A longtime leader of New York City's heavy metal scene, Riot enjoyed international success during the 1980s, with albums like 1981's Fire Down Under and 1988's Thundersteel charting well in America, Japan, and beyond. The band formed in New York City in 1975, with guitarist Mark Reale piecing together a lineup that included drummer Peter Bitelli and vocalist Guy Speranza. The debut album Rock City was released in 1977, and Speranza remained the band's frontman for two additional albums, including Fire Down Under. Released by Elektra, Fire Down Under charted at number 49 in America. A new vocalist, Rhett Forrester, took Speranza's place beginning with 1982's Restless Breed, but declining sales led to the band's breakup in 1984. Reuniting with a new lineup in 1986, Riot returned to the Billboard 200 with 1988's Thundersteel, which charted at number 150. As new albums followed during the successive decades, so did new singers. Todd Michael Hall joined the lineup in 2013, becoming the fifth frontman to lead the group. His era proved to be commercially successful, with 2018's Armor of Light charting at number 71 in Austria, number 27 in Germany, and number 56 in Switzerland. Due to Mark Reale's death in 2012, Hall also became one of Riot's de facto leaders, joining longtime members like bassist Don Van Stavern and guitarist Mike Flyntz in shaping subsequent albums like Mean Streets, which charted at number 22 in Japan upon its release in mid-2024.
