When I met Mark Huff of Quiet Riot, I was just a sound and stage crew person at a show they were playing here in Atlanta, and he didn’t know my music background or anything about me. He came in with the band to sound check, standing beside me as we worked on the drums. Very quiet yet friendly, and noticed the tattoo of my mic on my arm. We started talking about it, and he said he was getting the same mic in the same spot on his at some point. We left it at that and they headed back to the hotel till show time.
The guys came back later that evening to a very busy me, we had Art from Everclear on the other side and I was back and forth between stages. Everyone headed to the Quiet Riot stage after, and I climbed up onto the stage behind the sound board, very curious as to what the new singer had to offer, as well as Quiet Riot that I had not seen in a long time. What I got was vocals like I haven’t heard since having the same experience from stage with Ronnie James Dio. Just amazing vocals from a freaking great person. Mark would send a smile over as my mouth was on the floor, and after the show I was able to pull away and talk with him a bit, snap a picture, and tell him how amazing his voice was.
Mark and I ended up staying friends, he reached out, or I did one on
Kimberly James and Mark Huff - New Friends
Facebook, and he and I became friends. We would send out a pic or text from a show we were at; him excitedly sending shots from the stage as his dreams came true. We would text seeing how one another were, where we were, or just random silly things. Then about two weeks ago my friend sent a text that would send me in a rush to get love and energy out his way. “I am going into surgery soon, they are operating on my brain, please pray for me, I’m scared.” I don’t want to share any more of the personal texts we have had back and forth since, just know that it was a quiet knowledge between two friends of what was going on. Texts on prayers, and his future, and I am glad that he loves me enough as a friend to lean on me in this time.
Now to the big shebang. As Mark sits in the hospital this morning, having his head shaved, in fear and thinking of his future, he sees on the Quiet Riot Facebook an article saying they have parted ways with him. Parted ways? That was news to him. He never got one phone call, nothing. What kind of people, what kind of friends, what kind of band mates, have the nerve to do this to someone as they are about to go into something so major and scary?
From Mark this morning right after texting me from the hospital, from his FB page:
“As I sit in hospital…wait for my brain surgery….i have been let go from Quiet Riot.And nobodys had balls to tell it to my face.Interesting …the rock n roll business.I have to read the news in a post thats not even directed to me?…WTF?Let me tell all my friends……dont count me out….watch what happens.its obvious what I ever ment to this situation….i deserve better treatment….dont worry about me……worry about your own bad selves.and I am gonna take the high road……i have so much shit I could speak…..stay tuned my friends…..and if you arent…..delete me.”
I write this in wanting the fans, and the industry alike to know that this is not how it’s supposed to be done as industry, nor human beings, they could have waited. They could have stood by his side. It’s dirty, and mean. All is fair in love and war, karma has a way of equaling things out. mark has one of the most amazing voices I have heard in some time, and I know with all of the fans praying for him and standing by him, he will come out on top, and find something ten times better. Please send out your love and well wishes for my friend.
Mark on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1232614099
We Have 2,265 Regular Subscribers and GROWING!
|
Please by all means feel free to share.
Wow…… Mark is a friend. He is an amazing person who deserves better then the people he was involved with. Mark did not and does not need them, They need him!
Quiet Riot you are nothing more then a cover band.
Mark you will prevail. Keep on rocking my friend. You have so many friends and so much support. Get better soon.
Frankie is a total douche bag. I know Mark very well and he is such a humble person that doesn’t deserve to be treated this way. Get well Mark. I want to see you at my club rocking out some tunes really soon.
Bottom line is GET WELL SOON MARK! We Fans/friends Love you and know you will move onto bigger and better things. They needed you, you didn’t need them. You have a bright future and they will crawl back into there little hole. Thoughts and prayers being sent your way for a speedy recovery…
Wow! What a bunch of spineless cowards. Boycotting Quiet Riot and sending all good juju and healing thoughts to Mr. Huff!
I just saw this news on my cousins facebook as he is friends with Mark also & I’m just shocked that this happened under such intense circumstances. Awful ballsy move.
Anyways, prayers going out to Mark on a successful surgery & speedy recovery….
Thanks everyone for reaching out. I am the writer of this column and friend of Marks. I saw this news reached Blabbermouth and radio and saw people wondering if this was real and saying there had to be more. NO….I can assure you as i sit here on text with Mark as he is in the hospital that this is real and there is nothing more behind it. Just some lousy lousy music business morals. I ask and Mark asks that you please put the prayers out there for him as he is worried and scared. Help me send safe and healing energy and prayers or however you do it in his direction and let’s all keep faith for the best. When he returns strong…….I know in my heart there are amazing things out there for him.
Kimberly James
This is shocking!
I wish Mark a speedy and full recovery.
Kimberly,
I know Mark, but not near as well, and definitely consider him a friend. Thank you for being there for him, and for this article. I will share it, so my other friends know the truth! Please give Mark our love(Lee, Bez & Sami) and let him know he is in our prayers. We will stand by him any time! And while you’re at it, give him some hugs, too. Thanks, (Angel)Bez
Kevin DuBrow is surely turning in his grave over this………candles lit for Mark’s full and speedy recovery…..
I have got to know Mark on Facebook and have followed his journey with Quiet Riot. Mark has never failed to be a gracious and professional person with an abundance of talent. From everything I’ve heard, he was the shining point in that band. The evil deed that they have done him will at some time be repaid. Right now, just heal up and be ready for the next break, Mark, it’s coming…..
Being in the entertainment business for many years. I have to say this is very unproffessional. The rest of the band should seriously be ashamed of themselves for kicking a man when he is down. Mark has taken them along ways for many years in this band. Remember he is the front man, the voice of Quite Riot. Without him where would you be?
I commend bands like Def Leppard who stood by thier drummer when he lost his arm in a car accident. Who would of ever thought that any drummer would ever drum again like he is. But they stood by him.
How do the other guys in this band even look at themselves in the mirror everyday and sleep at night? All I can say is Karma will come back around.
Mark, much love and prayers to you. I pray for your surgery to go well and for a quick and speedy recovery. I am so sorry that people you have helped carry to a successful career did this to you at a time like this. God Bless you.
Thank you for writing this article, I am still in shock about hearing what QR did to (my uncle)Mark as he was being prepped for brain surgery!! I’m still grasping on to the fact that my Uncle Mark has to undergo brain surgery…that’s freaky in itself! I know he is in good care, and he’ll recover just fine. Finding out that QR parted ways with him must have been the worst feeling when you’re about to go under! I can’t think of anything more cowardly and cold! I hope this goes viral and someone worthy of Mark’s talent offers him a better deal than he could ever have with QR! (I am so disgusted with them, I refuse to type out their name!)… (when he’s back on his feet feeling 100% of course!) They were just a stepping stone anyway.
Thank you Kim for the spot on reporting and comments. I am one of the people that would naturally assume there is a reason he is being fired beyond his recent illness. But since you have spoken to both sides and seem completely impartial, I must assume this is just accurate reporting and not some pathetic attempt at revenge against the people you perceive as attacking your friend. Although it does seem odd that BOTH sides are saying there is a lot more they could say. No, that can’t be true. You must have reported all the facts as a good reporter would despite your personal bias. Good job!
Thanks Alex, I can assure friends and fans alike that Mark IS in the hospital and facing the worst fear a person can face right now. he has several friends with him and us friends have been in contact and getting reports. I don’t think all of Marks friends and family, nor he would lie about such a thing. NOR WOULD I. It is far far beyond my character. There is no revenge being sought here, only reporting of blatant human misguided behavior. far too much things like this happen in music and go lied about or misinformed. It’s highly easy for someone with fame or semi-fame to put out false statements and inform fans wrongly. I am only trying to set the record straight.
Let it be known I have asked them to show proof of the so called certified letter…they have refused to do so……the ball has been in their court.
I can assure all of you that Kim’s reports are right on target.
The “ringleader” of the aforementioned band “allegedly” has a nasty habit of turning his bandmates into his personal puppets and being a complete and total control freak.
As someone that knows Mark, he and I have many mutual friends and his dealings with the band were a topic the past few weeks. One thing I can say, is that Mark has a very So-Cal mentality about it all – meaning he’s down to earth, isn’t all about pomp-and-circumstance, and is all about PR and making friends wherever he goes. THAT is what made him gain so many friends and fans all over so quickly. Mark was definitely gracious, aware of the shoes he was filling, and tried his hardest to nail each and every song to make Kevin (RIP) proud.
On the other hand, there are some that don’t think that being gracious to those that have paid to come to your show is a good thing to do and/or controlling every possible scenario….. um, ok. If you don’t want to be kind to those who support you or share a tour with you, please keep track of when cases of Top Ramen goes on sale….
With that said, I have several friends that have been with Mark tonight and by his side to keep him company. He’s going to be just fine. He’s a trooper, he’s got mass love and support from many he never expected… and truth be told, he did JUST FINE before QR, and he’ll do even better now. As the saying goes, “If only I knew then what I knew now….”
PS – Just keep Mark in your thoughts early tomorrow morning…. that is when he will need them the most. <3
Mark: I don’t know you, but I hope you have a speedy recovery, On the other hand I do know Franky and the other jerks in Quiet Riot, Fucking self centered major assholes! never ever thinking of anyone’s feelings but thier own, this doesn’t surprise me in the least this is who they are!I only hope there is such a thing as karma (they deserve nothing better) Good luck Mark
Sounds like Mark got a taste of what it’s like to be in show business. David Lee..Sammy Hagar…Steve Perry and the list goes on. They did the guy a favor anyways with his talent who needs to take crap from a B-C group at best. Get well and show them what it’s like not to be in a second thought band.
Mark:
I personally, would like to start my post with the prayers from myself and my family to you (and your family) and wish you well in your surgery and for a speedy recovery… and to your family for strength and courage.
I have known Mark (and, God rest her soul, his Mother and siblings)since the ’70′s and I can truly say with every fiber of my being that Mark is one of the most appreciative, humble, and honest person I have ever known.
He was always most content when striving for his goals and never gave room for the negative in anything, nor the room for gossip, lies OR DEFEAT!
I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. Regardless of whether we ever understand it or even like it, there is a reason.
Yes, the situation of what’s “going down,” is a huge pile of crap, it is merely a stepping stone in the journey and I am very confident that Mark will, without a doubt, prevail in ‘plugging his nose’ and ‘lifting is feet’ to the point of literally levitating over the pile!
Miss you terribly and wish I could come see you…but know that I am there is spirit.
I’m praying for Mark. Didn’t know him well, but I filled his shoes in a local San Diego cover band … LARGE shoes to fill let me tell you, “that guy has incredible pipes!” … he was beyond cool! He came to a show/contest to support us and was nothing but nice and supportive to me. I listened to a lot of garage recordings of him and was always so impressed! Get well soon Mark … we can’t wait to hear you sing again! P.S. … I’ll never support QR in any way ever again … and use to love their music before this … now I would probably puke at the sound of it!