James Durbin, who won praise from the American Idol judges during season 10 for his rock vocals, has exited Quiet Riot after singing lead with the band for just over two years.
Durbin, 30, joined the veteran heavy hard rock band in March 2017. Formed in 1973, Quiet Riot had its biggest hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1983 with “Cum on Feel the Noize,” a cover of Slade’s 1973 U.K. hit. The Quiet Riot version peaked at No. 5 on the Hot 100.
“I’m proud and grateful for my time in Quiet Riot,” Durbin tells Billboard. “But I’m really looking forward to releasing a new EP in early 2020 and working on various new projects as well as any new opportunities that come my way.” Durbin does voice acting work for the Star Wars: Choose Your Own Destiny audiobooks and plays in a rock cover band, the Lost Boys, and a California-based country group, Homeland Revival.
His memorable moments on American Idol included being surprised on stage by one of his own idols, pro wrestler Hulk Hogan, and singing an impressive version of Carole King and Gerry Goffin’s No. 1 song for the Shirelles, “Will You Love Me Tomorrow.” Durbin placed fourth on season 10.
Quiet Riot’s lead vocalist spot will be filled by Jizzy Pearl, who returns to the band after a 2013-2016 stint. After the death of co-founding member Kevin DuBrow in 2007, drummer Frankie Banali brought the band back in 2010 with a changing series of lead singers.