Skid Row Quiet Riot Warrant and Kip Winger Live to Rock 2022 Pacific Amphitheater 7/20/2022

By Alex Kluft Photography

Three of the greatest Hair-Metal bands and the leader of one stopped at the Pacific Amphitheater at the OC Fair in Costa Mesa, CA for the Live to Rock Tour. The tour features none other Kip Winger acoustic, Quiet Riot, Warrant, and Skid Row.

Winger took the stage first playing a 30-minute set of seven songs. Winger performed on acoustic 12-string guitar and with percussionist Robby Rothschild playing all Winger hits. Winger formed in 1987 and broke up in 1994 then reunited again 2001-2003 and then 2006 to now. Their self-titled debut went platinum as well as their second album In the Heart of the Young. After their second album they went on a massive tour over 230 dates playing with KISS, Slaughter, ZZ Top, Extreme, and Scorpions. Kip Winger played most of the hits like “Madalaine,” “Miles Away,” and ended on “Seventeen.” Winger sounded incredible.

There many more classic 80’s hits and guitar riffs following his set.

Quiet Riot took the stage after Kip Winger. Quiet Riot has had a number of lineup changes with the longest lineup being original singer Kevin DuBrow until he passed in 2007, drummer Frankie Banali from 1982 to until his passing in 2010 with the exception of Bobby Rondinelli playing on one album and being a member for two years, Chuck Wright 1985-2021 except when the Metal Health lineup reunited from 1997-2003, and Guitarist Carlos Cavazo 1982-1989 and 1991-2003. Quiet Riot had broken up and reunited five different times with the most recent being after the passing of DuBrow in 2007 until Banali revived the group three years later with Alex Grossi who has now been with the group 14 years combined and Wright who were the band when Dubrow passed and brought in singer Mark Huff. Following Huff was Love/Hate’s Jizzy Pearl who was then replaced by James Durbin of American Idol fame and then returned in 2019. Before Banali’s passing Johnny Kelly, formerly of Type O Negative, was filling in and then became the permanent drummer. Bass legend Rudy Sarzo (Ozzy Osbourne/DIO) who was with the band three times starting in 1978 and most recently 1997-2003 rejoined last year. Their most successful album was Metal Health (1983) which was a number one and a 6x platinum album. Quiet Riot also gave a historic performance at the US Festival that year. Quiet Riot played nine songs including hits “Slick Black Cadillac” and of course “Metal Health” and “Cum On Feel the Noize.”

Although Warrant formed in 1984, they didn’t see major success until the 80’s came to and end with their second album Cherry Pie with the title track being their biggest hit of all. The original lineup briefly reunited in 2008. Original singer Jani Lani who had last performed with the group on the reunion passed in 2011. Guitarist Erik Turner and bassist Jerry Dixon are the only members to have performed on all the Warrant albums and consistent members since their formation. However, Robbie Crane (Ratt) has been filling in for Dixon since 2021. Drummer Steven Sweet was with the group originally from 1986-1994 and then again since 2004. Guitarist Joey Allen was a member 1987-1994 and then again from 2004, and lastly Robert Allen has been the lead vocalist since 2008. Warrant played a set including “Heaven,” Queens “We Will Rock You,” and “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

“Cherry Pie” was the closing song.

Skid Row closed out the show with a set full of hits kicking things off with “Slave to the Grind,” the title track of their biggest album which hit number one and went 2x platinum. Their self-titled debut album hit number six and went 5x-platinum. Skid Row released their latest album this year titled The Gang’s All Here. Skid Row has gone through a few changes since 1986 mostly singers and drummers after reuniting. With Sebastian Bach and Rob Affuso’s departure in 1996 the group broke up but would return in 1999, but with a new singer and drummer. The group still consists of guitarists Scotti Hill and Dave “The Snake” Sabo, and bassist Rachel Bolan. Drummer Rob Hammersmith joined in 2010 and front-man Erik Gronwall replaced ZP Theart who was the singer the last 6 years until 2022 and Johnny Solinger was the singer from when the group reformed until 2015 and passed in 2021. Skid Row’s set was full of hits like “18 and Life,” “Monkey Business,” and their closing song “Youth Gone Wild. They also performed the title track from their new album.