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When iconic heavy metal band Quiet Riot recently announced they had found their new lead singer, a young native Long Island metalhead, the island’s rock world was set abuzz.
John Torra, a 23-year-old vocalist from North Massapequa and the lead singer of New Jersey band Fire ‘N Ice, was among more than 700 submissions following the band’s open call for singers.
Torra had sent his audition videos to Quiet Riot’s management and shared performances online, where, by all accounts, they went viral and sparked an avalanche of astonished responses from fans who couldn’t believe how close Torra was to original lead singer Kevin Dubrow.
Check out Torra’s audition reel for the band’s smash hit “Cum on Feel the Noize”
After all, Torra, at the tender age of 23, wasn’t around in the bands’ “Metal Health” heydays of the early 1980s
But Torra told Newsday he was listening to Quiet Riot’s 1983 blockbuster album “Metal Health” at age 12.
He said it was the album he routinely played in his headphones from “start to finish,” even falling asleep to it.
“We saw your comments, tags, and messages urging us to bring him on board. But what earned John the gig was his undeniable talent,” band manager Regina Banali said, reacting to Torra’s audition reels’ viral popularity.
Benali was married to the band’s longtime drummer Frankie Banali, who died in 2020 from pancreatic cancer.
“His videos were outstanding, but when he stepped into the room with us, he blew the doors off our songs,” she said.
“We all heard it: an authentic sound that brings our material to life the way it’s meant to be heard. He may be young, but he’s dedicated and professional,” Benali continued. “He brings a breath of fresh air that lifts us all, and we couldn’t be more excited about the future with him on lead vocals.”
Torra will perform with the band’s current members Rudy Sarzo, Alex Grossi and Johnny Kelly at their upcoming tour dates throughout October. Shows are scheduled for venues across the country, as well as in Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Chile and Brazil.
Quiet Riot was originally formed in Los Angeles in 1973 by guitarist Randy Rhoads, bassist Kelly Garni and vocalist Kevin Dubrow, who died in 2007 following a cocaine overdose.
While navigating several breakups, reformations and an array of lineup changes, the band has managed to release 14 studio albums and has sold over 15 million records worldwide.
Several music industry insiders commented on Torra’s use of social media to help pave the road to Quiet Riot’s lead singer spot.
“I think John Torra’s story and his landing the Quiet Riot gig is something aspiring musicians should take note of,” said Raine Stern, a former contestant on NBC’s “The Voice.”
“In Torra’s case, what really aided him was that his audition wasn’t a quiet submission; it was a public one. He put it out into the world and let people weigh in,” she continued. “And regardless of what the rules of an audition might be, having hundreds or thousands of people tagging a band, sharing your performance, and saying, ‘You need to see this person’ is hard to ignore.”
Dane White of the metal band CyberScream said Torra is the perfect fit for Quiet Riot.
“Social media can present opportunities that allow a guy like John to shine with his talent and understanding of a genre way beyond his years — and simultaneously give Quiet Riot another go around the track, playing to a whole new audience,” White said. “For the modern musician, our profile pages are now our resumes. Our references are now the world. For all its flaws, social media is still an important weapon in any musician’s arsenal.”
Gene Bowen, a retired tour manager and the founder of roadrecovery.org, a music industry nonprofit dedicated to helping young people battle addiction and other adversities, said the days of being discovered in a music venue are a thing of the past.
“Today, the more social media followers, views, and likes, the modern version of a fan base, the quicker the internet surfing music industry is sure to discover you,” he said. “The question is: Does the number of likes and followers determine great talent or savvy self-promotion?”
Alexander Almgren, a producer and founder of Freshly Baked Studios in Brooklyn, noted that “An audition video is a demo tape with a view count, and I think that’s mostly good news.”
“The gatekeeper used to be one A&R person with a stack of CDs, and now a band gets to watch thousands of strangers react to a singer before they commit to anybody,” Almgren stressed. “What I’d tell a kid on Long Island with a phone is that the video gets you the call and the room keeps you there.
“A clip proves you hit it once with the lighting right. So post the audition, absolutely, and then go stand in front of people who can hear you breathe,” he added.
The current Quiet Riot tour doesn’t have any Long Island stops on its schedule. The closest they will come for now is Uncasville, Connecticut.
Top: John Torra (Instagram/@john_torra)
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