Francesco Felice Banali (November 14, 1951 – August 20, 2020)[1] was an American rock drummer, most widely known for his work with heavy metal band Quiet Riot.

In 1975, he moved to Los Angeles, where he spent four years playing drums with various bands, including Steppenwolf with Nick St. Nicholas and Goldy McJohn.

In 1979, Banali, along with bassist Dana Strum, was in secret rehearsals with then Quiet Riot guitarist Randy Rhoads and Ozzy Osbourne as the latter was looking for a guitar player to launch a new band.

[4][5] By the time Condition Critical was released in July 1984, tensions began to slowly break Quiet Riot apart, but Banali held on, through lineup changes and a diminishing fan base (mostly caused by Kevin DuBrow's erratic behavior).

In 1990, Banali was called in by Faster Pussycat to replace the fired Mark Michals, during their tour in support of their 1989 album Wake Me When It's Over.

After his mother's death in November 1990, Banali regrouped and formed a band called Heavy Bones with guitarist Gary Hoey.

Banali and DuBrow reformed Quiet Riot in October 2004 with bassist Chuck Wright and new guitarist Alex Grossi.

[10] Banali was interviewed for the 2020 book, BONZO: 30 Rock Drummers Remember the Legendary John Bonham,[11] by author Greg Prato.

For standard drumming his influences were Simon Phillips, Dennis Chambers, and Vinnie Colaiuta, just to name a few[12] Frankie's father, Jack, died from pancreatic cancer in 1974.

[16] This left Banali as the second member of the classic Metal Health-era Quiet Riot lineup to have died, following Kevin DuBrow in November 2007.

[18] The block started at the beginning of the show and included these 6 videos: "Party all Night", "Twilight Hotel", "The Wild and the Young", "Bang Your Head (Metal Health)", "Mama Weer All Crazee Now", and "Cum On Feel the Noize".