• Hard Rock

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, riff dominant, 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 Fiet, 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...