Dragon Productions presents: RIOT V – 50th Anniversary Tour 1975-2025
Special guests: CRYSTAL VIPER
US Heavy Metal legends RIOT, will celebrate 50th anniversary of the band, with a series of exclusive live shows in Texas, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Sweden and Denmark.
Three Texas dates then a very unique live show at the KEEP IT TRUE Festival in Germany, where the band will perform extra set with special guests. On all other shows of this run, RIOT will be playing selection of classic songs, as well as several new fan favorites taken from the current album, “Mean Streets”.
DVS Affairs and AFM Presents: 03/19 Houston, Tx. Hells Heroes Fest, White Oak Music Hall 03/20 Austin, Tx. Come and Take It Live 03/21 San Antonio, Tx. The Tobin Center with Saxon
Dragon Productions Presents: RIOT – 50th Anniversary Tour 1975-2025 Special guests: CRYSTAL VIPER
25/04 Germany, Lauda-Koenigshofen, Keep It True * 27/04 Switzerland, Aarburg, Musigburg * 30/04 Italy, Milano, Legend 01/05 Italy, Rome, Traffic 02/05 Italy, Bologna, Alchemica 03/05 Slovenia, Medvode, Klub Jedro 04/05 Austria, Wien, Viper Room 03/07 Sweden, Gothenburg, The Abyss 04/07 Denmark, Copenhagen, Rust 05/07 Sweden, Knislinge, Time To Rock Festival
Photo collage by Randy Caballero, Doug Julien, and Anthony Lopardo
US heavy metal titans RIOT (V) are finally back with a brand-new studio album titled MeanStreets, set for release February 16th, 2024 through Atomic Fire Records! The record features twelve tracks recorded and mixed by Bruno Ravel and mastered by Bart Gabriel. Artwork was provided by Gyula Havancsák (Accept, Stratovarius, Brainstorm) who captured the galloping style of the new material skillfully without missing the band’s signature seal. In advance of the release today the band unleashes the record’s first single, “High Noon.”
Bassist Donnie Van Stavern comments, “We are extremely excited to release our seventeenth RIOT record, Mean Streets, with the mighty Atomic Fire Records label! We went back to the roots a bit on this one with some hard rockers and of course power metal stylings. Our new pre-release lyric video ‘High Noon’ is a song I wrote with [late founding guitarist] Mark Reale in mind; he loved the Old West and wrote songs about it as well (‘Restless Breed,’ ‘Gunfighter’) and the music is a reminiscence of Thundersteel and The Privilege Of Power! Enjoy, metal warriors, more awesomeness is on the way!”
Adds vocalist Todd Michael Hall, “I’m really excited for the people to hear Mean Streets. We are evolving well with one foot rooted in the past and one foot pointing towards the future.”
Watch RIOT (V)’s “High Noon” videoHERE. Stream/purchase the track HERE.
Mean Streets will be available on digipak CD (EU), jewel case CD (US), vinyl in multiple color variants, and digitally.
Preorder the album in the physical format of your choice, pre-save it on your favorite DSP, or preorder it digitally to receive “High Noon” instantly now at: riotv.afr.link/meanstreetsPR.
Mean Streets – Track Listing:
Hail To The Warriors
Feel The Fire
Love Beyond The Grave
High Noon
Before This Time
Higher
Mean Streets
Open Road
Mortal Eyes
Lost Dreams
Lean Into It
No More
RIOT (V): Todd Michael Hall – vocals Mike Flyntz – guitars Nick Lee – guitars Don Van Stavern – bass Frank Gilchriest – drums
Subscribe to Atomic Fire Records on YouTube HERE and listen to “High Noon” as well as other new tracks in the AFR New Releases playlist on Spotify HERE.
Photo collage by Randy Caballero, Doug Julien, and Anthony Lopardo
RIOT: A band name that makes every metalhead’s mind ring alert. With countless iconic musicians and bands listing them as a significant influence, the New York City-based group has undeniably paved the way for the hard ‘n’ heavy music scene. Their early musical outputs such as 1977’s Rock City, 1979’s Narita, 1981’s Fire Down Under, and 1982’s Restless Breed saw the band’s growth from hard rock to more metal sounds which eventually led to their most iconic record, 1988’s Thundersteel.
The band’s path was unfortunately also marked by many strokes of fate causing significant lineup changes. The death of founding member Mark Reale had an immense impact on the group. Eventually Reale’s Thundersteel bandmate and songwriting partner Don Van Stavern decided to continue the band’s legacy and, out of respect for Reale, added “V” (Roman numeral five) to represent the fifth chapter of the group as well as the recorded singer. 2013 was the year that RIOT(V) Was born!
RIOT (V) continued writing and releasing music honoring their legacy. 2014’s fiery Unleash The Fire was followed by 2018’s furious Armor Of Light full-length which saw the band hit the official German album chart for the very first time in their prominent history at position 27. The success of Armor Of Light not only allowed the band the opportunity to perform around the world, but it also made their fans hungry for more. Heavy metal warriors rejoice, RIOT (V) is proud to announce that new music is finally coming through their new label home of Atomic Fire Records!
Original Thundersteel bassist/songwriter Donnie Van Stavern, who currently manages and handles affairs for the band, states, “Metal warriors, I’m pleased to announce that we have signed with the mighty Atomic Fire Records! Markus Wosgien and Flori Milz are not only label reps but friends and know our vision for the future of the band! The [upcoming album] was recorded in New York, Texas, and Michigan, and mixed in New Jersey with Bruno Ravel (Danger Danger) who produced the comeback Immortal Souland mastered in Germany by Bart Gabriel. Look for the new release in early 2024. We just finished it and it will be another crusher!”
Atomic Fire Records A&R Markus Wosgien raves, “We’re incredibly proud to reunite with RIOT (V)! After parts of our team had been working on their Armor Of Light campaign, we’re even happier that the band have decided to continue their path with the same crew. RIOT (V) is definitely one of the greats and only get better with age, although they’ve released so many true classics throughout their long-time career, starting in 1976, my year of birth. There’s a special magic connecting Donnie, Mike, Todd, Frank and Nick that actually makes every new record a milestone in the group’s history, and in my opinion, they’re one of the very best heavy metal acts of all time and are set to deliver yet another excellent opus with their upcoming album.”
With Atomic Fire Records behind the band and with many more releases to come, as well as reissues on Sony Music, EMI Records, and Metal Blade Records, RIOT (V) is consistently on radio and metal charts worldwide. The band has also been listed among “New York City’s Top 20 Most Influential Metal Bands,” “100 Best Metal Bands Of All Time,” and numerous mentions on classic episodes of VH1’s That Metal Show with Eddie Trunk with staff sighting RIOT (V) as one of the innovators of heavy metal music in America and beyond. Additionally, 2018 saw RIOT (V) inducted into the Metal Hall Of Fame with the likes of Ronnie James Dio, Randy Rhoads, Lemmy Kilmister, and Black Sabbath, among others!
RIOT (V) truly are metal soldiers and will keep marching and fighting the good fight to bring you the music you’ve come to know, love, and expect… are you ready to RIOT?
RIOT (V): Todd Michael Hall – vocals Mike Flyntz – guitars Nick Lee – guitars Don Van Stavern – bass Frank Gilchriest – drums
RIOT (V) Live:
9/28/2023 Blades Of Steel Metalfest 3 @ Crucible – Madison, WI [Tickets]
Los Angeles’ own True Heavy Metal Festival returns October 14-15, 2023 at the Garden Amphitheater in beautiful, sunny Garden Grove, CA! LA’s GATES OF METAL FESTIVAL III features a quality mix of Traditional, Thrash, Power, Speed, Death, Black, Doom, NOWTHM and Classic Heavy Metal bands on two stages!
The venue features a fan-friendly open air stage and a badass indoor stage, as well as metal merchants, vendors, five bars, and food options, all presented in an all ages European-style Heavy Metal festival.
Voted Best Concert Venue in 2018 by OC Weekly, the Garden Amphitheater is conveniently located near the Santa Ana, Long Beach and LAX Airports. If you’re looking for a destination Festival to plan around and attend, THIS IS IT!
The Fest will Feature Special Heavy Metal Performances by Legendary bands, including:
RIOT SADISTIC INTENT HAIL MARY (The Original Triple Axe Attack – Performing a Classic LEATHERWOLF Set) EVIL DEAD HEATHEN VICIOUS RUMORS SIGLOS (Featuring SIN QUIRIN formerly of Ministry) RESISTANCE IRONFLAME HELL FIRE ANGER AS ART HAUNT FUELED BY FIRE STYGIAN CROWN RUTHLESS BONDED BY BLOOD SABER ADAMANTIS INTRANCED
RIOT: Chapter 5, Back for the Attack! Extensive press release coming soon as well as info and samples for the 2014 release on SPV/ Steamhammer (US, Euro) and Avalon/ Marquee (Asia)! Thank you FANS for your support! Thank You Mark, this is for YOU and dedicated to YOU! Shine on Metal Warrior!
Mark Reale, founder and guitarist for RIOT passed away on January 25, 2012, at age 56. Mark was also the cofounder and guitarist for the Hard Rock band Westworld. The following is a direct quote from The Official Web Site of Mark Reale:
“Our brother Mark Reale went home to be with our Lord this day, January 25th, 2012 after a long battle and complications from Crohns disease”. You can read more by clicking here: Mark Reale – Official Web Site
RIOT originates from New York City. Mark Reale and RIOT have influenced and shaped the foundation of American Power Metal, not to mention influencing countless musicians and bands the world over. The Heavy Metal of RIOT and musicianship of Mark Reale will forever be one of a kind. Metal Odyssey expresses condolences to the family, bandmates, friends and fans of Mark Reale. May Mark Reale rest in peace.
RIOT – RIOT LIVE, was sitting there, on vinyl no less, in a pile of other vintage albums from years long past. In the middle of this antiques mall, there I staked claim to a rare and never seen by my eyes before, RIOT EP… and it was a live EP too! I decided to take a look around this antiques mall this past Sunday, not knowing what I might come across for Metal treasures. For five bucks, (U.S.), I did not hesitate to take this piece of Heavy Metal history home. The funny part of finding this RIOT album is that a Telly Savalas –Who Loves Ya, Baby? album was resting right against it! Whoa, that’s funky stuff… God rest Telly Savalas’s soul. Another funny part of this whole scenario is… someone out there will eventually buy that Telly Savalas album and be just as psyched about their find as I am about mine. Beauty is in the eye of the respective music beholder, in my case it is Old School Heavy Metal vinyl… that is rather… rare. It’s no secret that I own a turntable, uh, a few of them. Buying these Heavy Metal Vinyl Classics are to be enjoyed, by dropping that old needle down on those aging grooves.
These songs are live alright, they are Old School raw too. As I played this album for the first time, I could here the excitement resonating in the air during these live RIOT songs. I can understand that excitement, RIOT has always been a respected Hard & Heavy band, regardless of lineup changes through the years. RIOT has that early years of Metal vibe happening on this EP, I can hear and feel the roots of Heavy Metal from these songs. Despite the NWOBHM sound that was swarming across the Atlantic back in the very late ’70’s and early ’80’s, RIOT was American made. This was a RIOT band with four studio albums under their belt as of 1982 – Rock City (1977), Narita (1979), Fire Down Under (1981) and Restless Breed (1982).
Swords And Tequila is from the studio album the 1981 studio album – Fire Down Under. The other five songs on RIOT LIVE are from the 1982 studio album – Restless Breed.
The Track Listing For RIOT LIVE from 1982:
Hard Lovin’ Man
Showdown
Loved By You
Loanshark
Restless Breed
Swords And Tequila
* RIOT LIVE was released on Electra Records.
* You can hear Restless Breed from RIOT LIVE and many more RIOT songs from their catalog of albums, streaming on the RIOT MySpace Music Page by clicking here: RIOT – MySpace Music Page
Here is what the front cover of this album jacket for RIOT LIVE looks like:
* The bottom line of type on the front cover of RIOT LIVE reads: Limited Edition – Manufacturer Suggested List Price $4.98. That’s cool… I paid 2 cents more than it’s original 1982 price. (Granted, the condition of this vintage vinyl that I acquired is no longer mint).
Using an iphone to take this picture of my RIOT LIVE EP, the black background with the bright red type made for difficulty in clarity. The album jacket itself has worn edges and a few worn spots, that’s o.k. by me, it goes to show this RIOT EP was once loved hard by some other fan. Despite these imperfections of the album jacket, I still am Metal pleased to have found a copy of this RIOT LIVE EP. The album jacket’s back cover is a solid black, with the Elektra Records logo on the bottom center. Taking a pic of this back cover would not make much sense for it’s blankness. (In other words, there’s nothing to look at with the back cover).
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