How Massapequa's John Torra scored Quiet Riot lead singer gig

At age 12, John Torra, of North Massapequa, grew up listening to Quiet Riot’s 1983 multiplatinum album, "Metal Health."

"It was the album I’d always play in my headphones from start to finish," Torra, 23, told Newsday. " ‘Metal Health’ is one of those records you never get tired of. At night, I’d even fall asleep to it."

This week Torra was named the new lead singer of Quiet Riot after the band held open call auditions in an effort to find a new frontman. Torra not only submitted his audition videos to management for consideration, he posted them online and they went viral. People were stunned at how close he sounded to Quiet Riot’s original lead singer, the late Kevin DuBrow, who died in 2007.

"While I’m trudging through these 700 plus emails and before I could even get to John’s, people are calling and texting about him," band manager Regina Banali, widow of late Quiet Riot drummer Frankie Banali, says. "The public outcry and swell of support was absolutely unprecedented. People were going nuts for him."

Even rock stars like Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins, Rikki Rocket from Poison, Michael Sweet from Stryper and Tracii Guns from L.A. Guns were reposting his videos and making boasting statements about Torra.

"Rock stars were telling us, ‘This guy is your guy,’ ” Banali says. "It’s almost like we couldn’t avoid him."

TORRA BACKGROUND

Torra’s musical taste stems from his father, Joey, who was a drummer in the band Lace followed by his own group called Torra, playing the New York clubs like L’Amour and Limelight.

As a teenager, Torra played local house parties in the cover band Chaos. But after posting an ad on the app BandMix, he found like-minded musicians to form his own original group, Fire ’N Ice, which released an EP, "Hypnotized," in 2024 followed by a full-length album, "High Roller," in 2025.

Torra submitted an audition to be lead singer of the band Skid Row in the spring but didn’t hear back. However, midsummer he decided to try his hand at singing Quiet Riot songs.

AUDITION PROCESS

After emailing his submission to Quiet Riot’s management, Torra posted his auditions of three QR songs ("Cum on Feel the Noize," "Metal Health (Bang Your Head)" and "Run for Cover") on YouTube and Instagram.

"I figured why not post it. I didn’t think anything of it," Torra says. "But once I put it up, people were like, ‘Whoa! This kid sounds just like Kevin DuBrow!’ As the day progressed my phone was about to explode."

However, people were skeptical. In the age of artificial intelligence, many thought he could be using studio software to make himself sound too perfect.

"I wasn’t sure how much of that was audio sweetening or how much blending he was doing," Banali says. "So I went to see him perform live with his band Fire ’N Ice at The Whiskey A Go Go in West Hollywood. They closed the show with ‘Metal Health (Bang Your Head)’ and he knocked it out of the park."

But Banali wanted to be sure Torra was the real deal, so she had an idea.

"After the Whiskey date, I asked him to send some raw a cappella clips of him singing a verse and chorus of several Quiet Riot songs with no music," Banali says. "Those were even better."

To provide variety, Torra sang different Quiet Riot songs like "Party All Night," "Slick Black Cadillac" and "Thunderbird."

"I sang it all in the original key doing my best Kevin DuBrow with no vocal effects," Torra says. "It was just me singing into my phone."

At this point, Banali felt it was time to fly Torra to Los Angeles to play with the band.

"We rehearsed with him for two days to see what it was like in the room," she says. "By the third song, we knew."

Torra adds, "I was definitely nervous but I felt good. I knew this was my moment and I gave it my all. I figured the worst thing that could happen is that I tried."

The band was thrilled with his performance and welcomed him into the fold.

"John just kept rising to the moment with every request we made," Banali says. "The band members were looking at each other smiling and winking at me giving the secret thumbs up."

AGE CONCERN

The one concern the band had was his age. At 23, Torra is significantly younger than bassist Rudy Sarzo, 75, guitarist Alex Grossi, 49, and drummer Johnny Kelly, 58.

"We were thinking he’s green and we are going to have to teach him everything. But we realized we’d rather have the great voice and mold him in every other way," Banali says, "Plus Rudy said, ‘These songs were written from the point of view of a young guy. Now to have a young frontman who is actually that age, he can sing them the way the songs were originally written.’ ”

Taking on the role of lead singer is quite a huge responsibility. However, following in the legendary footsteps of DuBrow is no easy feat. But Torra has the touch.

"Kevin DuBrow is very intense as a singer. He used a lot of chest voice. The louder he sings, his voice gets that rasp," Torra says. "I really studied him by listening to isolated vocal tracks from the studio records. It helped me understand how these songs are supposed to be sung."

Banali adds, "The way he embodies the sound of our songs makes them sound authentic. Almost like he was part of the band from the beginning."

LEAVING LONG ISLAND

Earlier this year Torra moved to Florida and is working at Guitar Center in West Palm Beach. He transferred from his position at Guitar Center in Selden.

"Long Island has gotten pricey and there isn’t any place that’s affordable to live. Florida had more opportunities for me," he says. "But I still miss Long Island. I love shopping at Looney Tunes Record Store in West Babylon, LI Pickers antique shop in Westbury and eating at the Embassy Diner in Bethpage."

Torra will be flying out to the West Coast for band rehearsals and touring with Quiet Riot in North America throughout the fall, followed by South America in the spring. There’s currently no Long Island date on the schedule, however, he hopes to bring the band over soon.

He says, "If Long Island wants Quiet Riot, we are there."

By David J. Criblez

david.criblez@newsday.comDavidJCriblez

David J. Criblez is a reporter for Newsday's exploreLI, covering entertainment-related events from local music to stand-up comedy to festivals.