Quiet Riot Singer Kevin DuBrow Dead at 52, Cause of Death Still Undetermined

Authorities still have no idea what claimed the life of former Quiet Riot lead singer Kevin DuBrow. DuBrow, 52, was found dead Sunday at his Las Vegas home.

A preliminary autopsy was performed yesterday, according to a spokesperson for the Clark County Coroner's office. The autopsy was inconclusive and the coroner will need to perform more tests and gather further forensic evidence. The Las Vegas Police Department is declining to say whether signs of foul play or violence were evident at the scene.

"Cum on Feel the Noize," a tune by the band Slade, was all over MTV and Quiet Riot's Metal Health shot to the top of the charts on the strength of that single and the video's exposure. Metal Health sold more than six million copies and is considered by some to be the first metal album to top the charts.

The band never came close to reaching those heights again as subsequent albums flopped. DuBrow's volatile and abrasive personality rubbed his fellow band members the wrong way to the point he was ousted from the band temporarily.

The attempt at a record without DuBrow flopped. He then sued the band, regaining control of the rights to the Quiet Riot name. Throughout the '90s and even into the new century, DuBrow kept Quiet Riot on the road and recording albums.

While DuBrow might not have won friends for his charming disposition, he deserves credit for staying on the road. Titans of that age – in other words, bands whose careers were hotter longer than QR's – have been able to tap into the nostalgia market and in some cases have done quite well for themselves despite the death of the old hair metal scene. Def Leppard, Motley Crue, and Poison have played sold out shows in decent size venues over the past few years. Other bands from that scene, like Quiet Riot, have been sent back to the small clubs and bars most of them started out in or have disbanded altogether.

It's worth mentioning that some of the people DuBrow ostensibly pissed off at one point or another paid glowing tributes to him as news of his passing spread. Former QR band members remembered him as a brother and friend, as did others who knew him back in the days when hair metal owned the charts.

Let us also not forget that many of DuBrow's hair metal alum have turned their past glories in for a shot at empty celebrity. Jani Lane (Warrant), Tommy Lee (Motley Crue), Bret Michaels (Poison), and Sebastian Bach (Skid Row) have all appeared on reality television shows. DuBrow kept making records and touring.