Last week, a rumor began circulating that American Idol finalist James Durbin was Quiet Riot's new vocalist. In a new interview with Billboard, drummer Frankie Banali has confirmed that short-lived vocalist Seann Nicols is out of the band, and Durbin is indeed the new vocalist.
"After doing all of five live shows [with Nicols], it became apparent to everybody that it really wasn't going to work. There were some serious creative and personal differences. I'm not the type of person who will stay in a bad marriage for the kids — the kids in this case being Quiet Riot. It was unanimous it could not go any further."
Nicols sang on Quiet Riot's upcoming new album Road Rage, due April 21 on Frontiers Music, but for unspecified reasons by Banali, things didn't quite work out for Nicols. Durbin tells Yahoo Music that he's stoked to be the new frontman, and really doesn't care who gives him shit for being a former American Idol contestant.
"The people that trash 'Idol' and other [talent] shows only think one way. Some of the greatest songwriters, vocalists, and entertainers of our time have come from 'Idol'. You can't deny its power to find talent and potentially create superstars.
"I take my fair share of punishment and hate from the man-boys on the metal gossip sites, but they have nothing better to do, I guess."
I'm sure live footage of Durbin and Quiet Riot will surface soon.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M99hflzzJnM[/youtube]
