Founding member and bassist of the original Quiet Riot, Kelly Garni is set to play at the 13th St. Meinrad Rocks Fest thanks to a connection with Rocks Fest musician Phil Schraner. The fest will be held September 27 and 28 at the St. Meinrad Park.
Garni will grace the main stage on Saturday evening to play those early Quiet Riot pieces such as Killer Girls and Slick Black Cadillac.
“I’m so excited to be coming to St. Meinrad this year. I’ve been studying everything about the town and am ready to explore the area! I look forward to making some great new friends while I’m in Indiana.”
An accomplished author, photographer, and artist, as well as musician, Garni will also take the time to field questions on Saturday afternoon, ready to discuss everything from his friendship and music with Quiet Riot co-founder Randy Rhoads to his more recent adventures as a Las Vegas photographer and artist.
Garni met future bandmate Randy Rhoads while attending John Muir Middle School in California, and the two became best friends. According to Garni, Rhoads taught Garni how to play bass guitar, and together they formed their first band, rehearsing during the day at Rodney Bingenheimer’s English Disco, a 1970s Hollywood nightspot. With this band, they spent several months playing at backyard parties around the Los Angeles area in the mid-1970s.
At age 16, Rhoads and Garni formed the band Little Women. The band soon changed its name to Quiet Riot, where they spent several years on stage together, as one of the more successful hard rock acts in Los Angeles in the mid to late 1970s. By 1977, they were able to secure a deal with Sony, but their records would only be released in Japan. The original four members recorded their debut album Quiet Riot, or QR I, in 1977. Their second album Quiet Riot II, or QR II, was recorded at ‘The Record Plant’ and released in Japan in 1978.
In addition to music, Garni has other creatives talents, as well. A passion for the old West and mining is what inspired him to use the remnants of the past in an artistic way.
Some time ago, he began to explore old ghost towns and mines that existed in the mid-1800’s, and noticed that, while all the buildings and other structures were great to photograph, the real treasures were right under his feet. The very pieces that most people walked right over or kicked aside, he saw as his art supply source. He became obsessed with picking out odd and interesting pieces of rusty metal throughout Nevada and giving these once useful now-turned-trash items a new life in the form of an art style that is modern, with history and soul. His art boasts the spirit of the old west, the people who lived there, and the courage it took to tame a very harsh environment.
Garni has published several books as well, including Angels with Dirty Faces, the story of his life, told his way, from his friendship with Randy and what came along with it, as well as the trials and tribulations, struggles and battles, both personal and professional, of growing up in the Hollywood Music Scene of the 70’s, and Naked Las Vegas, the story and collection of his Vegas photography.
“Books and artwork pieces will be available at the fest for purchase, and Garni will be available for autographs,” adds Carol Ubelhor-Troesch. “Kelly will be a great addition to our always impressive lineup, which will be announced in May.”
This year’s St. Meinrad Rocks Fest, presented by Inkspot Productions, LLC and Automated Routing, Inc. will again feature a beer garden, sponsored by Louie’s Tavern, children’s activities, and country and rock music on two stages, both bands and solo acts, both returning favorites and newcomers, as well as a live animal show. Food trucks and booths will be present both days, and fest and performer merchandise will also be available. As before, a Vendor Fair will also take place on Saturday in the park area.
For more specific information, including details and perks of becoming a 2024 sponsor, vendor, or volunteer, please visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/stmeinradrocksfest or contact Carol (Ubelhor) Troesch/ Inkspot Productions, LLC at https://www.facebook.com/InkspotProductionsLLC, via email at writstuf@psci.net, or 812-309-8523.
