Quiet Riot has closed its search for a new lead singer, naming 23-year-old Long Island vocalist John Torra as the successor to Jizzy Pearl. The announcement, issued September 21, 2026, comes after an open call that drew more than 700 submissions from North American singers.
Pearl, who fronted the band in two separate stints (2013–2016 and 2019–2026), announced his departure in mid-July, saying he would finish the remaining 2026 dates before moving on to other projects. His final show with Quiet Riot was September 18. The band immediately began accepting materials for a vocalist “for 2027 and beyond.” Jason McMaster of Dangerous Toys filled in for two late-summer dates while the search continued.
Torra, who fronts the New Jersey hair-metal band Fire ’N Ice, sent audition videos to management and posted performances online. Covers of Quiet Riot staples such as “Metal Health (Bang Your Head)” spread quickly in hair-metal circles and drew support from fans and veteran musicians. Manager Regina Banali, widow of longtime drummer Frankie Banali, said the online buzz was noted but not decisive.
“We saw your comments, tags, and messages urging us to bring him on board. But what earned John the gig was his undeniable talent,” Banali said in the official statement. “His videos were outstanding—but when he stepped into the room with us, he blew the doors off our songs. We all heard it: an authentic sound that brings our material to life the way it’s meant to be heard.”
She added: “He may be young, but he’s dedicated and professional. He brings a breath of fresh air that lifts us all, and we couldn’t be more excited about the future with him on lead vocals. Please join us in welcoming John Torra to Quiet Riot.”
Torra becomes the eighth full-time lead singer in the band’s history since its 1975 formation and the sixth since original frontman Kevin DuBrow died in 2007. He joins a lineup that has been relatively stable since 2021: classic-era bassist Rudy Sarzo, guitarist Alex Grossi, and drummer Johnny Kelly (formerly of Type O Negative).
His first official date with Quiet Riot is October 1 at the Cherokee Event Center in West Siloam Springs, Oklahoma. The fall run continues October 3 at Family Arena in St. Charles, Missouri, with additional U.S. and Canadian dates through November and a Latin American tour booked for April 2027, including Mexico City, Bogotá, Lima, Santiago, Buenos Aires, and São Paulo’s Bangers Open Air.
For a catalog built on Metal Health, “Cum On Feel the Noize,” and decades of lineup turnover, the choice of a 23-year-old with a documented feel for the material is a calculated bet on energy as much as fidelity. Torra now has to prove it onstage, starting in two weeks.
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