Quiet Riot bassist Rudy Sarzo recently spoke about the band’s new singer, John Torra. Torra was announced as the replacement for Jizzy Pearl. Sarzo described him as an ’80s old soul, in comments shared by Don Sill.
Sarzo recalled a moment when Torra showed him photos of his bedroom. The pictures revealed a deep and genuine ’80s aesthetic rather than a stage persona. Sarzo explained that the singer’s style predates his time in Quiet Riot.
“So he starts showing me photos of his bedroom. He’s staying with his family, you know? And I’m looking at him and going, Oh my God, this is an ’80s bedroom. He’s like an ’80s kid,” Sarzo said.
He then addressed the common misconception that Torra’s look is tied to the band or to its late frontman, Kevin DuBrow. Sarzo said the singer has always dressed this way.
“People think that he’s trying to dress like Kevin Dubrow because he’s in Quiet Riot. No! He’s been doing that all along. Yeah. This is the real deal. I’m going like, This is unbelievable. And I’m looking at all the posters in his bed. It’s all ’80s stuff. He’s got one of Farrah Fawcett. Where do you find a Farrah Fawcett poster now? You know? I went, I can’t believe this. He listens. He carries a Walkman to his… And he’s like, You ask him? I go, Yeah. Yeah. That’s… He’s not even explaining it to you as to why.”
Quiet Riot announced the 23-year-old Long Island vocalist as its new lead singer on Sept. 21, 2026. The band chose him after an open call that drew more than 700 submissions. He replaces Jizzy Pearl, who fronted the group from 2013 to 2016 and again from 2019 to 2026. Pearl announced in July that he would leave after the band fulfilled its 2026 tour dates.
“Quiet Riot are proud to announce their new lead singer, John Torra.”
Torra was not a newcomer to the stage when the band called. He had already fronted the New Jersey metal band Fire ‘N Ice. His love of the era began early. He became interested in ’80s music at age 11, when his father let him listen to Van Halen. In high school, he played cassettes on a Sony Walkman. His favorites included Quiet Riot, Cinderella, Van Halen, Led Zeppelin and Rainbow. That history fits Sarzo’s description of a singer who carries a Walkman and lives the decade.
Torra now stands alongside Sarzo on bass, guitarist Alex Grossi and drummer Johnny Kelly. He made his live debut with Quiet Riot on Oct. 1, 2026, at the Cherokee Event Center in West Siloam Springs, Oklahoma. The show opened the band’s 2026–2027 tour, and early reaction to his performance has been positive.
