INTERVIEW: Checking in with Riot (V)’s Don Van Stavern
Photo: Riot (V) recently released the new album Mean Streets. Photo courtesy of Tom Flynn / Provided by Earsplit PR with permission.
The legendary heavy metal band Riot has gone through many incarnations over the years, and the current lineup is known as Riot (V). At the helm of the band is longtime bassist Don Van Stavern, who has been excited all this year for the band’s new album, Mean Streets, which was recently released on Atomic Fire Records / Reigning Phoenix Music.
On the new recording effort, the band members decided to change up the sound a bit from previous albums. They are not producing a sound that is pure metal anymore; instead, they offer a welcome combination of rock ‘n’ roll and power metal, harkening back to some of the earlier Riot records.
“This is the 17th Riot record,” Van Stavern said in a recent Zoom interview. “We’re excited about it.”
Joining the bass player in the band are Todd Michael Hall on vocals, Mike Flyntz on guitars, Nick Lee on guitars and Frank Gilchriest on drums. They each have their own unique story on how they were welcomed into the Riot family. For Van Stavern, that journey began in the 1980s when he joined the New York City band during a momentous time period. His first release was the well-received and much-loved album Thundersteel. Flyntz’s time with the band also goes back to the 1980s, and together the five musicians carry on the legacy of original members Mark Reale, Guy Speranza and the many other players over the years.
Riot (V) would have released a new album sooner than 2024 — the last one was 2018’s Armor of Light — but the COVID-19 pandemic got in the way of the band’s plans. Van Stavern said that when record shops were closed due to the infectious virus, fans couldn’t easily purchase physical vinyl copies. Also, the band likes to tour when a new album releases, much like other groups. It’s that old strike-while-the-iron-is-hot adage.
“With us, we like to put a record out and then go play and tour,” he said. “We did a couple little spot dates, but every country had different rules for the COVID thing. You know what, let’s take our time. So within that we wrote like 20 songs, and then we picked the best dozen.”
During that six-year hiatus, the band also moved over to Atomic Fire Records / Reigning Phoenix Music. “Our A&R team made the label, so we thought it was a smart move to go with the people that were into Riot,” Van Stavern said. “Three producers later we found the right one.”
The quest to find the right producer was mainly because the band wanted to change up the sound a bit. Van Stavern and company were after a mix of rock and power metal, what the bass player called “old-school Riot.” They landed on Bruno Ravel, who recorded and mixed the album. They knew him well because of his previous work with the members.
“He did the Thundersteel comeback album, Immortal Soul, so the record label really wanted him,” the bass player said. “Finally he found time, and we got the sound and the songs we wanted. So it took a while, but here we are.”
Originally Mean Streets, which features the songs “High Noon” and “Feel the Fire,” was meant to be released Feb. 16 of this year. The band was building excitement for the big date, and they even released a lyric video for the first single, “High Noon.” But then the label decided to push the album a few months. During the in-between time, while waiting for the songs to finally be released, Riot (V) recored another music video, this one for “Feel the Fire.”
“We said, well, let’s go ahead and get the other video out,” he said. “The buzz seems cool. We were going to do ‘Feel the Fire’ first to show a different side of Riot. … On this one, we wanted to be a little more diverse showing the power metal and rock heritage from the early days, but the label was scared about releasing something real rock.”
That hesitation led to “High Noon” being the first single and the riskier “Feel the Fire” being the second song. A video or “Mean Streets” has now been released as well. Fans seem to be digging each of these tunes.
“I think a lot of the fans like it,” Van Stavern said of the music video for “Feel the Fire.” “There’s been a couple of people looking at it a little bit strange, but for the most part, it’s good. It’s a different song.”
And now after waiting six years, fans have the chance to enjoy new tunes from Riot (V) once again.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Riot (V) recently released the new album Mean Streets on Atomic Fire Records / Reigning Phoenix Music. Click here for more information.
