1. Riot spra… Read Full Bio ↴There are multiple artists that perform under the name:
1. Riot sprang from the basement of Mark Reale's home in Brooklyn, NY in the summer of 1976. In 1977 they had recorded and released their first album "Rock City" for New York's Firesign Records. Able to to obtain various licensing deals throughout the world, "Rock City" quickly found an audience. Capitol Records quickly signed Riot, who soon entered the studio to record their second album "Narita" which would be released in 1979. It was in 1981, however, that Riot released what is considered by most fans to be the band's most definitive album "Fire Down Under".
Early History
Riot began when Kon-Tiki members Mark Reale (guitar) and Peter Bitelli (drums) recruited Phil Fiet (bass) and Guy Speranza (vocals) and 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 producer Steve Loeb, who also owned Greene Street Recording Studio and the independent label Fire-Sign Records. Loeb turned down the compilation proposal but signed Riot. The band added second guitarist Louie Kouvais, replaced Fiet 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 took off, and the band came to the attention of Neal Kay who spread the word about them in Britain. British fans bought imported copies of Rock City which was recorded and produced by Steve Loeb and released on Loeb's Fire Sign Records. Encouraged, 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, Ezra Cook and producer 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 Steve Loeb and managers Ezra Cook and Billy Arnell 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.
Breakup and Resurrection
Singer Guy Speranza had difficulty melding his religious convictions with his role in the band and was replaced by Rhett Forrester (b. 22 September 1956 – d. 22 January 1994) for the next album, Restless Breed (1983). Though a striking frontman, any hope of a major breakthrough was sunk by a combination of Forrester's erratic behaviour on the road and a changing of the guard at Elektra. The next album, Born in America, (1984) was self- financed by Steve Loeb and was released on Quality Records, an independent Canadian label. Support melted away, leading to the band's disintegration.
After stints with his own band (Narita) and abortive reformations of Riot, Reale mended fences with producer Steve Loeb in New York. He kept Don Van Stavern from Narita on bass, recruited Bobby Jarzombek (1988 - 1999) on drums and Greene Street Studio Manager Dave Harrington brought in Tony Moore for vocals. A resurrected 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. Resultant albums Thundersteel (1988) and Privilege of Power (1990) renewed fan interest around the world, particularly in Japan, where they maintained their strongest subsequent following.
The revived band was from then on dogged by continual personnel and record company changes. But, by virtue of Loeb's willingness to self finance every record that followed until his departure from the production chair in 1995, Riot was able to continue making records. All told, Loeb produced or co-produced 13 Riot albums in his 19 year association with Mark Reale and the different configurations of Riot. Reale continued to steer the band into the turn of the century, releasing albums roughly every couple of years.
Rhett Forrester was shot dead during a robbery in Atlanta Georgia in 1994, and original vocalist Guy Speranza died of pancreatic cancer in 2003.
On January 25, 2012, founding band member Mark Reale died of complications resulting from Crohn's disease at the age of 56. Immediately following his death, the band, featuring the "Thundersteel" lineup, performed several previously-booked east coast shows and the "70,000 Tons of Metal" cruise ship gig without him. A new Riot compilation was released following the shows, and at the request of Mark's father, the name "Riot" was put to rest. However, some former members of the "Thundersteel"-era lineup began work putting together a new band performing music in the same vein as Riot. The band was officially re-launched as "Riot V", the name alluding to the addition of Todd Michael Hall as the fifth official singer, replacing Moore. Van Stavern revealed that Moore had chosen not to continue with the band to spend more time with his family.
In 2014, Nick Lee, a former student at the guitar classes run by Flyntz, joined as the new co-lead guitarist for the band, replacing deceased Reale, and Frank Gilchriest rejoined the band in place of Jarzombek, who had quit the band to focus on his activities with Fates Warning. Their new album Unleash The Fire was released in Japan, under the name Riot, in August 2014. This is the band's first release since the death of Reale.
Todd Michael Hall said about the "V" letter: "The official name for the band is Riot V, but we do have this confusion with the Japanese release versus the European release. I was told that the Japanese record label considered the release to be a continuation of the previous contract with "Riot", so they did not want to use the V"
2. Composing of Tom Davidson & Daniel Magid, is a duo of dubstep producers based in Los Angeles, California. They were originally from Israel.
They have released songs on Monstercat, Dim Mak and Insomniac records.
Don't Hold Back
Riot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How you want your love to grow.
We'll sail across the ocean,
There's so little that we know.
City streets,
So full of people, talkin' aimlessly.
Gotta climb above it all,
To a rainbow you can see, yeah.
There ain't no place to hide.
Don't hold back,
There's a place, right by my side.
Don't hold back,
There ain't no place to hide.
Let me be the crystal ship,
To a diamond sky of love.
Don't hold back.
From a corner of the sky above,
We'll watch the days go by.
People going nowhere fast,
Puts light, in a weary eye.
I'll love you baby,
Give you all the love I've got.
Keep you cool from the sun,
Dry from the rain,
If you're cold, I'll make you hot.
Don't hold back,
There ain't no place to hide.
Don't hold back,
There's a place right by my side.
Don't hold back,
There ain't no place to hide.
Anytime you see,
The one you really need.
Go on find the time,
Go on, let it shine.
Don't you remember?
Tell me all your dreams,
How you want your love to grow.
We'll sail across the ocean,
There's so little that we know.
Don't hold back,
There ain't no place to hide.
Don't hold back,
There's a place, right by my side.
Don't hold back,
There ain't no place to hide.
Let me be a crystal ship,
To a diamond sky of love.
Don't hold back.
The lyrics of "Don't Hold Back" by Riot are a call to resist fear and insecurity and let love overcome any barriers. The song encourages lovers to share their dreams and desires openly and work together to achieve them. The first verse sets the scene of a world full of noise and confusion, but the singer invites the loved one to "climb above it all" and find a "rainbow" to hope and joy. The chorus repeats the phrase "don't hold back," emphasizing the need to take risks and trust in love. The second verse suggests that love can be a shelter from the weariness of everyday routines, offering comfort and warmth no matter the weather. Finally, the song urges the lovers to find the courage to pursue each other and their passions, reminding them that time is precious and that they should "let it shine."
Overall, "Don't Hold Back" encompasses a positive message of embracing vulnerability, expressing love, and finding joy in life. The song's upbeat tempo matches the encouragement of the lyrics, making it a catchy and motivational tune.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me all your dreams,
How you want your love to grow.
Share with me your hopes and aspirations about how your love will flourish.
We'll sail across the ocean,
There's so little that we know.
We will embark on a journey into the unknown.
City streets,
So full of people, talkin' aimlessly.
Urban areas bustling with individuals lost in trivial conversation.
Gotta climb above it all,
To a rainbow you can see, yeah.
We need to rise above the noise and distractions to reach a place of beauty and wonder.
Don't hold back,
There ain't no place to hide.
Be bold and fearless, as there is no refuge from life's challenges.
Don't hold back,
There's a place, right by my side.
Fear not, for I will be your constant companion.
Let me be the crystal ship,
To a diamond sky of love.
Allow me to transport you to a world of pure and radiant love.
From a corner of the sky above,
We'll watch the days go by.
We will observe the passage of time from a celestial vantage point.
People going nowhere fast,
Puts light, in a weary eye.
Individuals trapped in meaningless routines lead to despair.
I'll love you baby,
Give you all the love I've got.
I will express my devotion fully and wholeheartedly.
Keep you cool from the sun,
Dry from the rain,
If you're cold, I'll make you hot.
I will protect you from harm and provide for your needs.
Anytime you see,
The one you really need.
Whenever you come across the one you truly desire.
Go on find the time,
Go on, let it shine.
Make the effort to pursue and embrace that person, and give the relationship a chance to flourish.
Don't you remember?
Tell me all your dreams,
How you want your love to grow.
Have hope, and share your aspirations for your love to thrive.
Let me be a crystal ship,
To a diamond sky of love.
Allow me to transport you to a realm of love that is pristine and magnificent.
Don't hold back.
Do not hesitate or be reticent, but seize the opportunity to love deeply and fully.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: GUY SPERANZA, MARK REALE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
svenzia
Guy Speranza was a great singer. Rip!
Bloodyguy
🕯️😔
Klaas Gerard Fridsma
Still one of best 80 albums i have in my collection!!!
El Go
most underrated band ever
kodiak
This whole album kicked serious ass in early 80's and still does today! I remember I used to tell people about Riot and how good this album was...and they all would say.."you mean Quiet Riot?" That used to piss me off..I'd say "NO" I said Riot ! Damn...I hated Quiet Riot!
Cj b
kodiak me too
Bryan Lowry
Dude I’m right with you! I heard all from the 80’s. Seen some of the biggest acts live. The album is one of the best from the 80’s. Never get burned out listening to it!!!
d will
i keep hearing this song in my head while im at work not complaing after all these years riot rocks
Paul Dreikosen
One of my all time favorite albums. 17 when I bought it. Stll resonates emotions 40 years later. Just great.
Deebs Rose
The best band not to be huge.. 2 outstanding singers