Deep Bands- Riot

For this entry in Deep Bands, I will be using a different formula for bands I know less about. This new formula may allow me to make Deep Bands a reoccuring thing rather than a monthly thing.

WHO?: Riot

WHERE?: New York

WHEN?: 1975 to present (with a brief hiatus from 1984 to 1986)

WHAT?: Hard rock, heavy metal, speed metal, power metal

WHY?: Formed in 1975 by Mark Reale, Riot are a terribly underrated band. For most of the band’s career, they were confused for Quiet Riot. For the first half of their career, the band were a basic hard rock band. In the late 1980’s, the band switched to power metal. While they are popular in Japan, Riot has a cult following here in the US.

THE MUSIC

What to get

Fire Down Under (1981)- New York hard rock band, Riot, had already released two album that did barely nothing. However their third album, Fire Down Under, would get some attention. Today, listeners consider this to be the band's strongest. From start to finish, Fire Down Under is simple kick-ass hard rock. "Swords and Tequila" is a great opener while the self titled track could be considered speed metal. "Outlaw" is a great rocking song about gambling and "Don't Bring Me Down" has this oh-so-catchy hook and feeling to it. "Altar of the King" is somewhat Thin Lizzy-like while the closer, "Flashbacks" , is great solo from Mark Reale. Fire Down Under is a very overlooked album but remains a classic amongst metal fans (taken from my RateYourMusic review, December 2009).

Thundersteel (1988)- After a two year hiatus, Riot came back screaming with in 1988 with Thundsteel. The line-up was all new except guitarist Mark Reale, who still remains the only original member left in the band. With singer Tony Moore, bassist Don Van Stavern, and drummer Mark Edward (who left before the album was released and replaced by Bobby Jarzombek), the new Riot made a very Judas Priest- sounding album. The album has been strongly connected with the sub-genres of power metal and speed metal. The breakneck speed of the self-titled track is a perfect opener while "Fight or Fall" has a nice structure to it. Moore's vocals resemble to that of Rob Halford's. "On Wings of Eagles" is a great example. The melodic rocker, "Bloodstreets", is perhaps the best remembered song off the album. The album ends fittingly with "Buried Alive". Overall, Thundsteel is a kick-ass power metal album (taken from my RateYourMusic review, December 2009).

LINE-UPS (source: Wikipedia, written by me)

Riot I (1975)

Guy Speranza- vocals

Mark Reale- guitar

Phil Fiet- bass

Peter Bitelli- drums

Steve Costello- keyboards

Riot II (1977-1979)

Guy Speranza- vocals

Mark Reale- guitar

Louie Kouvaris- guitar

Jimmy Iommi- bass

Peter Bitelli- drums

Albums

Rock City (1977)

Riot III (1979-1982)

Guy Speranza- vocals

Mark Reale- guitar

Rick Ventura- guitar

Jimmy Iommi- bass

Peter Bitelli- drums

Albums

Narita (1979)

Riot IV (1981-1982)

Guy Speranza- vocals

Mark Reale- guitar

Rick Ventura- guitar

Kip Leming- bass

Sandy Slavin- drums

Albums

Fire Down Under (1981)

Riot V (1982-1984)

Rhett Forrester- vocals

Mark Reale- guitar

Rick Ventura- guitar

Kip Leming- bass

Sandy Slavin- drums

Albums

Restless Breed (1982)

Born in America (1983)

Break up/ Hiatus: 1984-1986

Riot V (1986-1988)

Tony Moore- vocals

Mark Reale- guitar

Don Van Stavern- bass

Mark Edwards- drums

Riot VI (1988)

Tony Moore- vocals

Mark Reale- guitar

Don Van Stavern- bass

Bobby Jarzombek- drums

Albums

Thundersteel (1988)

Riot VII (1988-1990)

Tony Moore- vocals

Mark Reale- guitar

Mike Flyntz- guitar

Don Van Stavern- bass

Bobby Jarzombek- drums

Albums

The Privilege of Power (1990)

Riot VIII (1990-1992)

Tony Moore- vocals

Mark Reale- guitar

Mike Flyntz- guitar

Pete Perez- bass

Bobby Jarzombek- drums

Riot IX (1992-1999)

Mike DiMeo- vocals

Mark Reale- guitar

Mike Flyntz- guitar

Pete Perez- bass

Bobby Jarzombek- drums (briefly John Macaluso in 1996)

Albums

Nightbreaker (1993)

Brethren of the Long House (1996)

Inishmore (1998)

Shine On (live, 1998)

Sons of Society (1999)

Riot X (1999-2000?)

Mike DiMeo- vocals

Mark Reale- guitar

Mike Flyntz- guitar

Pete Perez- bass

Pat McGrath- drums

Riot XI (2000-2006)

Mike DiMeo- vocals

Mark Reale- guitar

Mike Flyntz- guitar

Pete Perez- bass

Bobby Rondinelli- drums

Albums

Through the Storm (2002)

Riot XII (2006)

Mike DiMeo- vocals

Mark Reale- guitar

Mike Flyntz- guitar

Pete Perez- bass

Frank Gilchriest- drums

Albums

Army of One (2006)

Riot XIII (2006-2008)

Mike Tirelli- vocals

Mark Reale- guitar

Mike Flyntz- guitar

Pete Perez- bass

Frank Gilchriest- drums

Riot VIIa (2008-2009)

Tony Moore- vocals

Mark Reale- guitar

Mike Flyntz- guitar

Don Van Stavern- bass

Bobby Jarzombek- drums

Riot XIV (2009-present)

Mark Reale- guitar

Mike Flyntz- guitar

Don Van Stavern- bass

Bobby Jarzombek- drums

Rest In Peace

Rhett Forrester- shot and killed in 1994 at 37. During an attempted carjacking, he refused to give up his vehicle. His murder remains unsolved.

Guy Speranza- died from pancreatic cancer in 2003 at 47.