R.I.P. Mark Reale, June 7th 1955 - January 25th 2012

More sad news in the metal/hard rock world. Mark Reale the founding guitarist of the great band RIOT has passed away. The band's stated through their website at www.riotcity.com yesterday that they are "deeply saddened to confirm that Mark has lost his battle with a lifelong illness" Mark had been Crohn's disease for most of his life and was "working and performing while enduring almost constant pain and the side effects of treatment for his illness" . Mark was only 57 years old.

Mark is seen on the far right in this promo photo

Riot were basically the closest thing to NWOBHM that came out of America. Anyone out there who does not know about Riot, please go out there and find a copy of Fire Down Under. In addition, the albums Narita and Rock City are also under appreciated gems that are more in the rock vein. The album Thundersteel is also a heavy metal classic that deserves a listen and I have noticed that recently this album in particular is getting the respect it deserves in the metal record trading community.

I am saddened not only as a Riot fan, but also because this disease hits close to home, my wife was also diagnosed with this disease last month, though treatment has advanced a bit since Mark was first diagnosed with this disease. 

Here is a killer track off of their first album