Happy Birthday, Carlos Cavazo! (July 8, 1957)

Hi, WA Friends!

Today let's celebrate the birthday of Carlos Cavazo!

Carlos was born on July 8, 1957, in Atlanta, Georgia. He is best known as the guitarist for Quiet Riot during their commercial peak, but Cavazo has also played with Snow, 3 Legged Dogg, Hollywood Allstarz, and Ratt, which will be detailed below.

His Music Career

Cavazo's journey into music began in 1973 when he formed Speed Of Light with his older brother Tony. The band evolved into Snow by 1978, building a loyal following on the L.A. club circuit. Their 1980 5-song EP was reissued as part of the At Last archives release in 2017. Snow's popularity led them to play a reunion show at the Whisky a Go Go in 2017 to celebrate the release of At Last.

In 1982, Cavazo replaced Randy Rhoads in the reformed Quiet Riot and remained with the band into the 2000s until the band split up. However, when vocalist Kevin DuBrow reformed the band to record the 2006 album Rehab, Cavazo was not included.

Cavazo was also a founding member of 3 Legged Dogg, a supergroup made up of drummer Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath, Dio, Heaven & Hell), bassist Jimmy Bain (Rainbow, Dio), vocalist Chas West (Bonham, Foreigner) and guitarist Brian Young (David Lee Roth). They released one album, Frozen Summer, in 2006.

Until the spring of 2018, Cavazo was a member of Ratt, replacing John Corabi in 2008. I remember the song "Round And Round," which had a very cool '80s guitar solo, but Warren DeMartini played it.

Equipment (for gearheads only)

This section is for guitar freaks, and you know who you are! Lol

Carlos frequently used Jackson Soloist, Gibson Flying V, and Gibson SG guitars, Marshal JCM 800 amps with an Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer distortion pedal, and a Boss DD-3 Digital Delay.

The Marshall JCM 800 guitar amp started all that '80s high-gain madness! Lol

He's also been known to rock a Soldano SLO-100 amplifier. I have a Soldano Atomic 16, 20-Watt combo, and it really screams!

Discography

Here are his essential works. It's all great stuff, but be sure to check out Metal Health, Frozen Summer, and Infestation, at the very least!

Snow

• 1980 Snow

Quiet Riot

• 1983 Metal Health
• 1984 Condition Critical
• 1986 QR III
• 1988 QR
• 1993 Terrified
• 1995 Down to the Bone
• 1999 Alive and Well
• 2001 Guilty Pleasures

3 Legged Dogg

• 2006 Frozen Summer

Ratt

• 2010 Infestation

Honors and Awards

Cavazo's work has been widely recognized in the music industry. For instance, VH1 News listed him as one of "The 10 Most Underrated Hair Metal Guitarists Of The '80s" in 2015.

Happy Birthday, Carlos! 🎂

Rock On! 🤘
Frank 🎸