Riot
Riot's career has forever been dogged by record company problems and a general lack of interest from press quarters—a surprising epitaph for a New York band who formed in 1976 and were the subject of a petition to get one of their albums released in Europe. Signed in 1977 to Ariola, the band comprised L.A. Kouvaris (guitar), Mark Reale (guitar), Peter Bitelli (drums), Jimmy Iommi (bass) and vocalist Speranza. Constant touring brought them little success and by 1979 Kouvaris was replaced by Rick Ventura. Capitol Records signed them and released NARITA—still hailed as a hard rock classic, it brought them widespread attention in the UK which led to an appearance at the Donington Festival in 1980. The following year they returned to the studio and recorded FIRE DOWN UNDER. Capitol refused to release it and fans in the UK started the aforementioned petition to force their hand. Capitol stuck fast and dropped them, but Elektra were quick to see their potential. The album was eventually released to critical acclaim. However, Iommi and Bitelli quit, to be replaced by Kip Leming and Slavin, while former Rachel vocalist Rhett Forrester replaced Speranza. The next album, RESTLESS BREED, was a mixed affair, but contained an excellent version of Eric Burden's When I Was Young. After a badly produced live album they were dropped by Elektra. They released one final album to a total absence of industry or fan interest in 1984. A brief but unsuccessful reformation with most of the original line-up ensued in 1986, before Reale emerged with an all-new band, featuring Tony Moore (vocals), Don Van Stavern (bass) and Bobby Jarzombek (drums) and made an acclaimed comeback with THUNDERSTEEL, although PRIVILEGE OF POWER and NIGHTBREAKER, with new vocalist Michael Dimeo and guitarist Mike Flyntz, saw the band's sound fail to progress with the times. Forrester had a short-lived solo career before he too disappeared from view. Later it emerged he was murdered during an attempted robbery in January 1994.