Saw them in '78 in a dive club in a small town. Too young at the time to fully appreciate what I was seeing and hearing. Now I realize they were so ahead of their time and one of the most overlooked rock bands ever, especially on the first three albums. Guy Speranza was so deserving of a major career with that incredible voice which sounds eerily similar to Joe Elliot's. Mark Reale definitely should be mentioned alongside some of the early guitar greats like Michael Schenker and Ace Frehley. A tragically cursed band that should've been as big as the slew of 80's arena rock bands they undoubtedly influenced. Rock City still stands as one of the greatest debut rock albums of all time.
Guy was an incredible vocalist and frontman for Riot. He set the standard for this group. It's sad that he got so sick of the music industry that he never wanted to sing again. Such a great loss. I love his voice. He and Mark set the standard for this band. RIP to both.
1988, I was 15 years old, an older friend put these 3 albums on 2 tapes. they've been on heavy rotation not for weeks but for months. in the same year we've founded our first band, def influenced by Riot, also by the Stones (Tayler years), Kiss and the Guns n Roses debut. Well, what can i say, i'm 48 now, and the heavy rotation of these 3 albums is back! On spotify - the tapes are in a pretty box, hanging around with other great tape stuff, save and cool. Speranza? A damn good singer, unforgotten. these days the whole band sounded like tight but also dirty rock and rough and roll band. a shame modern bands always sound clean and almost perfect. More early Riot pleeease!
R.I.P Mark I got the Rock City Album on Import in 79' Saw Riot Live in Cardiff supporting Blue Oyster Cult in79' Amazing band Mark was a top draw guitarist Respect
This band captures what it felt like to be alive during the late 70s way beyond any other band from that time. Guy was the only singer that mattered as far as I am concerned. Threes epic albums then done.
I remember thinking this was a band from Japan because we only found them in the Import section....from Japan. Funny to find out they were from NYC (we were in PA). "Narita" & "Fire Down Under" are flawless...as is "Restless Breed". I'll be listening to them as long as I'm still breathing Oxygen. This video is a gem! RIP Mark, Guy & Rhett!
love seeing/hearing early riot. bootleg box set was recently released with 2 shows from before their fist album was even released and another show from 1978.
LA.... Thanks for posting this! I did the RIOT Web Page for several years back in the 1990s - early 2000s... one of your relatives used to email me alot... used to talk to some of Guys family as well... and of course Steve L... Later- Matt
Riot and their early output with speranza and Forrester is amazing. Stands here as great as the lps from similar artists like Rainbow, Motörhead, Whitesnake, Judas Priest, Scorpions, Van Halen, Nazareth, UFO, Thin Lizzy etc
onew of the hardest rockin bands of the 90's. Narita and Fire Down Under were the shit. the song Outlaw was in regular rotation on so. cal rock giant kmet and they werte right there . then...... guy was noi longer singing and Rhett was in and they still sounded real good but they just couldn't get over the top. same story as Y&T.
I thought the 1st 4 albums were excellent (Even Restless Breed) This is a great tune & an outstanding video! I lived in NJ in the late 70's & 80's. A buddy & myself use to follow them all around the NJ/NY area. I need to pick-up Narita on CD...Going to ebay right now. Thanks for the video. Good Stuff!
Thank you Lou, You were so awesome with Riot on those first few albums. I never understood why you guys broke up. The original line up was the best of any other version of Riot. You guys should have had it all..... and you didn't.
I remember seeing this on TV when I was little back in 77 or 78 in Japan. This was to promote their never to happen Japan Tour....which they finally came in the late 80s without Guy Speranza of course. what a shame
I was bummed when Lou was outed, then Pete. Great band, great influence on all the young musicians in their own community. They should have gone a lot further if it wasn't for the bad deal they got.
Thanks for the upload. Riot weren't that well known here in Britain but I did manage to see them in about 1981 when they opened for Saxon in Sheffield. Saxon were, (as expected) the loveable joke that helped inspire the 'Spinal Tap' film, but Riot were awesome (as expected). Guy Speranza was still with them then-what a great rock vocalist, such a shame that they were largely overlooked and, I suspect, much copied by many inferior bands that went on to huge commercial success in that awful era of spandex, hairspray and overproduced albums that was the 1980s!
Huh, Why do you say Saxon was a joke.? I mean they were not as good as say Judas Priest (my favorite) but they had some classic songs. They are far better than a lot of these metal bands of today. But yes, Riot was in my opinion, probably one of the best, if not the est American metal band. They were UFO influenced, and you can hear Schenker's influence in Reale's playing. They had no gimics, just great music, and the music industry wanted them to go glam, but they told them to fuck themselves. Dumb bastards, should just left them alone and let them be who they want, because it gave us great music I liked the Rhett Forester years too, his death was the most tragic, being shot and killed in Atlanta after he refused to give up his car after a carjacking
As Saxon are from Yorkshire, like myself, maybe that is why I couldn't take them seriously. . . but no, there are many other reasons: hilarious lines such as "The only speed we use is our car" (talking to the traffic police in 'Strong Arm Of The Law'), or the laughable schoolboy lyrics of 'And The Bands Played On', or Biff's half denim/half leather jacket, or his on stage banter "We'll have a crazy side and a wild side", or Paul Quinn's terrible wig, or song titles such as 'Piss Off;' and 'Party 'Til You Puke'. . . I rest my case! To be fair '747- Strangers In The Night' is a great song, and they had some other good songs, but still! Harmless, loveable and funny!
Portcullis Biff is funny. Didn't he invent his own religion based off the "Star Wars" movie? I have read that in Wikipedia, and figure he might be a litttle eccentric in his ways, like many of us are who are over 50. We all are pretty much human and have some kind of weird trait or mannerism that makes us so !
I don't know that they were not well known in Britain. Neal Kay promoted them quite a bit around 1980 and had a slot in the first Monsters of Rock festival.
its funny you mention saxon's schoolboy lyrics while commenting on "overdrive" which is definately schoolboy stuff!There's nothing wrong with this kind of lyrics really,it's just rock n roll themes,nothing more,nothing less.I believe they are spot on and as a matter of fact most of the bands were schoolboys in their prime anyway.simplicity,naivity, works for me and works with the music too.
Classic les paul sound. I really miss this kind of rock music...just straight forward in your face guitar rock!! I saw these guys in 1977 in Binghamton NY as part of an outdoor show that had Sanford Townsend Band, Heart, and Journey. Great show.
I can hear so many songs in this; Train Kept a Rollin', Victim of Love etc. I know that doesn't mean anything of course only that it reminded me of those songs.
RIP Lou Kouvaris!
R.I.P Lou Kouvaris
Rip legend Lou Kouvaris!!
Saw them in '78 in a dive club in a small town. Too young at the time to fully appreciate what I was seeing and hearing. Now I realize they were so ahead of their time and one of the most overlooked rock bands ever, especially on the first three albums. Guy Speranza was so deserving of a major career with that incredible voice which sounds eerily similar to Joe Elliot's. Mark Reale definitely should be mentioned alongside some of the early guitar greats like Michael Schenker and Ace Frehley. A tragically cursed band that should've been as big as the slew of 80's arena rock bands they undoubtedly influenced. Rock City still stands as one of the greatest debut rock albums of all time.
was it in victoria,tx.
sun valley, they played in 78 and 79
Guy was an incredible vocalist and frontman for Riot. He set the standard for this group. It's sad that he got so sick of the music industry that he never wanted to sing again. Such a great loss. I love his voice. He and Mark set the standard for this band. RIP to both.
Sun Valley, Victoria ,Texas
They played twice in late 70's (Attended both concerts)Hard rock heavy metal from New York City
They rocked!
Love it! I'm a huge fan of Riot's first 3 albums featuring Guy Speranza.
Me too!!! Plus the first onr with Forrester, restless breed, is great too
1988, I was 15 years old, an older friend put these 3 albums on 2 tapes. they've been on heavy rotation not for weeks but for months. in the same year we've founded our first band, def influenced by Riot, also by the Stones (Tayler years), Kiss and the Guns n Roses debut. Well, what can i say, i'm 48 now, and the heavy rotation of these 3 albums is back! On spotify - the tapes are in a pretty box, hanging around with other great tape stuff, save and cool.
Speranza? A damn good singer, unforgotten. these days the whole band sounded like tight but also dirty rock and rough and roll band. a shame modern bands always sound clean and almost perfect. More early Riot pleeease!
What a debut album they made!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Blew me and my friends away back in the days!!!!!
The most underrated singer in ROCK hard that is EVER, one of the GREATEST
Sadly, one of the most under--appreciated bands of all time. Kick Down the Walls and Shine On, Warriors. Keep this RIOT going on and on and on....
R.I.P Mark
I got the Rock City Album on Import in 79'
Saw Riot Live in Cardiff supporting Blue Oyster Cult
in79'
Amazing band
Mark was a top draw guitarist
Respect
Wow. Guy RIP, Mark RIP. Those first three Riot records I'll never get enough of. Liked the Rhett F years as well.
My dad was friends with these dudes when they were kids. He still is! Ive met them
This band captures what it felt like to be alive during the late 70s way beyond any other band from that time. Guy was the only singer that mattered as far as I am concerned. Threes epic albums then done.
Guy had that great Rock VOICE , great distinct SINGER ! R.I.P Guy ✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️
I remember thinking this was a band from Japan because we only found them in the Import section....from Japan. Funny to find out they were from NYC (we were in PA). "Narita" & "Fire Down Under" are flawless...as is "Restless Breed". I'll be listening to them as long as I'm still breathing Oxygen. This video is a gem! RIP Mark, Guy & Rhett!
Γεια σου ρε Μάγκα Ηλία...Good bye LOU..
Absolutely mega fantastic.
One of my favorite lead singer.
R.I.P men, what a band these cats were. Nothing ever like them. Never will be another RIOT. Shame, but thats life man! thank you for the post man.
A Greek guy (with moustache) in my favourite NYC band...Epic !!!!
Me too...
My favorite too. RIP Louie xox
Great Voice!
RIP Lou Kouvaris
He was my grand uncle
@@thornydevil3622 Very cool grand uncle. Condolences
@@pround22 I used to call him papa Louie 😂
@@pround22 thanks
Saw these guys live back in the day in Rhode Island.such a great band.So under appreciated. keep these videos going Riot lives on!
love seeing/hearing early riot. bootleg box set was recently released with 2 shows from before their fist album was even released and another show from 1978.
RIP Mark. A testament to never giving up your dreams.
Awesome singer, great song!
Holy Shit Guy Speranza just kills the vocals!!!! What a cut!!!!!
LA....
Thanks for posting this!
I did the RIOT Web Page for several years back in the 1990s - early 2000s... one of your relatives used to email me alot... used to talk to some of Guys family as well... and of course Steve L...
Later-
Matt
RIP Mark. No more pain.
I was at this show! I remember it well.
Riot and their early output with speranza and Forrester is amazing. Stands here as great as the lps from similar artists like Rainbow, Motörhead, Whitesnake, Judas Priest, Scorpions, Van Halen, Nazareth, UFO, Thin Lizzy etc
Fantastic! this is a treasure seeing this live vision from such a early period, and their best album, Narita was still 2 years away.
duel lead guitars great vocals these guys were the pioneers of nwobm PURE AMERICAN SAN ANTONIO TEXAS .
fantastic, under-rated band
Riot with Guy Speranza - accept no substitutes
onew of the hardest rockin bands of the 90's. Narita and Fire Down Under were the shit. the song Outlaw was in regular rotation on so. cal rock giant kmet and they werte right there . then...... guy was noi longer singing and Rhett was in and they still sounded real good but they just couldn't get over the top. same story as Y&T.
wow seeing this just out agigantic smile on my face. incredible that guy was!!!!! guy was the best man what a loss!!!!
AWESOME FOOTAGE R.I.P MARK
R. I. P Lou 😭❤️
Amazing !! New York Rocks !
The live footage is way KOOL!!!
Pure rock, that all!!!!! Love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The group deserves to be in a documentary.
I thought the 1st 4 albums were excellent (Even Restless Breed) This is a great tune & an outstanding video! I lived in NJ in the late 70's & 80's. A buddy & myself use to follow them all around the NJ/NY area. I need to pick-up Narita on CD...Going to ebay right now. Thanks for the video. Good Stuff!
this is the way music should be...
Thank you Lou, You were so awesome with Riot on those first few albums. I never understood why you guys broke up. The original line up was the best of any other version of Riot. You guys should have had it all..... and you didn't.
love ya mark
FN GREAT BAND!!!! RIOT RULES!!!
Simply rock and roll.
Riot fan! Love this vid!!
I remember seeing this on TV when I was little back in 77 or 78 in Japan. This was to promote their never to happen Japan Tour....which they finally came in the late 80s without Guy Speranza of course. what a shame
guy,rhett forester,and now mark himself...RIP Riot.
Such a mad band .
I was bummed when Lou was outed, then Pete. Great band, great influence on all the young musicians in their own community. They should have gone a lot further if it wasn't for the bad deal they got.
Killing it!
And now we have just Lou Kavaras today...what a loss...
AWESOME!!!
Thank You Kindly for sharing this Awesome video.
I played bass with Lou
71-74
Then I bought appliances from him in the 90’s
Thanks for the upload. Riot weren't that well known here in Britain but I did manage to see them in about 1981 when they opened for Saxon in Sheffield. Saxon were, (as expected) the loveable joke that helped inspire the 'Spinal Tap' film, but Riot were awesome (as expected). Guy Speranza was still with them then-what a great rock vocalist, such a shame that they were largely overlooked and, I suspect, much copied by many inferior bands that went on to huge commercial success in that awful era of spandex, hairspray and overproduced albums that was the 1980s!
Huh, Why do you say Saxon was a joke.? I mean they were not as good as say Judas Priest (my favorite)
but they had some classic songs. They are far better than a lot of these metal bands of today. But yes, Riot was
in my opinion, probably one of the best, if not the est American metal band. They were UFO influenced, and you can hear Schenker's influence in Reale's playing. They had no gimics, just great music, and the music industry wanted them to go glam, but they told them to fuck themselves. Dumb bastards, should just left them alone and let them be who they want, because it gave us great music I liked the Rhett Forester years too, his death was the most tragic, being shot and killed in Atlanta after he refused to give up his car after a carjacking
As Saxon are from Yorkshire, like myself, maybe that is why I couldn't take them seriously. . . but no, there are many other reasons: hilarious lines such as "The only speed we use is our car" (talking to the traffic police in 'Strong Arm Of The Law'), or the laughable schoolboy lyrics of 'And The Bands Played On', or Biff's half denim/half leather jacket, or his on stage banter "We'll have a crazy side and a wild side", or Paul Quinn's terrible wig, or song titles such as 'Piss Off;' and 'Party 'Til You Puke'. . . I rest my case! To be fair '747- Strangers In The Night' is a great song, and they had some other good songs, but still! Harmless, loveable and funny!
Portcullis
Biff is funny. Didn't he invent his own religion
based off the "Star Wars" movie? I have read that in Wikipedia, and figure he might be a litttle eccentric in his ways, like many of us are who are over 50. We all are pretty much human and have some kind of weird trait or mannerism that makes us so !
I don't know that they were not well known in Britain. Neal Kay promoted them quite a bit around 1980 and had a slot in the first Monsters of Rock festival.
its funny you mention saxon's schoolboy lyrics while commenting on "overdrive" which is definately schoolboy stuff!There's nothing wrong with this kind of lyrics really,it's just rock n roll themes,nothing more,nothing less.I believe they are spot on and as a matter of fact most of the bands were schoolboys in their prime anyway.simplicity,naivity, works for me and works with the music too.
rest in peace lou a louvaris
Classic les paul sound. I really miss this kind of rock music...just straight forward in your face guitar rock!! I saw these guys in 1977 in Binghamton NY as part of an outdoor show that had Sanford Townsend Band, Heart, and Journey. Great show.
I can hear so many songs in this; Train Kept a Rollin', Victim of Love etc. I know that doesn't mean anything of course only that it reminded me of those songs.
GRANDISSIMI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
excellent video!
WANDERFUL! Thank You So Much for This Stuff!!!
Great..ness !!!
Lou K !
you guys where better than all the media shit!....sign,,,a real cali rocker
Lou was my grand uncle my grandmas name is Christina kouvaris rip grand uncle. He died from COVID 19 😔😞
THE REAL DEAL!
Love the stage wear in the live footage - this is the style that metal bands of the late 70s were sporting before all the spandex crap took over.
they got em on amazon
These were maybe the "big moustache" years!
Mark still had a lot to learn
They are from New York m
Wow, wonder if this was at The Rock Palace in Brooklyn. Anyone know?
Fk yeah
The group is called Riot,
correct?
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The unknown history of 1977. Rock City schools Van Halen in every way possible.
I bet those guys had Physical Graffiti on the turntable constantly
Someone could please tell me the title of the strange movie in the intro?
MOTHRA ... it's one of the GODZILLA movie's dude ✌️
Hey pinco pal, You still out.. there? You got your answer, Only took ten years , lol
You need to reply.
Rock on!
Who is the guitarist on the left? He's good!
Rene Otten Louie Kouvaris - he’s awesome.
Great dueling lead axes, but I think that Kouvaris was a bit more melodic of the two.
ガイ・スペランザがサイババに見えた
Kouvaris was a fuckin guitarrist, died for a coronavirus covid19, very sad! STAY IN HOME!!!