John Torra tells The Hair Metal Guru how he got the Quiet Riot job as lead singer.
METAL SLUDGE / October 27th 2026 — In a brand new 70 minute interview with The Hair Metal Guru, John Torra tells listeners how he became Quiet Riot’s new lead vocalist.
Torra gives a complete play-by-play as to how it all unfolded and if you can’t get behind the newest 20-something to front one of the 80’s most recognizable heavy metal bands in Quiet Riot, you might be heart-less.
The kid as his bandmates call him, started his journey as a teenager and now he is no doubt one of the biggest stories in rock n’ roll in recent memory.
Torra’s energy and enthusiasm are infectious as he talks with his hands and tells The Guru how his dream became a reality.
One night as he sat in an Uber on his way to a gig with his band Fire ‘N Ice, his phone was ringing with a Los Angeles area code… that incoming call was Quiet Riot’s manager Regina Banali.
Over the next few weeks, Torra talks about having zoom-call-meetings online with Banali and guitarist Alex Grossi, which evolved into a 2-day live audition with the band.
Soon enough Torra was at a private lockout rehearsal studio in the Valley outisde Los Angeles with Rudy Sarzo, Grossi and Johnny Kelly, with Banali in tow, all of whom were watching his every move and listening intently.
The-23-year-old New Yorker with an Italian background says before the audition he studied countless videos online with every singer the band had featured over the years, including, classic era frontman the late Kevin DuBrow.
Torra seems very proud with his boyish smile as he shares with The Guru that by the 3rd song on audition day #1, he knew he was on the right track.
“I am singing the chorus (for) “Mama Weer All Crazee Now”, and I look in the corner of my eye and I see Rudy, and he’s playing his bass… smiling and nodding… it was like ‘Yes’, ‘Yes, this is great!'” says Torra.
Quiet Riot at ‘Grove of Anaheim‘ with Bill Ward of Black Sabbath and manager Regina Banali
The word is, that Torra passed all the tests with flying colors, even after the band pushed him to sing the full 15 song set 4 times over a pair of auditions…
But… Torra does admit, that before the audition he did ask Banali for her advice.
The band’s manager and Widow of the late Frankie Banali simply said; “Don’t F#@k up!”
Torra giggles as he retells the story and it appears he did not ‘F#@k up‘… and adds that Banali at some point also told him, “Frankie and Kevin would have been so proud of you.”
Torra did his homework for sure and even though he appeared to be confident going in, he does admit to having some nerves.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous… I had a lot going through my head… I was just really getting in a zone… I really told myself prior, you worked hard to get here, this is your chance.” added Torra.
Torra also says keeping his mouth shut, and secretly flying to Los Angeles was not easy.
He even had to bullsh!t a few friends about his whereabouts for that week, but it’s a safe bet they all understand now.
Now after a handful of live shows with the legendary Quiet Riot, including a Sold-Out appearance at the world-famous Whisky-A-Go-Go on the Sunset Strip, Torra’s future itinerary is growing.
In 2027, Quiet Riot will be performing all over the U.S. in addition to playing shows in Canada, Mexico, Peru, Colombia, Chile, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina and that’s just the start.
Quiet Riot walk the Purple Carpet at the ‘Back To The Beginning‘ movie premiere in Los Angeles as Special Guests of Sharon Osbourne & The Osbourne Family
And if that tour itinerary isn’t enough to get Torra excited, opening his email has its perks too.
Torra says he received a personal email and invite from Sharon Osbourne recently to attend the Purple Carpet for the Back to the Beginning premiere in Los Angeles.
That day included meeting Slash from Guns N’ Roses, Gene Simmons of KISS in addition to Osbourne herself and an endless list of rock royalty.
Not too shabby for a kid from Long Island who took his shot on Facebook with a bedroom vocal take on Quiet Riot classics back on July 15th.
Now… it’s safe to say, that wide-eyed kid from Long Island has made his mark and then-some.
The music industry has been put on notice, John Torra is here and it appears that Quiet Riot could not be more proud to have the new kid help bring the band forward.
Watch the full interview below with The Hair Metal Guru.
Stay tuned to Metal Sludge for more Breaking News, Updates and Features along with both New Interviews and Classic 20 Questions.
