Jimmy Kay from Canada The Metal Voice spoke to original RIOT Guitarists Lou Kouvaris and Rick Ventura. The two spoke about launching their new band Riot Act at the Metal Hall of Fame 2020 Gala, recording new music, their upcoming shows and the premiering of their new music video of the Classic Riot song ‘Swords & Tequila’.

Watch the interview below.

Watch the Video Premiere of Swords and Tequila here:

When asked about how they found their singer for Riot Act
“I asked a friend of mine  if he knew any singers and he goes you know you could try this guy but  he’s very busy playing in like three of the four bands and one was a journey tribute band.  I said okay so I gave him a call and I told him the situation and he was very receptive.  I told them that I was in a band  playing with my partner Rick Ventura  and we wanted to play the first, second and third Riot Albums, which is Rock City, Narita and Fire Down Under and we have a gigs in Greece. He said he was very interested  and I had his ear for about an hour and we got along like two little birds. So then Rick and I went to his studio and we auditioned him and he was blown away by how together Rick and I  and the rest of the band were. And we were impressed with him.  It’s one of those things that just gels instantly and as soon as we started playing he interpreted the song so perfectly and we just had this vibe. It’s like the typical story you know you get the right bunch of guys together you hit a chord it’s like yeah…. that’s it…. We all looked at each other and go wow! ” Lou Kouvaris

When asked about the Riot Act live Set list 
“It’s going to be a songs from the first three records of Riot, a good selection of stuff that some people may not  or may have never have heard. Just  the fact that Lou and I are playing these classic songs has never been done.  I think fans will get a kick out of hearing both of us together, like I said a good selection from first three records of Riot, Rock City, Narita and Fire Down Under, ” Rick Ventura

When asked about their first official shows
“We will be officially launching the band on January 15 2020 at the Metal Hall of Fame Gala in California and then there will be a mini tour of Greece, three dates confirmed  March 13th in Athens, that’ll be at the Up The Hammers Festival next one in  Nicosia Cyprus that’s gonna be on the I believe the 17th on a Tuesday and then on the 20th Friday of March check our website for more dates. RiotActBand.com. ” Lou Kouvaris

When asked about recording new material and the musical direction
“Rick has plenty of ideas and I have plenty of ideas and I think in about one years time we should have an album out, “Lou Kouvaris

You know Riot was high-energy hard rock  bordering on metal. The new music is going to sound  like an extension or a continuation of what we’ve always done. ” Rick Ventura

When asked how fans will receive another Riot Band
“I think Riot fans will always know Riot as Guy Speranza and Mark Reale as they were an important part of Riot history as they were the writing team of Riot.  Lou and I contributed songs to Riot and we were there from the beginning I  think fans will appreciate us playing those classic tunes because we were the guys that played on those early records. You’re never going to bring back Guy or Mark or Rhett so it’s like not really that same band because key members are gone but we were there from the beginning so the spirit of band lives on in us and that’s what people pick up on.” Rick Ventura

“I think one thing that that will will be evident is the fact that the sound that Rick and I have is basically the true sound of what Riot was back in the day, there’s no question. You’re gonna hear that in the  music video we just did with Swords and Tequila. Riot V  are our friends and what they do is fantastic and we support them.  I mean they gave us a thumbs up on doing this they had no qualms about what we’re doing so I’m pretty happy about that. ” Lou Kouvaris

Riot Act are:

Lou Kouvaris Guitar L.A co-wrote several of Riot’s anthem style songs on both their debut album “Rock City” and the second album “Narita” which took Japan and Europe by storm. Lou had shared the stage and toured with Journey Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Neil Young Mark Farner Neil Smith & Rick Derringer to name a few.

Rick Ventura Guitar played, recorded and wrote on the Riot albums Narita, Fire Down Under, Restless Breed, and Born in America touring the world with the likes of AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Rush and so on.

Don Chaffin-Vocalist has toured the U.S.A. opening for Godsmack, Foreigner, Disturbed, Alice in Chains, Powerman 5000, Dr. John, Steve Howe of Yes, Robbie Krieger of The Doors , Vanilla Fudge and more. Don is the Lead Vocalist for the new band RED LAMB which features Dan Spitz ( dcpic Anthrax ) and is co-produced by Dave Mustaine (Megadeth) Don is also the Lead Vocalist for Voices of Extreme (formally co-managed by Nicko McBrain of Iron Maiden).

Paul Ranieri – Bass He has played and recorded with dozens of artists, recently Mondo Electro, Stratopheerius and Emmy Award winning Electric Violinist Mark Wood and is also a Band leader, Clinician, Teacher and Music Director.

Claudio Galinski – Drums as part of the Argentinian Heavy Metal scene in the 80’s with his Thrash Metal Band ULTRAJE, sharing stages with such bands as Hermetica , Horcas, Lethal and Others.