GUITARIST CARLOS CAVAZO ON WHY HE LEFT RATT, “I REALLY COULDN’T SEE MYSELF UP THERE [WITHOUT WARREN DIMARTINI]
Robert Cavuoto of My Global Mind recently spoke with guitarist Carlos Cavazo (Quiet Riot, Ratt), excerpts from the interview appear below.
Robert Cavuoto: I think a lot of people were surprised to see that you departed from Ratt after Warren DeMartini left, tell me about that decision?
Carlos Cavazo: Warren didn’t leave; he was actually fired from the band. They wanted me to stay, and I really didn’t want to do it without him. He was the reason I was initially in the band. Without the original members up there it seemed like it was falling apart as they have problems. I figured maybe it’s best that I go my own way. I really couldn’t see myself up there with another guitarplayer. It didn’t seem right.
Robert Cavuoto: I thought you were a perfect fit for the band as you came from that genre; you are a great guitar player and the best replacement for Robbin Crosby. You and Warren made a strong guitar team; it was sad for us fans to see it end.
Carlos Cavazo: Thanks, that’s what everyone thought, and I felt that I fit in really well. I have known the guys a long time, and no matter what happens they will always still be my friends. I know we are going through some rough times now, but they will always be my bros. Hopefully, we will get together someday and play again.
Robert Cavuoto: Is the door open for you and Warren to play with Ratt again?
Carlos Cavazo: I would hope so, never-say-never. I would play with them again if Warren were back.
Robert Cavuoto: I thought of you as the original guitarist of Quiet Riot as that was my initial introduction to the band as a teenager. Was there any concern at the time thatyou were replacing Randy Rhoades as the guitarist?
Carlos Cavazo: To be honest with you, I didn’t even think or worry about it at the time. Kevin had gone through a couple of guitarists before I started working with him. When we got together, we agreed that we were going to stick to a heavier…sound. The first two albums that they put out with Randy were more pop than what we were trying to do. That is probably why it was a different starting point. I never thought about being a replacement for Randy; I don’t think anybody can fill that guy’s shoes.
Robert Cavuoto: Thirty-Five years ago on November 26th, 1983 Metal Health reached number one on the Billboard charts. What was it like for you that day and how did it impact the band?
Carlos Cavazo: We were so busy touring I don’t think we gave it a lot of thought. We had a couple of weeks off, and when we came home, everywhere I went people were recognizing me. I thought “we must be big” as this never happened to me before. [Laughing] Then the money started to come, and we started to be a little well off. Before that, I never had a job that paid good money.
Robert Cavuoto: How many times platinum did Metal Health go?
Carlos Cavazo: I think six to eight times platinum, I’m not sure of the exact numbers but it still continues to sell. All of our records worldwide sold over 10 million albums. It affected us because we got pressure from the record company to keep putting out new records and they were trying to tell us what to do. They should have left us to do what we wanted to do like on the first record. That was why it was such a big hit because it came naturally. There were pressure and control issues within the band too. Some people wanted to control the band more than others.
Robert Cavuoto: If Kevin Dubrow was still alive, do you think the four original members of Quiet Riot would still be together?
Carlos Cavazo: I would hope so as that would be the only way I would be in the band is if Kevin was still in the band.
Read more at My Global Mind.
source: myglobalmind.com
, excerpts from the interview appear below. Robert Cavuoto: I think a lot of people were surprised to see ... )
I wouldn’t juant to be up there without Warren either!
That Juan thing has really made an impact. Glad to be of service. Tell the younger generation about THE RICHM…..No sorry MICHAEL MONET.
Carlos seems like a pretty cool guy, but check out this statement:
“All of our records worldwide sold over 10 million albums.”
Does anyone know of a website for worldwide sales data?
The only way it could be true is if Metal Health accounts for 85 to 90% of the sales, and Condition Critical made up the rest.
Maybe here? https://www.nielsen.com/us/en/solutions/measurement/music-sales-measurement.html
Thanks Dana, but no luck with that one. RIAA and a few other sites give info on the US (which, as predicted listed Metal and Condition as the only two platinum albums), but I was looking for worldwide.
Maybe they really do love QR in Belgium, but I’d like to see the numbers.
Sorry, that didn’t work.
From looking at different websites I would say Carlos’ numbers are accurate.
Metal Health has sold 6 Million to date in the US and from what I can estimate another 2 to 3 worldwide. Condition Critical went platinum and QRIII I think went gold in the US for another 1.5 million albums sold. Add in the worldwide album sales of those and QR (with Paul Shortino) their 90’s and early 2000 reunion releases and the greatest hits, your probably pretty close.
Carlos seems like a guy who has good principles about band lineups and band names. Good for him. I enjoy the Quiet Riot albums Carlos played on, but I much prefer the two Quiet Riot albums Randy Rhoads played on that were only released in Japan.
Carlos and Warren made sense in RATT – however, never cared for their music
If that is a recent photo and it isn’t photo shopped, that guy looks great. I’m not a fact checker but he has to be 60. Good for him. He has to be taking vitamins. WOW. That was a very classy respectful interview. There is no substitute for decency.
happy holidays, my friends. god bless us juan and all!