the next year or so.
Chuck, Now you have spent a lot of time playing in Europe? How do European audiences differ from the American audiences?
I love Europe. So much culture. I really turn into a tourist when I'm there. Carmine Appice was always busting my chops when I was over there with Vanilla Fudge last year saying "see a good Cathedral today
Chuck?" The audiences tend to be more frantic and intense.
Maybe it's the water or the beer....ahhh...they all smoke which is a drag.no pun intended.
How did you get started in music?
My first instrument was a toy organ that my mother bought for me when I was 7. One of the first songs I ever learned was the "The House of the Rising Sun." That being my first introduction to playing rock music. When I was 13, I was asked by some friends in the neighborhood if I could play bass. I just said yea, I convinced my mom to buy me one.
Did you attend Military School? 
Oh yea... but ...The important thing to remember here is that playing in a band changed my path in life. At the time I had been in a military academy for 9 years and was being groomed to go to the Air Force Academy. I was a Captain at my school and I was second in command of the battalion but I found such excitement playing in a band. I asked my mom to let me become a musician and leave the military behind. You can see a
photo of me in full dress uniform at my BIO link on me web site www.chuckwright.com
You must have a strong opinion on the War in Iraq?
I was never really into politics until George W came along. In my opinion, he bold face lied to America to go to war. He wants to control the Middle East’s oil. No doubt, Sadamm is a bad, bad man but there are many throughout the world. Is it our job to oust everyone we don't like at the cost of billions of dollars and our young soldiers lives as well as destroying a foreign countries cities and homes? We are not Romans. He is not Caesar. I think he should be arrested and tried in court. Did you know there are pictures of Bush with a Hitler mustache throughout Europe? He has destroyed our good name in the world.
Who are some of your favorite bass players?
So many - I started learning Jack Bruce bass lines, which was good for my improve skills, Paul McCartney for melody, John Entwhistle and Tim Bogert for aggressiveness, Jaco Pastorious and Jeff Berlin for skill and speed...there are others.
Chuck is their anything that you would like to say to your fans here at GlamMetal.com
One of my favorite things in life is getting on that stage with a great band a rockin the house down. I hope everyone out there will catch the upcoming Quiet Riot shows!
Do you have any other side projects going on?
I actually have 7 new releases out this past year. You can find out about them on my site as well. I finally got a project called Odd Man Out to be released in the states on Cleopatra, in the near future. It has a cast of names you all know and it kicks ass.
Thanks Chuck for doing this interview with me for GlamMetal
You are welcome. I look forward to seeing you again. |
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