Although the tune’s video proved to be popular on MTV’s heavy metal specialty programming at the time, the song failed to become a hit. However, it’s sound (use of samples, electro-drums, choir-like vocals, etc.) was an extremely similar approach that Def Leppard would perfect on their 1987 blockbuster album, Hysteria, and especially such tunes as “Pour Some Sugar on Me” and “Rocket. Understandably, super-producer Mutt Lange gets the lion’s share of credit for helping create the trademark “Def Leppard sound” – which truly coalesced on Hysteria. But what about Spencer Proffer‘s production on Quiet Riot’s “The Wild and the Young”?
And wouldn’t you know it, this song in particular – as well as all other phases of the band’s career – was studied and analyzed in my 2025 book, Bang Your Head, Feel the Noize: The Quiet Riot Story. Here is an excerpt which focuses on the tune:
Up next was the album’s undisputed high point, “The Wild and the Young.” Musically and chorus-wise, the tune sounds unmistakably more like Def Leppard than anything Quiet Riot had done previously (especially with the electro drums, samples, and stadium-sung chorus). In fact, “The Wild and the Young” sounded like Hysteria-era Def Leppard a full year BEFORE Hysteria.
Clearly, it was one of their stronger post-Metal Health tunes and one of the few tunes on the album in which this new style/approach truly coalesced. And unlike most of the other tunes on the LP where the synths soured things, it worked wonders on a song such as this – where synths were used more for texturing, rather than being forcibly crammed down your gullet.
“The Wild and the Young” would also serve as the album’s lead-off single and video. Played heavily on MTV’s Metal Music Half Hour program (which aired daily from Monday through Friday in the US) during the summer, it was instantly noticeable that the “QR ’86 look” was more Vegas-y than merely spandex-y. In other words, a la what Kiss and Mötley Crüe were sporting at the time (re-inspect the videos for “Tears are Falling” and “Smokin’ in the Boys Room” to catch my drift). Gone were the striped spandex trousers or striped sleeveless t-shirts of ’83 – although Kevin DuBrow‘s favorite fanged necklace remained in place around his neck.
Storyline-wise, the music video touched upon the whole “metal music is dangerous and should be banned” motif (which was popular at the time, thanks to such groups as the PMRC, aka, the Parents Music Resource Center). And also, shows the band – after fleeing from apparent metal-hating authority figures – performing the tune…and then ultimately, halting at gunpoint!
Also apparent from viewing the video, was that DuBrow had now magically grown an enormous amount of hair. Now, putting it all in perspective, at the time of this book’s release, hair length and metal music means diddly. But back in the ’80s, it was almost as important as the quality of your material. So, DuBrow understandably opted to consult some “hair specialists” to provide some much-needed volume to his previously unspectacular mane. But heck, he wasn’t the only one at the time, as both Gene Simmons and Joe Lynn Turner were two obvious culprits, as well.
In 2024, long-time Quiet Riot fan and cast member of The Howard Stern Show, Richard Christy was willing to stand by QR III. “I loved that album, but particularly, the song ‘The Wild and the Young.’ If that song would have been on Condition Critical and that would have been its first single – rather than ‘Mama Weer All Crazee Now’ – I think we’d be talking about Quiet Riot like we talk about Guns N’ Roses. Because that song is so good and so catchy. And the riffs are cool and the drums are cool. The chorus is just so huge. If that would have been the first single off of Condition Critical, their path would have been totally different. They would have remained a huge band like they were with Metal Health.”
And Christy didn’t just stop there concerning his praise for “The Wild and the Young.” “‘The Wild and the Young’ is one of the greatest songs of the ’80s, as far as I’m concerned. It’s funny, whenever my kids are going crazy, I always say, ‘You guys are the wild and the young’ – and I play them that song!” And since Christy is an exceptionally talented drummer in his own right, it should come as no surprise that it’s Frankie Banali‘s drumming on the tune that also makes it a personal favorite. “His drumming on ‘The Wild and the Young’ – that beginning drumbeat – is so freaking cool. It’s so heavy and I love the reverb they have on the drums.”
Unfortunately, despite consistent airings on MTV of the video, the single surprisingly stiffed – not even registering a single spot on the Billboard Hot 100. Resulting in a standout ’80s metal anthem that nowadays, only diehard Quiet Riot fans seem to appreciate.
Bang Your Head, Feel the Noize: The Quiet Riot Story is available as paperback, hardcover, and Kindle versions. Click here to order.
