Interview with Quiet Riot Guitarist Alex Grossi

November 27, 2023

Interview with Quiet Riot Guitarist Alex Grossi

By Mick Michaels

Cosmick View: Hello, Alex! Welcome to The Cosmick View. Thanks for taking some time out of your day to speak with us. It's greatly appreciated.

CV: Legacy bands have a unique position of carrying weight: as their name and existence often enter a room long before they do. Being that Quiet Riot is considered the band that "broke" Heavy Metal into the mainstream, what level of pressure, if any, does that type of pedigree place on the band in 2023?

Alex Grossi: I wouldn’t call it pressure as much as I would call it a responsibility. We have a responsibility every night when we go out onstage to honor the legacy of not only the QUIET RIOT band and brand, but that of Kevin Dubrow, Frankie Banali & Randy Rhoads. The great thing about this version of the band is that Rudy, Jizzy, Johnny and myself are all on the same page to collectively do so.

CV: With so many artists and bands using backing tracks to perform, AI to record and retirement as a way to cash in, has Rock lost its place in the modern music landscape or just lost its way? Is it still relevant, or is what we’re seeing today just a normal progression of the industry itself?
AG: I don’t think Rock has lost anything, I think it is more of a matter of things in general naturally evolving as they do - that being said , there is no question that the bar has been significantly lowered when it comes to the level of musicianship needed to make a real record and perform live. Pro-tools, auto tune, AI etc., have made it to where you don’t need to be as proficient as you used to be to produce and perform music.

CV: Many veteran bands seem to steer clear of writing and releasing newer music; opting to hold the fans' attention by only keeping their back catalog and hits alive and kicking. Some look at new music as a curse, considering audiences have no interest. What's your take on such a sentiment? Is new music for more established bands taboo when it comes to new fan interest and maintaining their established audience?
AG: I think it really varies from band to band - it’s important as a musician to always remain creative and evolve, but the reality is that for bands that have a older catalog of hits, you need to for the most part keep that as the majority of your live show.

CV: How does a legacy band, such as Quiet Riot, look to stay relevant with today's younger audiences? Is there a secret…is it more than just playing the hits?
AG: I don’t think we consciously worry about being relevant, it’s really like chasing your tail after a while - at this point I would say a lot of these bands have become timeless & a lot of people are bringing their kids out to the shows, so I guess that’s a good sign as far as “relevancy” goes ….

CV: In the coming years, do you feel more and more established acts will look to go the independent route instead and eliminate the middlemen; in this case, the labels, bookers, and PR people, who some feel, get in the way?
AG: For the most part, if you are an established band with decades of history you really don’t need a label at all anymore. In the 70s and 80s you HAD to have one in order to get your records in stores, on the radio and on MTV - nowadays you don’t - and if you are a band like us, there is really nothing a record label can do that we can’t.

Look at it this way, if you as a band have 1,000,000 social media followers, why would you need a label who’s only got 50,000 followers to help “get the word out?” You don’t. The metrics of things these days make things really transparent….

CV: Comparatively speaking, then and now, how have you noticed that the 2020 pandemic and the shutdown have changed the music industry? How has that changed affected the business forever, in your opinion?
AG: If you look at where touring is at now, I think the pandemic made bands work smarter and really streamline things. Tour costs have gone way up, especially buses - so now you are seeing more and more bands rolling with smaller crews and more scaled down production.

CV: What's your favorite part about being a musician?
AG: Not having to ever go to work.: )

CV: In addition to lots of tour dates, what more can fans expect to see coming from you and Quiet Riot in the remainder 2023 and beyond?
AG: I have been writing material for a project with Jacob Bunton…he just did the Mick Mars record & is just a fantastic writer…I am really looking forward to getting this materiel released next year.

CV: Thanks again, Alex, for taking the time to share with our readers. We wish you all the best and continued success.

Check out Alex at:

Alex Grossi Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/alex.grossi.10?mibextid=LQQJ4d

https://www.facebook.com/ALEXGROSSI1976?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Alex Grossi Instagram:

https://instagram.com/alexgrossi1976?igshid=MXhieWV0NzlsODlpZw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Quiet Riot Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/quietriot?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Quiet Riot Instagram:

https://instagram.com/quietriotband?igshid=MWdodjVlemZzeWtiaw==

QUIET RIOT Official: www.quietriot.band

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My name is Mick Michaels...I'm an artist, music fan, songwriter, producer, show host, dreamer and guitarist for the traditional Heavy Metal band Corners of Sanctuary. Writing has always been a creative outlet for me; what I couldn't say in speech, I was able to do with the written word. Writing has given me a voice and a way for me to create on a multitude of platforms including music and song, articles, independent screenplays, books and now, artist interviews. The Cosmick View is an opportunity to raise the bar and showcase artists in a positive and inspirational light. For me, it's another out-of-this-world adventure.