Frankie Banali, Quiet Riot drummer, dies at 68 from pancreatic cancer

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Quiet Riot drummer Frankie Banali has died following a bout of pancreatic cancer. He was 68.

Banali’s wife, Regina Banali, confirmed in a statement to USA TODAY Friday that the rocker “ultimately lost the fight at 7:18 pm on August 20 in Los Angeles surrounded by his wife and daughter.” Banali shared daughter Ashley, 23, with his first wife, Karen.

Banali was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer in April 2019 after going to the emergency room with leg pain and shortness of breath, according to Banali’s GoFundMe Medical Fund. Doctors gave him six months to live after discovering that his cancer “had already metastasized to his liver,” making it “incurable.”

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“He put up an inspiringly brave and courageous 16-month battle to the end and continued playing live as long as he could,” Regina’s statement added, noting that standard chemotherapy stopped working and a series of strokes made the continuation on a clinical trial impossible for Banali.

Banali joined the multi-platinum heavy metal band Quiet Riot in 1982 and performed as the band’s drummer for decades. Quiet Riot’s 1983 album “Metal Health” became the first heavy metal album to top the Billboard charts. Banali served as the band’s manager since 1994.

The rocker, known for his signature long black hair, also played drums for the heavy metal band W.A.S.P. Banali was inducted into the Hall of Heavy Metal History in 2017.

“He lived for playing live and performed for millions of fans around the world throughout his career,” wife Regina said in her statement.

Banali is survived by his wife Regina, daughter Ashley and and a “menagerie of rescue animals all of whom are family,” Regina wrote.

She added, “His wish for everyone is that you be your own health advocate for early detection so you may live long and rescue many animals.”

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