Kelly Garni book signing feature

Kelly Garni did a book signing at Copper Cat Books in Henderson on Saturday, February 4, 2023.

Kelly Garni’s name may not be instantly recognizable, but he was a founding member of Quiet Riot, one of the most successful classic hard rock bands of all time. Garni was a childhood friend and bandmate of late guitarist Randy Rhoads, who went on to achieve greater success with Ozzy Osbourne prior to his tragic death in 1982. Garni, alongside Rhoads, appeared on the first two Quiet Riot albums, which were only released in Japan, though a reformed version of the band would release the classic METAL HEALTH album in 1983, becoming the first heavy metal band to top the pop charts.

Mr. Garni’s story is certainly a little more complicated and interesting. Following his firing from the band, he’d embark upon many other interested life ventures, which weren’t limited to music. Several years ago, he released his autobiography ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES. More recently, he’d gotten into the photography business and resided in rural Nevada for years, releasing a photography book, NAKED VEGAS. On this occasion, Garni was selling and signing copies of both books.

Despite having driven past Copper Cat Books more times than I count (the store is on Horizon Ridge down a path I regularly travel down to dine with my parents), Mr. Garni’s signing was my first time inside the store. There’s certainly a greater stock of products inside than you’d expect at first glance, with used books spanning each genre. The store celebrated its fourth anniversary in late 2021, and proudly bills itself as Henderson’s only used book store. For the event, there were refreshments served as well as a guitarist playing in the back of the store. It’s certainly a place I intend to return to in the future, during which I’ll spend more time book shopping.

The signing certainly had a respectable turnout (it ran from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM and I left for a time in the middle of the event for dinner and returned later) with an assortment of friends, fans, local musicians, and everyone in between showing up. Despite the regular intervals of people entering the store for the event, it remained an intimate event and was never so overcrowded or packed with long lines that it ever became uncomfortable or hectic.

This was a fantastic event showing that Kelly Garni is still very much active, even if not on the concert stage (although he did get to go on stage and jam with the modern version of Quiet Riot a few months back), showing off his books and crafts. It also finally gave this fan a chance to check out a store I hadn’t been in yet that I most certainly plan to return to for future book purchases. In the meantime, check out Copper Cat Books, be sure to pick up both of Mr. Garni’s books!