I'd like to meet:

RIOT could well lay claim to being the cult Rock outfit of North America. The band, although dogged by unrelenting external business problems have released a succession of well honed albums of impeccable quality. Somewhat strangely for, a full bore Hard Rock outfit, RIOT's trademark became a cuddly baby seal that adorned many of their album covers. As the years progressed RIOT's sound developed from quality Hard Rock to a more technical Metal direction which served the band well on the European market. The band were founded in 1975 by former THE PEOPLE and KON TIKI guitarist Mark Reale, bassist Phil Feit, ex-KON TIKI drummer Peter Bitelli, soon after adding vocalist Guy Speranza. The band's first recordings came with a four track tape laid down for inclusion on a proposed New York Anthology compilation album. With the backers of this projected album journeying to the French Midem music festival in order to get a deal for the album. Meantime, the band had decided on a tamer approach bringing in keyboard player Steve Costello.The band was stunned to learn upon the production company's return that there was an enthusiasm only for the RIOT tracks and that the compilation idea was now shelved in favour of a full blown RIOT release. With this in mind the band, ditching the keyboards and pulling in second guitarist Louie 'L.A.' Kouvaris, set about recording their debut album for local company Fire Sign Records, two tracks from the initial sessions, 'Angel With A Broken Wing' and 'Desperation' making it onto the album intact.RIOT's 'Rock City' album featured a line up of guitarists Reale and Kouvaris, Bitelli, Speranza, and new bass player Jimmy Iommi.RIOT set about a succession of local New York gigs before venturing further afield, appearing at a festival in Florida headlined by NEAL YOUNG and undertaking a run of Ohio gigs opening for THE GODZ. Further dates in 1978 were brought about by an invite to guest for SAMMY HAGAR on dates in Texas. For the first time RIOT were made aware of a growing fanbase. Often called back for encores the band soon learned that local rock D.J. Joe Anthony had been plugging 'Rock City' with a vengeance.Returning to New York the rot set in as RIOT effectively stagnated. Disillusioned by the then current music scene RIOT even contemplated adopting a New Wave approach after a producer insisted this was the way to go. In this climate of despair RIOT almost fragmented for good. The situation getting so bad that Reale and Speranza teamed up with Fiet once more and a drummer named Freddie to create another band. After a handful of gigs a call came from a promoter that RIOT were required to open the show for AC/DC's 'Highway to Hell' Texan leg of the tour alongside MOLLY HATCHET. Reale and Speranza were quick to resurrect the band pulling in Fiet again and former REX drummer Sandy Slavin for this fortnight's worth of high profile shows.This highpoint was duly dashed by another lengthy period in the doldrums at home in New York and, seeing the craze for disco and punk seemingly taking over, RIOT once more were on the verge of breaking up. The telephone call that pulled them back from the brink came from further than Texas, this time as it was from England that the band's saviour appeared as they were told that tracks from the debut album were appearing in the British 'Sounds' magazine Heavy Metal charts.Kouvaris, disillusioned by the fact that his mellow styled songwriting contributions were all being rejected, departed during recording of 1979's 'Narita', his place being taken by former RIOT roadie Rick Ventura. The album, named after the controversial new international airport built on the site of ancient burial grounds near Tokyo, garnered RIOT much praise in Europe.RIOT were offered a support stint in England opening for SAMMY HAGAR which they naturally accepted. The British arm of Ariola Records jumped in with an offer to provide the necessary funding but just prior to departure Capitol Records offered the band a worldwide deal which RIOT took up. The SAMMY HAGAR shows proved a huge success and RIOT threw in some club headliners in Britain to round things off.The band kept busy by gaining the third on the bill position on the American 'Black n' Blue' tour featuring rock legends BLUE OYSTER CULT and BLACK SABBATH this live work culminating in an appearance at the inaugural 'Monsters Of Rock' festival in Britain during 1980. RIOT shared a bill alongside TOUCH, SAXON, SCORPIONS, JUDAS PRIEST and RAINBOW.Prime guru Cliff Bernstein, convinced of the band's global potential and a longtime fan of RIOT, began negotiations with the band's New York production company in order to manage the act but a deal was unable to be sealed. Fiet by now had had enough and left. His musical path in later years was to include a tenure with JOAN JETT and playing on the BILLY IDOL hit 'White Wedding'.Capitol Records meanwhile had persuaded the band to pusue a more radio friendly AOR direction, even motioning that make up and a glitzier image was a distinct possibility and recordings along these lines commenced. With feedback from the British and Europe indicating a preferance for more harder edged material RIOT, now with bassist Cliff 'Kip' Leming, scrapped all these initial tracks with the exception of the song 'Swords And Tequila' and laid down a brash untamed hard rock album. The band were pleased with the outcome but Capitol, in the words of Reale, "Freaked!"The band and Capitol agreed to sever ties and at a Brooklyn showcase Elektra Records signed the band after witnessing just three numbers. The new label bought the 'Fire down under' tapes and RIOT got back to work on the road. In America they supported MAHOGANY RUSH, TRIUMPH, SAXON and GRAND FUNK RAILROAD before returning to England in 1981 opening for SAXON on the Big Teasers From Barnsley's 'Denim And Leather' tour. having visited Britain earlier in the year and participating in the legendary 'Heavy Metal Holocaust' festival at Port Vale Football Club's stadium in Burslem, Staffordshire on the same bill as MOTÖRHEAD, OZZY OSBOURNE, TRIUMPH and VARDIS. Subsequent proposed dates across Europe with OZZY OSBOURNE and SAXON on the so-called 'Heavy Metal Battles' tour were curtailed though when 'Fire Down Under' entered the American Billboard album charts and RIOT were recalled to support RUSH on their mighty 'Moving pictures' nationwide tour.With a chart album and being part of the most successful tour of the year RIOT were crushed when Speranza, battling with his religious convictions and the rock n' roll lifestyle, announced his intention to leave the band mid way through the dates. The singer agreed to finish the tour and after much persuasion offered to record the next album. When the band's management realized that Speranza would only record with RIOT on condition the managers were not allowed to enter the recording studio the band were immediately pulled off the RUSH tour in North Carolina with no notice.With negotiations now frantic RIOT returned home to New York on the tour bus only to be told they had to jump back on the RUSH shows again. RIOT missed one show in Atlanta but resumed their position for the next day's gig in Tennessee. An elaborate though wholly seethrough cover story had been concocted by the band's management that Speranza had been taken suddenly ill with food poisoning from a 7-11 burito!The RUSH tour ended with two sold out New Jersey shows and Speranza finally left the band. RIOT held auditions and drafted in RHETT FORRESTER, previously with New York club covers band RACHEL, in time for the recording of 'Restless Breed' album of 1982 and touring with the SCORPIONS and WHITESNAKE in America.Forrester proved to be more of an energetic front man live and gave RIOT a new edge. His lifestyle though was lived almost to near the edge and a batch of shows opening for RAINBOW on their American 'Straight Between The Eyes' tour were cancelled when the singer simply vanished, turning up a week later in hospital with a mysterious illness.The band got back into the swing supporting KISS on their American 'Lick It Up' extravaganza, which also featured VANDENBERG, and threw in a bunch of headliners on the West Coast, one bizarre date actually saw RIOT opening for RATT and STEELER. The toll was beginning to tell though. The band had left Elektra and signed with the Canadian independent label Quality for the release of new album, the patriotic 'Born In America' (later re-issued by Grand Slamm in the United States). Coming off the road in 1983, both Reale and Slavin agreed they were flogging a dead horse. Forrester opted out in 1984 to pursue a solo career opening with the 'Out Of The Darkness' in the same year.Rick Ventura had left RIOT around the same time as Forrester, being replaced by 19 year old Gerard .T. Trevino. The band then parted company with both label and management and Reale quickly decided to terminate the group in order to pursue a different musical avenue. Sandy Slavin joined forces once more with Fiet and ex TKO guitarist Adam Brenner in ADAM BOMB.Mark Reale formed NARITA (originally the MARK REALE PROJECT), releasing a three track demo in 1985 featuring the tracks 'The Feeling Is Gone', 'Liar' and 'Thundersteel'. NARITA featured members of SAN ANTONIO SLAYER bassist Don Van Stavern and drummer Dave McClain. A series of auditions in Los Angeles endeavoring to locate a vocalist followed but with no luck so SAN ANTONIO SLAYER frontman Steve Cooper was enrolled.NARITA played live throughout the mid west of America until Slavin convinced Reale that RIOT still retained a sizeable fan base and a reunion tour would work in their favour. In 1983 RIOT regrouped, now comprising of Reale, Slavin and Van Satavern. Approachs were made to both Speranza and Forrester but the former was uninterested and the latter involved with his solo work.RIOT finally emerged fronted by ex-JAGPANZER and SATAN'S HOST vocalist Harry 'The Tyrant' Conklin and a three month touring schedule was set up. Disaster struck almost immediately though when four songs into the band's debut show, the first of two sold out nights at Los Angeles Troubadour, Conklin lost his voice. Conklin bailed out to create TITAN FORCE. Cancelling the tour hasty auditions were held and a vocalist named Steffan travelled into the desert with RIOT for a test gig at an obscure club. It was a dismal failure prompting Reale to recontact Forrester. This time Rhett took the bait and a Reale / Forrester / Van Stavern / Slavin RIOT line up commenced touring.Coming off the road the old malaise was quick to set in. Effectively RIOT, now located in Los Angeles, were destitute. Although they were the subject of healthy record company interest Mark Reale was actually living in his car at this juncture and the band was dealt a huge blow when Forrester was soon to depart once again.A major rethink was required and subsequently Reale journeyed back to New York to renew the acquaintance with his old management team. A new band was quickly assembled as Slavin, opting out, undertook studio work at this point including a guest appearance on TED NUGENT's 1986 'Little Miss Dangerous' album. He would later appear in ACE FREHLEY's live band.Reale and Van Stavern were joined by STEELER, LION and BURNING STARR drummer MARK EDWARDS and vocalist Tony Moore (real name Morvido). The new band cutting four demo tracks which led to a deal with major label CBS Records.1988's comeback album 'Thundersteel', recorded over a lengthy period in downtime at the management's recording studio, was issued on CBS in America, Epic in Europe. A video was shot for the song 'Bloodstreets' and once more RIOT got back on the road in America.Former RAINBOW and DEEP PURPLE singer JOE LYNN TURNER makes a guest appearance on 'The Privilege Of Power' album. Indeed the record also includes a contribution from the TOWER POWER HORNS and a whole slew of well known New York session musicians.The return of RIOT led to increased interest in Japan, with the 'Rock City' and 'Narita' albums being released on CD. Alongside these were a brand new live album, culled from RIOT's British performances at the Donington 1980 'Monsters Of Rock' festival and a 1981 London Hammersmith Odeon show being issued in the far East.New bassist Pete Perez, previously with CARRION, replaced Van Stavern in 1990 and line up changes struck the band once more in the mid nineties with former STUTTERING JOHN vocalist Michael Dimeo and guitarist Mike Flyntz being drafted. RIOT now specifically began to concentrate on the European and Japanese markets.RIOT's stature is now such in Japan that in recent times the band have toured there on a consistent basis in 1989, 1990, '94 and '96. A 1995 Japanese issue live album however was compiled without the band's knowledge, the recordings being given to Sony Japan taken from a camcorder microphone and a single Dat tape.In 1993 the band were due to play in continental Europe as part of a Power Metal package deal with TITAN FORCE but this was cancelled. A further set of shows with METAL CHURCH was pulled too leaving the band frustrated at being unable to perform in Europe. Tragedy would strike the RIOT family though when on 22nd January of 1994 Rhett Forrester was murdered, gunned down trying to prevent an armed robbery in Atlanta.1994's 'Nightbreaker' featured a brand new version of 'Outlaw' and covers of the MOODY BLUES' 'Whiter Shade Of Pale' and DEEP PURPLE's 'Burn'. 'Nightbreaker' would be released by various labels globally and at least three different sleeve designs were employed, the European license through Rising Sun Records being one of the more effective with a shark cover. The Japanese version of the album featured the bonus cut of 'Black Mountain Woman. Its conceptual follow up 'The Brethren Of The Long House' (based around a storyline of the plight of the native Americans and which featured a cover version of GARY MOORE / PHIL LYNNOT's 'Out In The Fields'). RIOT finally got to tour in Europe in May 1996 on a bill alongside Thrashers WHIPLASH and British Folk Metal band SKYCLAD.Needless to say, RIOT's latest album saw a new member, drummer John Macaluso (ex-POWERMAD and TNT), replacing Bobby Jarzombek who had opted for a solo career with his project SPASTIC INK, an outfit that coincidently features Pete Perez. By 2000 Jarzombek was a member of ex JUDAS PRIEST vocalist Rob Halford's HALFORD band.In 1998 Don Van Stavern re-emerged with the Industrial outfit PITBULL DAYCARE. Macaluso also found time to perform drumming duties for YNGWIE MALMSTEEN and A.R.K. It was to be Mark Reale though that launched the highest profile side venture with the Melodic Rock outfit WESTWORLD. Debuting for Roadrunner Records the band, fronted by TNT vocalist Tony Harnell, also comprised of DANGER DANGER bass player Bruno Ravel and former BLUE OYSTER CULT and RAINBOW drummer John O'Reilly.August of the same year saw RIOT putting in a performance at the German Wacken open air festival. Early 2000 found RIOT headlining in Germany once again for a tour which saw strong support from Canada's ANVIL plus AGENT STEEL and DOMINE.In 2002 bassist Pete Perez was announced as the latest recruit into David Wayne's REVEREND. RIOT would make a return in August touting a brand new studio album for Metal Blade entitled 'Through The Storm'. This new outing included two cover versions with UFO's 'Only You Can Rock Me' and an instrumental variation on THE BEATLES 'Here Comes The Sun'. The recording line up for this effort stood at guitarists Mark Reale and Mike Flyntz vocalist Mike Dimeo bass player Pete Perez and former BLACK SABBATH and RAINBOW man Bobby Rondinelli on drums.In early 2003 guitarist Mike Flyntz teamed up with former RIOT frontman Tony Moore, BLUE OYSTER CULT bass player Danny Miranda and the RAINBOW and MEAT LOAF credited drummer John Miceli to found a new band project billed as FAITH AND FIRE. RIOT themselves would be gearing back up for action in the latter half of the year, recruiting VIRGIN STEELE man Frank Gilchriest on the drums.Sadly, on November 8th 2003, original RIOT singer Guy Speranza passed away following a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer.RIOT vocalist Mike Demeo joined THE LIZARDS, the band featuring drummer Bobby Rondinelli of RAINBOW, BLUE OYSTER CULT and BLACK SABBATH, in July of 2004. A one off RIOT gig at Don Hill's in New York City on the 27th August saw the YNGWIE MALSTEEN and ARK credited Randy Coven assuming bass duties. Coven resumed this role for RIOT's appearance at the February 2005 'Atarfe Vega Rock' festival in Granada, Spain. This show also found the band sporting a temporary new frontman as, with Mike DiMeo committed elsewhere with THE LIZARDS, Mike Tirelli, a veteran of HOLY MOTHER, MESSIAH'S KISS and BURNING STARR, stepped into the role. Confusingly, DiMeo put out a press release stating he was leaving RIOT to prioritise THE LIZARDS, but then retracted this. Nevertheless, Mike Terelli was still onboard for gigs in Texas and the Italian 'Iron Fest' in Milan during June.
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