What lead to House of Lords regrouping?
HOL was always a musical highlight for me and has been
something I’ve wanted to do for quite awhile. We actually tried a few times over the years to get the band up and running again. Lanny, James and I performed in London for a Gods festival in the mid 90’s and intended on doing a new record together at that time. We actually do 3 songs from that era on this new one.
How do you compare House of Lords 2004 vs. House of Lords back in the day?
We were all eager to cross new boundaries with this record and I think we did to a degree. We are hoping the fans out there have matured right along with us and will appreciate where we’re at now. All things considered, I do feel that this record stands up to others in the genre and has some amazing performances on it. There are a lot of elements from our past yet we have a more modern sound in some ways.
Many people look at the QRIII album as your starting point with Quiet Riot. Your history with the band actually goes back further. How did you wind up in the Quiet Riot family?
The guitar player in my band at the time called “Satyr” , joined up with Kevin DuBrow replacing Randy Rhodes in his band which had changed their name from Quiet Riot to DuBrow. Eventually I was asked to play with them as well when Rudy Sarzo had left to join Ozzy. We did some demos that got producer Spencer Proffers’ attention but he wanted a different guitar player, so I suggested Carlos Cavazo from the band Snow. Done deal – we went into the studio and cut the majority of what became the 6 million seller “Metal Health”. Sadly, Randy Rhodes was killed in a plane crash and Rudy wanted to be back with his buddies, the boys bid me farewell. I’m playing bass on “Bang Your Head” and Don’t Wanna Let You Go”, as well as singing backgrounds on every track on that landmark release. It was the first “Metal” record to go to #1.
When Condition Critical came around to be recorded they asked me to sing with them and I also did a couple bass tracks for them. I was then asked to replay the bass tracks for the band Giuffria’s debut record on M.C.A. Although my time with Giuffria was brief, all of 11 months, it was a whirlwind. We had a huge hit song, “Call To Your Heart” and we set out on a sold out arena tour with Deep Purple then onto the highly successful Foreigner tour. We later went over to Japan and headlined. It was at this time that I was contacted by Kevin DuBrow about rejoining Quiet Riot. They offered me an equal cut plus I could be a writer on all the tracks with them. In Giuffria, it was really Dave Eisley’s and Gregg Giuffria’s show for the most part. Craig Goldy quit Giuffria and joined Dio for the same reasons. So onto the mess of the making of “QRIII”. Politics, politics, politics… Finally after months of suspensions and the silent treatment from our label, we went in and recorded the album.
You’ve worked with a lot of producers over the years. Who was your favorite producer to work with and why?
That would be Lanny Cordola because he has so many ideas, is an amazing musician, arranger and lyricist.
Who was the most difficult producer to work with and why?
There was a point when working with Andy Johns (Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin fame) became difficult because we were only getting to work for 2 to 3 hours a day and he’d have the second engineer take over.
Giuffria had an opening slot for Deep Purple around 1985. We remember hearing stories of Richie Blackmore trying to make life a living hell for you guys. What happened?
It was an awesome tour in many ways despite Richie’s attempts to mess with us.. It was all arenas and all Sold Out!! After the opening date on the tour (our first ever performance as a band) apparently Richie Blackmore freaked out because of the amazing audience response and we were then told we had to make concessions or get off the tour . We had to shorten our set from 45 minutes to 27 minutes, take out our killer last number, take out Craig Goldy’s mind blowing guitar solo, go on 5 minutes before the announced show time and they cut the sound and lighting back 50%, they took away all of our staging, they took away the backstage crew meals, put down white gaffer tape where we could only go (do not cross this line etc.) and we weren’t allowed to stay at any of their hotels. They gave Gregg Giuffria his own private dressing room once which was a boiler room. Hey – but all that didn’t matter, we kicked ass every night. Then after 6 weeks we jumped on the sold out Foreigner Tour.
Let’s take a look at the music video’s you’ve been in. What’s your favorite clip and which one is your least favorite? What do you remember about making each of the two clips?
That would be Quiet Riot’s video for the song “The Wild And The Young” ..the theme was..In the future rock-n-roll is outlawed..a prohibition. The director (Mark Stien – he did The Who movie “The Kids Are all right) had a keen sense of humor and it’s real tongue in cheek. There’s a scene where guitars are taken way from a line of musicians then thrown into a tree muncher and turned into saw dust.
My least favorite was the second video we did for the Giuffria record. What a rip off that was..I walked into the sound stage and there was one light in the middle of the room. No staging. no concept no anything really..the video production company just took the money and ran.
Can you give us some thoughts, memories or anecdotes about the following songs:
“Twilight Hotel” – Quiet Riot
I put the music together for this one with my late friend John Purdell. It w as originally called “In The Still Of The Night” which we had before Whitesnake’s song came out. Coverdale actually heard this version of the song back then. The producer changed the lyrics to Twilight Hotel trying to use a story line like Hotel California. The video for this song is hilarious. Kevin gets eaten by a cat and there are 100 clones of him everywhere in the video.
“Bass Case”-Quiet Riot
When Carlos didn’t have his acoustic solo ready, I said I have a bass solo and they loved it. It is actually 12 tracks of basses playing together and at different times during the short 55 second sort of jazz fusion piece. I used to play it live when we toured using a sampler to play the bed track.
“Lookin’ For Strange” – House Of Lords
Just a fun song about being on the road..party time…very adolescent lyrically but it has some killer playing on it.
“Call My Name” -House Of Lords
No comment
“American Babylon” House Of Lords
This is a song I put together with Lanny. We have an acoustic version using mid eastern percussion that we played live in England in the mid 90’s. It’s about the decline of western civilization.
“Kiss of Fire” -House Of Lords
I wrote most of this one. It’s really flashy and features some awesome drumming by Ken on the intro. Lyrically it’s about drug addiction. Purely objective, that was never my thing.
What’s the worst decision you’ve made during your career?
Not hiring an attorney when I recorded the aforementioned “Quiet Riot- Metal Health” record.
What’s the best decision you’ve made during your career?
To not give up. Around 1982 or so I was considering other avenues. If you want to do this as your living, you have to be 110% committed and have some luck on your side.
With all the ups and downs of being a musician, we’ve all had to have a few “odd jobs” along the way. What was your worst “struggling musician” job?
Yes, it has been a roller coaster ride. Fortunately, I’ve only had one regular job (that was a back breaker) I was a house painter for a friend of mine. I lasted 2 weeks then got a music related job. I’m also a graphic designer now as a side business when I’m home and not on the road or in the studio. Side note: I did the CD package for this new HOL release.
A Few Quick Hits:
First concert you ever saw:
That would be Three Dog Night, Steppenwolf and The Grass Roots. Interesting enough, the guitarist in the Grass Roots ended up being my manager in Quiet Riot.
Worst concert you ever saw:
Gezzz…too many to name..I usually walk out within a song or two.
Most embarrassing album in your collection:
That I played on?? I did a couple of demos for a guy that later released it as a album called “Stream”. I would’ve never put my name on that one. In general?? Madonna’s “Erotica” – I was dating a chick that just had to listen to that when were doing the wild thing.
Favorite TV shows growing up:
Star Trek, Man From Uncle ( I always wanted to be a secret agent like James Bond – they got all the chicks) The Outer Limits and The Twilight Zone (I love Sci-Fi) Kung Fu MASH
“The Life and Times of Chuck Wright” is being made into a multi million dollar movie. Who plays Chuck and how does the movie end?
Tom Cruise….the movie ends as he sails away in his schooner to his home on an island in the Caribbean while drinking a Margarita with his arm around his beautiful girlfriend.
What has been the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome during your career?
To keep getting record deals and staying in the business.
Every musician has their personal favorite jam songs. Whether it be the last call, open mic night, or buddies are in the audience, let’s jam”!! So what are your top 5 all time jam songs ?
I love to jam on Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition”
Sting’s version of “Little Wing”
Anything by Led Zeppelin
Hendrix “Manic Depression”
Montrose – “Rock Candy”
You have 5 songs (spanning your entire recording career) to put into the “Chuck Wright Time Capsule”. What 5 songs are in the time capsule?
1. Bass Case from QRlll
2. QP Doll from Chaos Is The Poetry
3. The Rapture from House Of Lords “The Power And The Myth”
4. War Pigs from Magdalen “The Dirt”
5. Bang Your Head/ Metal Health from Quiet Riot’s Metal Health
What’s the greatest life lesson you’ve learned over the years?
Get it in writing. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Avoid stress whenever possible.
What was your “Spinal Tap Moment”?
While on tour with House Of Lords we actually couldn’t find the stage. We are walking all over the place in tunnels upstairs, down stars and one of the guys said – well, here’s our Spinal Tap moment. Our intro tape was on and we were no where near the stage. Later that night, the lead singer in 38 Special fell off the stage and broke his leg, the next day his guitarist slipped on some ice outside his hotel room and broke his leg. The next gig we were walking around with white towels wrapped around our legs like we had casts..they didn’t think it was funny at all. The next day they canceled the remainder of the tour. I was once playing a sold out arena show, did a spin and landed on my ass so I laid down and finished the song on my back.
You have only 5 albums you can listen to for the rest of your life. What are they? no greatest hits, live albums, or box sets
Beatles – White Album Sting – Ten Summoners Tales
The Cult – Sonic Temple
Seal – either of his first two releases
Led Zeppelin – first album
Weather Report – Heavy Weather
Dream Band. You get to put together the “Chuck Wright Dream Band”. Who is in it?
Jimmy Hendrix on guitar
Jeff Beck on guitar
Jon Bonham on drums
Glen Hughes on vocals We’d be rockin hard!!
Anything else you want to touch on or comment on?
The guys and I in House Of Lords all hope the rock fans out there will judge this record from a clean slate…Setting aside their expectations and enjoying it for what it is. A musical adventure with thought provoking lyrics and kick ass musicianship!
Chuck, Thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions. You are another Warrior keeping the spirit alive. Keep Defending The Faith !!
You are very welcome..Live Long and Prosper !
For more info on Chuck visitChuckWright.com
ARTIST UPDATE 2019: Since the Interview
Chuck rejoined Quiet Riot a few months after this interview. Quiet Riot disbanded after the death of Kevin DuBrow. Drummer Frankie Banali brought the band back with a new lineup. Chuck has been toured and recording with Quiet Riot until Rudy Sarzo returned in late 2021. He has been on numerous albums from other artists as well. He is also part of Acoustic Saints and Ultimate Jam Night Visit Chuckwright.com
for news and updates.
No truth to the rumor of Chuck “The Trekkie” Wright ever having toured with Willhttp://iam Shatner or Leonard Nimoy’s “Death Metal Jamboree” Okay that was our attempt at humor.
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