Riot (band)
Encyclopedia
Riot is an American
heavy metal
band founded in New York City
in 1975 by guitarist Mark Reale
. Reaching a peak in popularity in the early 80s, the band has continued a long-running successful career.
Riot has toured with AC/DC
, Molly Hatchet
, Sammy Hagar
, Kiss
, Vandenberg
and Black Sabbath
among others.
Riot's sound initially started out as straightforward heavy metal, but since their 1988 release Thundersteel
their musical direction has been more along the lines of power metal.
, New York
when Kon-Tiki
guitarist Mark Reale and drummer Peter Bitelli recruited bassist Phil Feit and vocalist Guy Speranza
. The line up recorded a four-track demo, which they hoped would be included in a proposed compilation of new rock bands. While waiting for the project to get off the ground, they added Steve Costello on keyboards.
Reale took the various demos to New York based producers Billy Arnell and Steve Loeb, who also owned Greene Street Recording Studio and the independent label Fire-Sign Records. Arnell & Loeb turned down the compilation proposal but signed Riot. The band added second guitarist Louie Kouvaris, replaced Feit with Jimmy Iommi and recorded its debut album, Rock City
. After a promising start and support slots with AC/DC
and Molly Hatchet
, the band were unable to maintain momentum, and were on the verge of breaking up for good by 1979.
In that year however, the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal
broke mainstream, and the band came to the attention of influential DJ Neal Kay
who spread the word about them in Britain. British fans bought imported copies of Rock City which was recorded and produced by Billy Arnell and Steve Loeb and released on their Fire Sign Records. Encouraged, Arnell & Loeb recorded the band's new album Narita
. In the course of recording, Kouvaris was replaced by band roadie Rick Ventura.
Subsequent to a successful support of Sammy Hagar
on his US Texas tour Capitol Records
offered Riot a worldwide deal for Narita, mostly to support Hagar. Capitol and Hagar needed a harder, younger edge to associate with him, so Riot was chosen if they agreed to support Hagar on his UK tour. Hagar and Riot had a successful tour, but Riot was dropped by Capitol as soon as they were finished promoting Hagar.
Riot's management, Billy Arnell and Steve Loeb spent their last dollars remaining from the Capitol advance retaining important indie FM radio promotions to promote the Riot album. They put it on as many radio stations around the country as possible, thus raising the radio profile enough to where Capitol picked up their option for another record. And thus began Riot's biggest selling album titled Fire Down Under
.
When the record was completed some months later, Capitol turned the record down calling it "commercially unacceptable" which put the band in contractual limbo. Capitol also refused to let the band out of the contract and insisted if the band wanted off Capitol, they would have to sue. A campaign was organized and financed by producer Billy Arnell & Steve Loeb with fans around the world, but especially in the UK where the fans picketed the offices of EMI Records. Finally Elektra Records
worked things out with Capitol's Rupert Perry and signed Riot and immediately released Fire Down Under which then soared into the Billboard Top 100 chart.
(b. March 12, 1956 – d. November 8, 2003) had difficulty melding his religious convictions with his role in the band and was replaced by Rhett Forrester
(b. September 22, 1956 – d. January 22, 1994) for the next album, Restless Breed (1982). Though a striking frontman, any hope of a major breakthrough was sunk by a combination of Forrester's erratic behaviour on the road, a changing of the guard at Elektra, and the 1983 success of Quiet Riot's single "Cum on Feel the Noize". The next album, Born in America, (1983) was self- financed by Steve Loeb and was released on Quality Records
, an independent Canadian label. A note on the reverse of the album tried to explain away would-be fans' confusion between Riot and the now #1-selling Quiet Riot, but support melted away, leading to the band's disintegration.
Reale relocated to San Antonio, Texas, where he recruited former S.A.Slayer
members Steve Cooper, Don Van Stavern, and Dave McClain (now with Machine Head
) for a short-lived new band called Narita. By 1986, Reale and Van Stavern had made their way out to Los Angeles in an attempt to resurrect Riot along with former members Sandy Slavin and Rhett Forrester. Another vocalist that was tried out was Harry 'The Tyrant' Conklin (Jag Panzer
) who was dismissed after losing his voice on the second night of back-to-back gigs due to excess drinking. Eventually, Reale mended fences with producer Steve Loeb and moved back to New York. Drummer Mark Edwards (Steeler
, Third Stage Alert) was recruited to complete the new rhythm section along with bassist Don Van Stavern, while Greene Street Studio manager Dave Harrington brought in Tony Moore (real name: Tony Morabito) for vocals. A new Riot was born. Loeb cut a four-track demo at his Greene Street Studio in Soho, NY and along with real estate maven turned rock manager Vince Perazzo brought the band to CBS
Associated, who offered the band a worldwide deal. Edwards elected to leave the band as his own L.A.-based group Lion
was getting signed to Scotti Brothers. He would be superseded by San Antonio, Texas native Bobby Jarzombek, formerly with Juggernaut
, who cut the rest of the drum tracks for what would become the Thundersteel
album, released in 1988. It was followed by the more experimental The Privilege of Power
(1990), which saw the band augment their state-of-the-art heavy metal sound with horns, courtesy of the Brecker Brothers
and Tower of Power
. The album also featured a guest vocal appearance by Joe Lynn Turner
of Rainbow
fame. Second guitarist Mike Flyntz joined the ranks for the band's 1989 Thundersteel
tour of Japan where Riot maintained their strongest subsequent following. Bassist Don Van Stavern would quit the band after the US leg of the The Privilege of Power tour and was replaced by fellow Texan Pete Perez (ex-Karion).
In 1992, vocalist Tony Moore left the group over disagreements with manager/producer Steve Loeb. Reale recruited newcomer Mike DiMeo
, who had played with Howard Stern
sidekick Stuttering John Melendez in a local band named Josie Sang, with a view toward making a more hard rock oriented solo album. Eventually, those plans were dropped and the proposed solo effort turned into another Riot album, 1993's Nightbreaker
, which featured a remake of the Fire Down Under
classic 'Outlaw' as well as covers of Deep Purple
's 'Burn
' and 'A Whiter Shade of Pale
' by Procol Harum
. The following LP, the Native American-themed Brethren of the Long House (1996), which saw John Macaluso
(TNT
, Powermad
) briefly take over for Bobby Jarzombek on drums, would mark the final collaboration with long-time associate Steve Loeb who stepped down from the production chair in 1995. All told, Loeb produced or co-produced 13 Riot albums in his 19-year association with Reale and the different configurations of Riot. For the rest of the decade Riot would maintain a remarkably steady line-up for the first time in its history, resulting in a steady output of high quality albums, i.e. Inishmore (1998), Shine On live (1998), and Sons of Society (1999). Jarzombek left again in late 1999, this time to join former Judas Priest
vocalist Rob Halford
in his new venture Halford
. Pat McGrath (Prototype, Killing Culture) filled in for Jarzombek on the following European tour before being replaced by veteran skinsman Bobby Rondinelli
(Rainbow
, Black Sabbath
, Blue Öyster Cult
) with whom the band recorded Through the Storm (2002).
In 2006, Riot returned with yet another album, Army of One, featuring new addition Frank Gilchriest (Virgin Steele
, Gothic Knights) on drums. It would mark the swan song with vocalist Mike DiMeo
who had earlier announced his departure in order to concentrate on his work with retro rockers The Lizards after a 12-year run with Riot. DiMeo was succeeded by noted New York area singer Mike Tirelli (Burning Starr, Holy Mother, Messiah's Kiss) whose Riot live debut came in early 2005 at the band's Atarfe Vega Rock Festival appearance in Granada, Spain.
Mike Tirelli took over as lead singer for most of 2005 and began touring in the states with the band. RIOT with Tirelli also made an appearance in Japan both in 2006 and 2007 after being gone for more than 7 years and then ending there touring in 2007 after an extent tour through Spain all arrange by there long time tour manager Damon Di Bari.
In 2008, it was announced that the classic Thundersteel
-era line-up would reunite for a tour, starting in June 2009 with high profile shows at the Sweden Rock and Metalway festivals, followed by a tour of Japan in the fall. A new studio album, tentatively scheduled for a late 2009 release, failed to materialize and on December 4, 2009 Tony Moore announced that he was no longer a member of Riot.
Nothing further was heard from the band for most of 2010 until on September 28, 2010 it was reported that Tony Moore had rejoined the band, with a new album set to be released sometime in 2011.
On August 12, 2011 it was reportedhttp://markreale.com/html/ORnews.htmhttp://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=161883 that final mixing is underway for the band's new album, titled "Immortal Soul", which was released first in Japan on October 18 by Marquee Inc., Japan's Avalon label with 13 tracks. It will be release in Germany on October 28th and in Europe on October 31st and in November in North America, on the SPV labelhttp://www.spv.de/News/newsdetail.php?newsID=136 with only 12 tracks. Riot will open for HammerFall
on their forthcoming "European Outbreak 2011" tour, with October and November dates confirmedhttp://www.riotrockcity.com/web/pages/news/news01.php.
Notes
Notes:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band founded in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1975 by guitarist Mark Reale
Mark Reale
Mark Reale is an American heavy metal guitarist best known for being the only constant original member in the band RiotMark was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1955. He grew up listening to The Beatles, Eric Clapton, Michael Schenker, Gary Moore, Ritchie Blackmore and lists George Harrison as one of...
. Reaching a peak in popularity in the early 80s, the band has continued a long-running successful career.
Riot has toured with AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
, Molly Hatchet
Molly Hatchet
Molly Hatchet is an American southern rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1975. They are widely known for their hit song "Flirtin' with Disaster" from the album of the same title. The band, founded by Dave Hlubek and Steve Holland, took its name from a prostitute who allegedly mutilated...
, Sammy Hagar
Sammy Hagar
Sam Roy "Sammy" Hagar , also known as The Red Rocker, is an American rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Also sings Country Music....
, Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
, Vandenberg
Vandenberg (band)
Vandenberg was a Dutch hard rock band named after guitarist Ad "Adje" van den Berg -Career:In 1981, Van den Berg worked with vocalist Jos Veldhuizen, bassist Griff "Studly" McGrath, and drummer Bico De Gooijer in a band called Teaser...
and Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
among others.
Riot's sound initially started out as straightforward heavy metal, but since their 1988 release Thundersteel
Thundersteel
Thundersteel is Riot's sixth album, and their first with singer Tony Moore, released after coming back from a period of inactivity in the mid-80s. It was re-issued in 2003 by Collectables Records with slightly amended artwork...
their musical direction has been more along the lines of power metal.
Early years (1975-1983)
Riot was formed in 1975 in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
when Kon-Tiki
Kon-Tiki
Kon-Tiki was the raft used by Norwegian explorer and writer Thor Heyerdahl in his 1947 expedition across the Pacific Ocean from South America to the Polynesian islands. It was named after the Inca sun god, Viracocha, for whom "Kon-Tiki" was said to be an old name...
guitarist Mark Reale and drummer Peter Bitelli recruited bassist Phil Feit and vocalist Guy Speranza
Guy Speranza
Guy Speranza was an American singer best known as New York-based metal band Riot's original frontman from 1976-1981....
. The line up recorded a four-track demo, which they hoped would be included in a proposed compilation of new rock bands. While waiting for the project to get off the ground, they added Steve Costello on keyboards.
Reale took the various demos to New York based producers Billy Arnell and Steve Loeb, who also owned Greene Street Recording Studio and the independent label Fire-Sign Records. Arnell & Loeb turned down the compilation proposal but signed Riot. The band added second guitarist Louie Kouvaris, replaced Feit with Jimmy Iommi and recorded its debut album, Rock City
Rock City (Riot album)
Rock City is the name of the first studio album by New York City based heavy metal band Riot released in November 1977.It was first released independently by Fire Sign Records, run by the band's producers, Billy Arnell and Steve Loeb, who also owned the Greene Street Recording Studio, before the...
. After a promising start and support slots with AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
and Molly Hatchet
Molly Hatchet
Molly Hatchet is an American southern rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1975. They are widely known for their hit song "Flirtin' with Disaster" from the album of the same title. The band, founded by Dave Hlubek and Steve Holland, took its name from a prostitute who allegedly mutilated...
, the band were unable to maintain momentum, and were on the verge of breaking up for good by 1979.
In that year however, the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal
New Wave of British Heavy Metal
The New Wave of British Heavy Metal was a heavy metal movement that started in the late 1970s, in Britain, and achieved international attention by the early 1980s. The movement developed as a reaction in part to the decline of early heavy metal bands such as Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Black...
broke mainstream, and the band came to the attention of influential DJ Neal Kay
Neal Kay
Neal Kay is a London-based DJ who along with Tommy Vance was a significant factor in the rise of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. He himself helped in coining this term for this subgenre of heavy metal....
who spread the word about them in Britain. British fans bought imported copies of Rock City which was recorded and produced by Billy Arnell and Steve Loeb and released on their Fire Sign Records. Encouraged, Arnell & Loeb recorded the band's new album Narita
Narita (album)
Narita is the second album by the New York City heavy metal band Riot.This album was actually released only in Japan and available only as an import in the USA until it was finally released in the states about 5 months later in October, 1979. It became out of print in the late 80's and was only...
. In the course of recording, Kouvaris was replaced by band roadie Rick Ventura.
Subsequent to a successful support of Sammy Hagar
Sammy Hagar
Sam Roy "Sammy" Hagar , also known as The Red Rocker, is an American rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Also sings Country Music....
on his US Texas tour Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
offered Riot a worldwide deal for Narita, mostly to support Hagar. Capitol and Hagar needed a harder, younger edge to associate with him, so Riot was chosen if they agreed to support Hagar on his UK tour. Hagar and Riot had a successful tour, but Riot was dropped by Capitol as soon as they were finished promoting Hagar.
Riot's management, Billy Arnell and Steve Loeb spent their last dollars remaining from the Capitol advance retaining important indie FM radio promotions to promote the Riot album. They put it on as many radio stations around the country as possible, thus raising the radio profile enough to where Capitol picked up their option for another record. And thus began Riot's biggest selling album titled Fire Down Under
Fire Down Under
Fire Down Under is the third album by New York City heavy metal band Riot, released in 1981. The song "Flashbacks" is dedicated to Neal Kay, the British DJ who supported heavy metal in the UK during the New Wave of British Heavy Metal....
.
When the record was completed some months later, Capitol turned the record down calling it "commercially unacceptable" which put the band in contractual limbo. Capitol also refused to let the band out of the contract and insisted if the band wanted off Capitol, they would have to sue. A campaign was organized and financed by producer Billy Arnell & Steve Loeb with fans around the world, but especially in the UK where the fans picketed the offices of EMI Records. Finally Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
worked things out with Capitol's Rupert Perry and signed Riot and immediately released Fire Down Under which then soared into the Billboard Top 100 chart.
Breakup and reunion (1983-present)
Singer Guy SperanzaGuy Speranza
Guy Speranza was an American singer best known as New York-based metal band Riot's original frontman from 1976-1981....
(b. March 12, 1956 – d. November 8, 2003) had difficulty melding his religious convictions with his role in the band and was replaced by Rhett Forrester
Rhett Forrester
Rhett Forrester was an American musician, the lead singer of New York-based band Riot from 1981 until 1984....
(b. September 22, 1956 – d. January 22, 1994) for the next album, Restless Breed (1982). Though a striking frontman, any hope of a major breakthrough was sunk by a combination of Forrester's erratic behaviour on the road, a changing of the guard at Elektra, and the 1983 success of Quiet Riot's single "Cum on Feel the Noize". The next album, Born in America, (1983) was self- financed by Steve Loeb and was released on Quality Records
Quality Records
Quality Records is a Canadian entertainment company which released music albums in Canada on behalf of American record labels, and also released recordings by Canadian artists...
, an independent Canadian label. A note on the reverse of the album tried to explain away would-be fans' confusion between Riot and the now #1-selling Quiet Riot, but support melted away, leading to the band's disintegration.
Reale relocated to San Antonio, Texas, where he recruited former S.A.Slayer
S.A.Slayer
S.A.SLAYER, originally known simply as SLAYER, was an American heavy metal band formed in San Antonio, Texas in 1981 by the former Blitzkrieg guitar duo Robert "Bob Dog" Catlin and Art Villareal, bassist Don Van Stavern, drummer Dave McClain, and vocalist Chris Cronk...
members Steve Cooper, Don Van Stavern, and Dave McClain (now with Machine Head
Machine Head (band)
Machine Head is an American heavy metal band from Oakland, California. Formed on October 12, 1991, the group was founded by Robb Flynn and Adam Duce. There have been 4 member changes since their inception. The current lineup of the band comprises Flynn , Duce , ex-Vio-Lence guitarist Phil Demmel ,...
) for a short-lived new band called Narita. By 1986, Reale and Van Stavern had made their way out to Los Angeles in an attempt to resurrect Riot along with former members Sandy Slavin and Rhett Forrester. Another vocalist that was tried out was Harry 'The Tyrant' Conklin (Jag Panzer
Jag Panzer
Jag Panzer were an American power metal band from Colorado Springs, Colorado.-Biography:Jag Panzer came together in late 1981, being inspired by the onslaught of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal...
) who was dismissed after losing his voice on the second night of back-to-back gigs due to excess drinking. Eventually, Reale mended fences with producer Steve Loeb and moved back to New York. Drummer Mark Edwards (Steeler
Steeler
Steeler was an early 1980s American heavy metal band from Nashville. Band members included: Ron Keel on vocals and guitar, Michael Dunigan on lead guitar, Bobby Eva on drums and Tim Morrison on bass. In 1982, they released the single Cold Day in Hell....
, Third Stage Alert) was recruited to complete the new rhythm section along with bassist Don Van Stavern, while Greene Street Studio manager Dave Harrington brought in Tony Moore (real name: Tony Morabito) for vocals. A new Riot was born. Loeb cut a four-track demo at his Greene Street Studio in Soho, NY and along with real estate maven turned rock manager Vince Perazzo brought the band to CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
Associated, who offered the band a worldwide deal. Edwards elected to leave the band as his own L.A.-based group Lion
Lion (band)
Lion were an English-American rock band, best known for their theme song from the 1986 animated movie The Transformers: The Movie.A hard rock quartet, Lion were formed in Los Angeles in 1983 after ex-Tytan vocalist Kal Swan and former Lone Star guitarist Tony Smith relocated from Great Britain...
was getting signed to Scotti Brothers. He would be superseded by San Antonio, Texas native Bobby Jarzombek, formerly with Juggernaut
Juggernaut (Band)
Juggernaut is an American technical/progressive thrash metal band who formed in San Antonio, Texas in 1984.-Biography:Juggernaut is an American technical/progressive thrash metal band who formed in San Antonio, Texas in 1984 by former Kamakazi members Scott Womack and Harlan Glenn who were...
, who cut the rest of the drum tracks for what would become the Thundersteel
Thundersteel
Thundersteel is Riot's sixth album, and their first with singer Tony Moore, released after coming back from a period of inactivity in the mid-80s. It was re-issued in 2003 by Collectables Records with slightly amended artwork...
album, released in 1988. It was followed by the more experimental The Privilege of Power
The Privilege of Power
The Privilege of Power is Riot's seventh album, released in 1990. It was more experimental than their previous work, being an attempt at a concept album and also including a horn section on some of the tracks. "Racing with the Devil on a Spanish Highway" is an Al Di Meola cover. "Killer" is about...
(1990), which saw the band augment their state-of-the-art heavy metal sound with horns, courtesy of the Brecker Brothers
Brecker Brothers
The Brecker Brothers was the musical duo of Michael and Randy Brecker , who recorded commercially successful jazz fusion albums together in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. They had a notable hit single with "East River" in 1979...
and Tower of Power
Tower of Power
Tower of Power is an American R&B-based horn section and band, originating in Oakland, California, that has been performing for over 43 years. They are best known for their funky soul sound highlighted by a powerful horn section...
. The album also featured a guest vocal appearance by Joe Lynn Turner
Joe Lynn Turner
Joe Lynn Turner , is an American rock singer, known for his works with Rainbow, Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force, Deep Purple. From the late 1990s, he continued to perform in a large number of solo albums and other studio projects...
of Rainbow
Rainbow (band)
Rainbow were an English rock band, controlled by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1994 to 1997. It was originally established with American rock band Elf's members, though over the years Rainbow went through many line-up changes with no two studio albums featuring the same line-up...
fame. Second guitarist Mike Flyntz joined the ranks for the band's 1989 Thundersteel
Thundersteel
Thundersteel is Riot's sixth album, and their first with singer Tony Moore, released after coming back from a period of inactivity in the mid-80s. It was re-issued in 2003 by Collectables Records with slightly amended artwork...
tour of Japan where Riot maintained their strongest subsequent following. Bassist Don Van Stavern would quit the band after the US leg of the The Privilege of Power tour and was replaced by fellow Texan Pete Perez (ex-Karion).
In 1992, vocalist Tony Moore left the group over disagreements with manager/producer Steve Loeb. Reale recruited newcomer Mike DiMeo
Mike DiMeo
Mike DiMeo, born November 29 1968 in New York, U.S., is a hard rock/heavy metal vocalist, best known for his work in the band Riot, which he left in late 2006...
, who had played with Howard Stern
Howard Stern
Howard Allan Stern is an American radio personality, television host, author, and actor best known for his radio show, which was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s where he was labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style...
sidekick Stuttering John Melendez in a local band named Josie Sang, with a view toward making a more hard rock oriented solo album. Eventually, those plans were dropped and the proposed solo effort turned into another Riot album, 1993's Nightbreaker
Nightbreaker
Nightbreaker is Riot's eighth studio album. It was the band's first with vocalist Mike DiMeo as well as the studio debut with guitarist Mike Flyntz and bassist Pete Perez....
, which featured a remake of the Fire Down Under
Fire Down Under
Fire Down Under is the third album by New York City heavy metal band Riot, released in 1981. The song "Flashbacks" is dedicated to Neal Kay, the British DJ who supported heavy metal in the UK during the New Wave of British Heavy Metal....
classic 'Outlaw' as well as covers of Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
's 'Burn
Burn (Deep Purple song)
"Burn" is a song by British rock band Deep Purple. It was released on the album of the same name in 1974, and was the first song by the Mark III lineup.The song remained the band's concert opener for the next two years, taking over from "Highway Star". It opened Deep Purple's set on the California...
' and 'A Whiter Shade of Pale
A Whiter Shade of Pale
"A Whiter Shade of Pale" is the debut song by the British band Procol Harum, released 12 May 1967. The single reached number one in the UK Singles Chart on 8 June 1967, and stayed there for six weeks. Without much promotion, it reached #5 on the US charts, as well...
' by Procol Harum
Procol Harum
Procol Harum are a British rock band, formed in 1967, which contributed to the development of progressive rock, and by extension, symphonic rock. Their best-known recording is their 1967 single "A Whiter Shade of Pale"...
. The following LP, the Native American-themed Brethren of the Long House (1996), which saw John Macaluso
John Macaluso
John Macaluso is an American drummer born in 1968, who has played for Ark, TNT, Yngwie J. Malmsteen among others. Born in Commack, New York, John started playing drums at age 11. Now having recorded on 32 records and playing on multiple world tours, John continues to write and record music,...
(TNT
TNT (band)
TNT is a Norwegian hard rock/glam metal band from Trondheim, formed in 1982. The band has released twelve studio albums, three EPs and two live albums while going through numerous line-up changes since its formation...
, Powermad
Powermad
Powermad has been called "An innovative and often forgotten speed metal band...who infused progressive metal styles and European styles into abstract American speed metal." The band's intricate riff formulations were heavily influenced by thrash metal acts like Metallica and Testament, but vocalist...
) briefly take over for Bobby Jarzombek on drums, would mark the final collaboration with long-time associate Steve Loeb who stepped down from the production chair in 1995. All told, Loeb produced or co-produced 13 Riot albums in his 19-year association with Reale and the different configurations of Riot. For the rest of the decade Riot would maintain a remarkably steady line-up for the first time in its history, resulting in a steady output of high quality albums, i.e. Inishmore (1998), Shine On live (1998), and Sons of Society (1999). Jarzombek left again in late 1999, this time to join former Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
vocalist Rob Halford
Rob Halford
Robert John Arthur "Rob" Halford is an English singer-songwriter, who is best known as the lead vocalist for the Grammy Award-winning heavy metal band Judas Priest. He is nicknamed the "Metal God" as a tribute to his influence on metal, and after the Judas Priest song of the same name from 1980's...
in his new venture Halford
Halford (band)
Halford is a heavy metal band formed in 1999 by Rob Halford, the lead vocalist for Judas Priest. Halford formed the band to return to his heavy metal roots...
. Pat McGrath (Prototype, Killing Culture) filled in for Jarzombek on the following European tour before being replaced by veteran skinsman Bobby Rondinelli
Bobby Rondinelli
Bobby Rondinelli is a rock drummer best known for his work with the hard rock/heavy metal bands like Blue Öyster Cult, Rainbow, Quiet Riot, Black Sabbath, The Lizards, and Rondinelli.-Background:...
(Rainbow
Rainbow (band)
Rainbow were an English rock band, controlled by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1994 to 1997. It was originally established with American rock band Elf's members, though over the years Rainbow went through many line-up changes with no two studio albums featuring the same line-up...
, Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
, Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult, often abbreviated BÖC, is an American rock band, most of whose members first came together in Long Island, NY in 1967 as the band Soft White Underbelly...
) with whom the band recorded Through the Storm (2002).
In 2006, Riot returned with yet another album, Army of One, featuring new addition Frank Gilchriest (Virgin Steele
Virgin Steele
Virgin Steele is a heavy metal band from New York, originally formed in 1981.The band released a few career highlights albums...
, Gothic Knights) on drums. It would mark the swan song with vocalist Mike DiMeo
Mike DiMeo
Mike DiMeo, born November 29 1968 in New York, U.S., is a hard rock/heavy metal vocalist, best known for his work in the band Riot, which he left in late 2006...
who had earlier announced his departure in order to concentrate on his work with retro rockers The Lizards after a 12-year run with Riot. DiMeo was succeeded by noted New York area singer Mike Tirelli (Burning Starr, Holy Mother, Messiah's Kiss) whose Riot live debut came in early 2005 at the band's Atarfe Vega Rock Festival appearance in Granada, Spain.
Mike Tirelli took over as lead singer for most of 2005 and began touring in the states with the band. RIOT with Tirelli also made an appearance in Japan both in 2006 and 2007 after being gone for more than 7 years and then ending there touring in 2007 after an extent tour through Spain all arrange by there long time tour manager Damon Di Bari.
In 2008, it was announced that the classic Thundersteel
Thundersteel
Thundersteel is Riot's sixth album, and their first with singer Tony Moore, released after coming back from a period of inactivity in the mid-80s. It was re-issued in 2003 by Collectables Records with slightly amended artwork...
-era line-up would reunite for a tour, starting in June 2009 with high profile shows at the Sweden Rock and Metalway festivals, followed by a tour of Japan in the fall. A new studio album, tentatively scheduled for a late 2009 release, failed to materialize and on December 4, 2009 Tony Moore announced that he was no longer a member of Riot.
Nothing further was heard from the band for most of 2010 until on September 28, 2010 it was reported that Tony Moore had rejoined the band, with a new album set to be released sometime in 2011.
On August 12, 2011 it was reportedhttp://markreale.com/html/ORnews.htmhttp://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=161883 that final mixing is underway for the band's new album, titled "Immortal Soul", which was released first in Japan on October 18 by Marquee Inc., Japan's Avalon label with 13 tracks. It will be release in Germany on October 28th and in Europe on October 31st and in November in North America, on the SPV labelhttp://www.spv.de/News/newsdetail.php?newsID=136 with only 12 tracks. Riot will open for HammerFall
HammerFall
HammerFall is a power metal band from Gothenburg, Sweden. The band was formed in 1993 by ex-Ceremonial Oath guitarist Oscar Dronjak.- Early days :...
on their forthcoming "European Outbreak 2011" tour, with October and November dates confirmedhttp://www.riotrockcity.com/web/pages/news/news01.php.
Notes
- Rhett ForresterRhett ForresterRhett Forrester was an American musician, the lead singer of New York-based band Riot from 1981 until 1984....
was shot and killed in Atlanta, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
on January 22, 1994 at the age of 37 after he refused to give up his vehicle in an attempted carjacking. His murder remains unsolved. - Guy SperanzaGuy SperanzaGuy Speranza was an American singer best known as New York-based metal band Riot's original frontman from 1976-1981....
died from pancreatic cancer on November 8, 2003 in Orlando, FloridaOrlando, FloridaOrlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
at the age of 47. - Mike Tirelli was diagnosed with stomach cancer in the fall of 2008 and underwent what was announced to be his final surgery in March 2009. He is reportedly recovering well.
Current line up
- Tony Moore- Vocals
- Mark RealeMark RealeMark Reale is an American heavy metal guitarist best known for being the only constant original member in the band RiotMark was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1955. He grew up listening to The Beatles, Eric Clapton, Michael Schenker, Gary Moore, Ritchie Blackmore and lists George Harrison as one of...
- Guitar - Mike Flyntz - Guitar
- Don Van Stavern - Bass
- Bobby JarzombekBobby JarzombekBobby "Wire" Jarzombek is a heavy metal/progressive metal drummer and best known for his work with Halford, Sebastian Bach and Riot. He has also recorded and toured with Fates Warning, Arch / Matheos, Iced Earth, Rob Rock, Spastic Ink, and Juggernaut, among others.-Biography:Bobby Jarzombek was...
- Drums
Past members
- Mike Tirelli - Vocals
- Mike DiMeoMike DiMeoMike DiMeo, born November 29 1968 in New York, U.S., is a hard rock/heavy metal vocalist, best known for his work in the band Riot, which he left in late 2006...
- Vocals - Harry "The Tyrant" Conklin - Vocals
- Rhett ForresterRhett ForresterRhett Forrester was an American musician, the lead singer of New York-based band Riot from 1981 until 1984....
- Vocals (Deceased) - Guy SperanzaGuy SperanzaGuy Speranza was an American singer best known as New York-based metal band Riot's original frontman from 1976-1981....
- Vocals (Deceased) - Rick Ventura - Guitar
- L.A. Kouvaris - Guitar
- Pete Perez - Bass
- Kip Leming - Bass
- Jimmy Iommi - Bass
- Phil Feit - Bass
- Frank Gilchriest - Drums
- Bobby RondinelliBobby RondinelliBobby Rondinelli is a rock drummer best known for his work with the hard rock/heavy metal bands like Blue Öyster Cult, Rainbow, Quiet Riot, Black Sabbath, The Lizards, and Rondinelli.-Background:...
- Drums - John Macaluso - Drums
- Mark Edwards - Drums
- Sandy Slavin - Drums
- Kevin Dunne- Drums
- Peter Bitelli - Drums
Additional live musicians
- Randy Coven - bass
- Pat McGrath - drums
- Harry 'The Tyrant' Conklin - vocals
- Gerald T. Trevino - guitar
Discography
- Rock CityRock City (Riot album)Rock City is the name of the first studio album by New York City based heavy metal band Riot released in November 1977.It was first released independently by Fire Sign Records, run by the band's producers, Billy Arnell and Steve Loeb, who also owned the Greene Street Recording Studio, before the...
(1977) - NaritaNarita (album)Narita is the second album by the New York City heavy metal band Riot.This album was actually released only in Japan and available only as an import in the USA until it was finally released in the states about 5 months later in October, 1979. It became out of print in the late 80's and was only...
(1979) - Fire Down UnderFire Down UnderFire Down Under is the third album by New York City heavy metal band Riot, released in 1981. The song "Flashbacks" is dedicated to Neal Kay, the British DJ who supported heavy metal in the UK during the New Wave of British Heavy Metal....
(1981) - Restless BreedRestless BreedRestless Breed is the fourth album by heavy metal band Riot, and their first with vocalist Rhett Forrester, released in 1982. "When I Was Young" is an Eric Burdon and the Animals cover....
(1982) - Born In AmericaBorn in AmericaBorn In America is Riot's fifth album, released in 1983. After getting dropped by Elektra Records the band signed with Canadian indie label Quality Records for what was to be the last record with Rhett Forrester on vocals...
(1983) - ThundersteelThundersteelThundersteel is Riot's sixth album, and their first with singer Tony Moore, released after coming back from a period of inactivity in the mid-80s. It was re-issued in 2003 by Collectables Records with slightly amended artwork...
(1988) - Riot LiveLive in London (Riot album)Riot Live is Riot's first full-length live album, recorded in the UK in 1980/'81 but not issued until 1989 on CBS/Sony Records in Japan...
(1989)+ - The Privilege of PowerThe Privilege of PowerThe Privilege of Power is Riot's seventh album, released in 1990. It was more experimental than their previous work, being an attempt at a concept album and also including a horn section on some of the tracks. "Racing with the Devil on a Spanish Highway" is an Al Di Meola cover. "Killer" is about...
(1990) - Riot In Japan Live!!Live in Japan (Riot album)Riot In Japan Live!! is Riot's second live album, recorded in June 1990 in Osaka and Tokyo, and first released in 1992 by Sony Music Japan. It marks the debut by bassist Pete Perez who replaced Don Van Stavern at the end of the U.S. leg of The Privilege of Power tour.In 1999, the album was issued...
(1992)++ - NightbreakerNightbreakerNightbreaker is Riot's eighth studio album. It was the band's first with vocalist Mike DiMeo as well as the studio debut with guitarist Mike Flyntz and bassist Pete Perez....
(1993) - The Brethren of the Long House (1996)
- InishmoreInishmore (album)Inishmore is Riot's tenth studio album. It was released on January 27, 1998. The album is based on conceptual sagas of Celtic & Irish myths.-Track listing:#"Black Water" - 2:42#"Angel Eyes" - 4:27...
(1998) - Shine OnShine On (Riot album)Shine On is Riot's third live album, released in 1998 by Metal Blade Records.-Track listing:#"Black Water" - 1:47#"Angel Eyes" - 4:26#"Soldier" - 4:51#"The Man" - 4:05#"Kings Are Falling" - 4:33#"Kings Are Falling" - 4:19#"Swords and Tequila" - 3:24...
(1998) - Sons of SocietySons of SocietySons of Society is Riot's eleventh studio album. It was released on September 7, 1999.-Track listing:#"Snake Charmer" - 1:04#"On the Wings of Life" - 4:36#"Sons of Society" - 4:26...
(1999) - Through the StormThrough the Storm (Riot album)Through the Storm is the twelfth studio album by Riot. It was released on August 26, 2002.-Track listing:#"Turn the Tables" - 5:21#"Lost Inside This World" - 4:44...
(2002) - Army of OneArmy of One (album)Army of One is the thirteenth studio album by Riot. It was released on July 12, 2006. According to the official website, the album was recorded in 2003 and Mike DiMeo was effectively out of the band by the time it was released.-Track listing:...
(2006) - Immortal Soul (2011)
Notes:
- + recorded in England in 1980/'81 but not issued until 1989 in Japan (CBS/Sony Music) and 1993 in North America (Metal Blade)
- ++ issued by Metal Blade as 'Live In Japan' in 1999