Died On This Date (January 25, 2012) Mark Reale / Founder of Riot
themusicsover Mark Reale
June 7, 1955 – January 25, 2012
Mark Reale was a guitarist who is best remembered as the founder of and creative force behind influential hard rock band, Riot. Born in New York City, Reale began putting the group together in 1975. Two years later, they released their acclaimed debut album, Rock City. Before they knew it, they were touring with the likes of KISS, Molly Hatchet, AC/DC, Sammy Hagar, and Rush. In 1981, they released Fire Down Below which is considered their masterpiece and one of the defining metal albums of the early ’80s. Reale disbanded Riot in 1984 and started another band, Narita, but reformed it a couple of years later. Riot continued to perform and record through the fall of 2011 when they released their latest album, Immortal Soul. Mark Reale, was 56 when he died from complications of Crohn’s Diseased on January 25, 2012. Former band mate Rhett Forrester was the victim of an unsolved carjacking/murder in 1994, while original lead singer, Guy Speranza died of pancreatic cancer in 2003.
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David Gold was the founder and lead singer/guitarist for Ontario, Canada doom metal band, Woods Of Ypres. Formed as a trio in 2002, the band released a handful of critical and fan favorite albums on Gold’s own Krankenhaus Records. Their black and dark metal songs, which have been described as a “metallised Pink Floyd, helped build a legion of fans over the years. In 2010, just as rumors of the group’s demise were circulating, they signed with Earache Records who is scheduled to release their latest offering in January 2012. David Gold was reportedly killed in a car accident in Ontario, Canada on December 22, 2011. He was 31.
Barry Clayton was known to many a-headbanger as the sinister voice that opens Iron Maiden’s epic song, “The Number Of The Beast.” Released in 1982 and from the album of the same name, the song begins with Clayton hauntingly reciting an excerpt from the Book Of Revelations –
Cory Smoot, or as he’s better known to fans, Flattus Maximus, was the lead guitarist for notorious heavy metal band, GWAR. Formed in 1984, GWAR built a legion of fans due in part to their over-the-top sci-fi inspired costumes and comic book violence that ran through their lyrics and live shows. Not an original member, Smoot joined the band in 2002 and was the longest running Flattus Maximus in the band’s history. Besides playing on every album since he joined, Smoot helped with production and mixing duties as well. He can be heard singing lead on the band’s “Release The Flies.” As reported by 