Mama Weer All Crazee Now

Hey there, Zoo Freaks! The Zoo Crew is spinning a wild one for you tonight with Quiet Riot’s “Mama Weer All Crazee Now” from their 1984 album Condition Critical. This track is a high-energy cover of a 1972 Slade classic, and it’s got some juicy stories behind it. According to interviews, the band didn’t initially plan to record another Slade cover after their massive hit “Cum On Feel the Noize.” But while promoting their breakout album Metal Health, radio DJs across the U.S. kept pushing them to tackle “Mama Weer All Crazee Now,” convinced it would be a smash. The band, under pressure to rush out Condition Critical, went for it, though bassist Rudy Sarzo later admitted he saw the move as a mistake. He felt it cemented a stigma that Quiet Riot leaned too hard on Slade’s songs, saying, “I could see the writing on the wall.” The track still rocked the charts, hitting #51 on the Billboard Hot 100, but it marked their last appearance there.

Another tidbit from the Zoo Crew’s crate-digging: the song’s vibe of rebellion and carefree chaos resonated with fans, as noted on Musixmatch, where it’s described as celebrating nonconformity and embracing a “crazy” identity. The music video, directed by Mark Rezyka, leans into this with a wild setup—an emergency room scene where a masked patient lands in a critical condition ward, only for the band to erupt into a concert for a hyped-up crowd. Posts on X from @ThisDayInMETAL highlight the album’s success, noting Condition Critical peaked at #15 on the Billboard charts, with “Mama Weer All Crazee Now” as a standout. Some fans on Reddit’s ClassicRock community even shared guitar lesson links for the song, proving its enduring appeal for aspiring rockers.

Let’s rewind to how Quiet Riot got their start. Formed in 1973 in Los Angeles by guitarist Randy Rhoads and bassist Kelly Garni, the band initially went by Mach 1, then Little Women, before settling on Quiet Riot in 1975. Frontman Kevin DuBrow and drummer Drew Forsyth rounded out the early lineup, crafting a raw, heavy metal sound inspired by the glam and hard rock scenes. Their first two albums, Quiet Riot and Quiet Riot II, dropped in Japan in 1977 and 1978, but they struggled to break through in the U.S. until Metal Health in 1983. That album, fueled by “Cum On Feel the Noize,” became the first heavy metal debut to hit #1 on the Billboard 200, selling over seven million copies. Despite lineup changes and tragedies, like Rhoads’ death in 1982, Quiet Riot’s legacy as a defining ‘80s metal act endures, as detailed on their official bio.

Want to keep up with Quiet Riot? Check out their official website for tour dates and merch. They’re active on Facebook, Instagram, and X, where they share updates and throwbacks. Fans can dive deeper on sites like Canadian Classic Rock or join discussions in groups like the Quiet Riot Fan Club on Facebook. There’s also a vibrant community on Reddit’s 80sMusic, where Zoo Freaks can connect over classic tracks like this one. So, crank it up and get crazee with us!