Quiet Riot drummer Frankie Banali’s widow revealed that the musician had planned his own funeral before he was even diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer last year.
Banali reportedly died at age 68 on Thursday, according to the group’s agent.
As reported by Blabbemouth, during an interview on radio personality Eddie Trunk’s Trunk Nation SiriusXM show, the drummer’s widow, Regina Banali, spoke about plans for a memorial service and concert for Frankie.
Regina Banali said that he’d paid for the service in Los Angeles’ famous Forest Lawn Cemetery prior to being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. “He had already bought and paid for and planned his entire services at Forest Lawn before his diagnosis,” she said. She likened it to funeral services for Black Sabbath and Rainbow singer Ronnie James Dio and Rainbow/Dio guitarist Jimmy Bain’s funerals.
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Banali said that a service fit for a rock legend will likely be held at the famed Rainbow Bar and Grill, a famous hangout for heavy metal musicians. “He was saying we’re gonna rent the Rainbow and have laminated passes and send off in the rock n’ roll way that he arrived in L.A. He had a lot of history with the Rainbow.
She said that with the current COVID-19 pandemic still limiting many public events, when the memorials will occur is still up in there. “I don’t know how we’ll do it or when,” Banali told Trunk.
Towards the end of the interview, Banali eulogized her husband, paying tribute to his many talents. “Frankie was the most amazing person that I’ve ever met in my entire life. He was such a force and such an incredible person,” she said. “He played so many styles of music. He was a smart businessman, and he was a talented artists, a talented painter. He had a creative eye with pretty much every artist thing there is.”
With the news of the drummer’s passing on Friday, rockers memorialized Frankie Banali on Twitter, sharing photos and experiences with the the musician. Twisted Sister singer Dee Snider vowed that Banali’s “spirit will live forever.” He also recommended people watch Well Now You’re Here, There’s No Way Back, the documentary about Quiet Riot, which was directed by Banali’s wife.
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Kiss singer Paul Stanley also tweeted about the drummer, speaking about how open he’d been with his battle with cancer. Former Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy shared a photo of the two, remembering his friend.
Wow. What a day. So sad to hear about the loss of @FrankieBanali. He fought hard until the end. His playing and rock ‘n’ roll spirit will live forever. A fellow New Yorker, Frankie was the real deal. RIP my friend.
“Take me away from all this death.”— Dee Snider (@deesnider) August 21, 2020
In memory of @FrankieBanali and Kevin Dubrow listen to an @QUIETRIOT song today. And if you haven’t see “Now You’re Here; There’s No Way Back” the QR doc, it is a must see in Frankie’s memory.
— Dee Snider (@deesnider) August 21, 2020
Very sad to hear of the passing of Frankie Banali. He was so open in his reports of his illness and seemed to live through his treatments and setbacks bravely and with grace. RIP. https://t.co/7C7E4NJf7y
— Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) August 21, 2020
The musician was best known for his work in Quiet Riot, which he was the sole original member in the lineup at the time of his death. The band rose to mainstream success with their 1983 album Metal Health, which boasted the hits “Bang Your Head” and a cover of Slade’s song “C*m On Feel The Noize.” Besides Quiet Riot, Banali also contributed drums for W.A.S.P. on a number of albums and had played with Billy Idol.
The band’s PR company did not respond to Newsweek’s emailed request for comment in time for publication.
