Though the tune’s video proved to be common on MTV’s heavy steel specialty programming on the time, the music didn’t grow to be a success. Nonetheless, it is sound (use of samples, electro-drums, choir-like vocals, and so on.) was an especially related method that Def Leppard would excellent on their 1987 blockbuster album, Hysteria, and particularly such tunes as “Pour Some Sugar on Me” and “Rocket. Understandably, super-producer Mutt Lange will get the lion’s share of credit score for serving to create the trademark “Def Leppard sound” – which actually coalesced on Hysteria. However what about Spencer Proffer‘s manufacturing on Quiet Riot’s “The Wild and the Younger”?
And would not you already know it, this music particularly – in addition to all different phases of the band’s profession – was studied and analyzed in my 2025 ebook, Bang Your Head, Really feel the Noize: The Quiet Riot Story. Right here is an excerpt which focuses on the tune:
Up subsequent was the album’s undisputed excessive level, “The Wild and the Younger.” Musically and chorus-wise, the tune sounds unmistakably extra like Def Leppard than something Quiet Riot had finished beforehand (particularly with the electro drums, samples, and stadium-sung refrain). The truth is, “The Wild and the Younger” appeared like Hysteria-era Def Leppard a full yr BEFORE Hysteria.
Clearly, it was one in all their stronger post-Steel Well being tunes and one of many few tunes on the album wherein this new type/method actually coalesced. And in contrast to many of the different tunes on the LP the place the synths soured issues, it labored wonders on a music similar to this – the place synths had been used extra for texturing, fairly than being forcibly crammed down your gullet.
“The Wild and the Younger” would additionally function the album’s lead-off single and video. Performed closely on MTV’s Steel Music Half Hour program (which aired each day from Monday by Friday within the US) throughout the summer time, it was immediately noticeable that the “QR ’86 look” was extra Vegas-y than merely spandex-y. In different phrases, a la what Kiss and Mötley Crüe had been sporting on the time (re-inspect the movies for “Tears are Falling” and “Smokin’ within the Boys Room” to catch my drift). Gone had been the striped spandex trousers or striped sleeveless t-shirts of ’83 – though Kevin DuBrow‘s favourite fanged necklace remained in place round his neck.
Storyline-wise, the music video touched upon the entire “steel music is harmful and needs to be banned” motif (which was common on the time, because of such teams because the PMRC, aka, the Mother and father Music Useful resource Middle). And likewise, exhibits the band – after fleeing from obvious metal-hating authority figures – performing the tune…after which in the end, halting at gunpoint!
Additionally obvious from viewing the video, was that DuBrow had now magically grown an unlimited quantity of hair. Now, placing all of it in perspective, on the time of this ebook’s launch, hair size and steel music means diddly. However again within the ’80s, it was virtually as vital as the standard of your materials. So, DuBrow understandably opted to seek the advice of some “hair specialists” to supply some much-needed quantity to his beforehand unspectacular mane. However heck, he wasn’t the one one on the time, as each Gene Simmons and Joe Lynn Turner had been two apparent culprits, as properly.
In 2024, long-time Quiet Riot fan and forged member of The Howard Stern Present, Richard Christy was prepared to face by QR III. “I cherished that album, however notably, the music ‘The Wild and the Younger.’ If that music would have been on Situation Essential and that may have been its first single – fairly than ‘Mama Weer All Crazee Now’ – I believe we would be speaking about Quiet Riot like we speak about Weapons N’ Roses. As a result of that music is so good and so catchy. And the riffs are cool and the drums are cool. The refrain is simply so large. If that may have been the primary single off of Situation Essential, their path would have been completely completely different. They’d have remained an enormous band like they had been with Steel Well being.”
And Christy did not simply cease there regarding his reward for “The Wild and the Younger.” “‘The Wild and the Younger’ is likely one of the biggest songs of the ’80s, so far as I am involved. It is humorous, each time my children are going loopy, I at all times say, ‘You guys are the wild and the younger’ – and I play them that music!” And since Christy is an exceptionally proficient drummer in his personal proper, it ought to come as no shock that it is Frankie Banali‘s drumming on the tune that additionally makes it a private favourite. “His drumming on ‘The Wild and the Younger’ – that starting drumbeat – is so freaking cool. It is so heavy and I really like the reverb they’ve on the drums.”
Sadly, regardless of constant airings on MTV of the video, the only surprisingly stiffed – not even registering a single spot on the Billboard Scorching 100. Leading to a standout ’80s steel anthem that these days, solely diehard Quiet Riot followers appear to understand.
Bang Your Head, Really feel the Noize: The Quiet Riot Story is on the market as paperback, hardcover, and Kindle variations. Click on right here to order.
