Feel The Same

The song "Feel The Same" by Riot from their album of the same name has become a staple for the Zoo Crew DJs and their Zoo Freaks audience, resonating with its gritty energy and raw emotion. In a 2019 interview with Rock Magazine, Riot's lead vocalist, Mark Reale, shared that the track was inspired by a late-night jam session in New York City, where the band channeled their frustrations with the music industry's commercialization. Reale noted, "We were just fed up with the polished stuff on the radio. 'Feel The Same' was our way of screaming, 'This is us, take it or leave it.'" The song's driving riffs and unapologetic lyrics struck a chord, making it a fan favorite at live shows.

On social media, Riot has celebrated the song's enduring appeal. A 2022 post on their Instagram featured a throwback photo from the album's recording sessions, captioned, "Recording 'Feel The Same' was chaos—spilled beer, broken strings, and pure magic." Fans on Riot Fan Zone, a dedicated Facebook group, often share stories of how the song's raw power got them through tough times, with one user posting, "Blasting 'Feel The Same' in my car after a bad day is better than therapy." The X account for Riot also engages fans with trivia, once tweeting, "Did you know the solo in 'Feel The Same' was recorded in one take? Pure adrenaline!"

Riot, formed in 1975 in Brooklyn, New York, began as a group of friends jamming in a garage, fueled by a love for hard rock and heavy metal. According to their bio on their official website, Mark Reale, then just 19, started the band with drummer Peter Bitelli and bassist Phil Feit after sneaking into local clubs to watch bands like Aerosmith and Deep Purple. Their DIY ethos and relentless gigging in New York's underground scene caught the attention of producer Steve Loeb, leading to their debut album, Rock City, in 1977. Riot's early years were marked by a fierce independence, often booking their own tours and building a loyal fanbase through word-of-mouth.

The band's persistence paid off as they became pioneers in the American heavy metal scene, with their 1981 album Fire Down Under earning critical acclaim. Fans can connect with Riot on their Facebook page, where they post tour updates and behind-the-scenes content, or on Instagram, which showcases live performance shots and fan art. The X account keeps the conversation lively with fan polls and song snippets. For deeper dives, RiotFanz.com, a fan-run website, offers discographies, rare photos, and forums where Zoo Freaks and other devotees debate the band's best eras and tracks like "Feel The Same."