Bringing The Darkness To The Light

Bringing The Darkness To The Light with Catherine Nadal

Guest John Torra - Lead Vocalist of Fire ‘N Ice

John Torra on Classic Rock Roots, Building a Band, and Bringing Glam Metal Back to the Stage

Catherine Nadal Welcomes John Torra of Fire ‘N Ice

In this episode of Bringing the Darkness to the Light, host Catherine Nadal welcomes John Torra, lead vocalist of Fire ‘N Ice. Catherine recalls seeing the band perform live at Dingbatz, where they appeared on a bill that included Ray West from Spread Eagle, and remembers being immediately struck by their crowd interaction and energy. She explains that the interview will introduce the band, promote its new album High Roller, and explore how John first became involved with music and eventually helped build Fire ‘N Ice.

Discovering Guitar, Singing, and the Sound of the ’80s

John says his musical journey began when he received his first guitar at age 13, initially inspired by guitar heroes such as Jimmy Page and Keith Richards. By age 15, he discovered that he could sing as well, eventually realizing music was the career he wanted to pursue. A turning point came when his father introduced him to Van Halen, while his uncle exposed him to bands including Cinderella, Dokken, and Ratt. John says he became fascinated by the visual style, high-energy performance, leather, teased hair, flashy guitar work, and celebratory spirit of the glam metal and hard rock scene.

Family Influence and Developing His Voice

John explains that music was already part of his family history. His father had been a drummer in bands influenced by Kiss, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Journey, Van Halen, Judas Priest, Ozzy Osbourne, and other classic hard rock acts. When John began playing, his father returned to the drums so they could jam together. John also credits his uncle as a brutally honest vocal mentor who pushed him to improve without formal lessons. Describing himself as something of a “parrot,” John says his childhood ability to imitate cartoon characters helped him learn to reproduce different vocal sounds, from the rasp of Tom Keifer to higher or more nasal styles associated with singers such as Sebastian Bach, Don Dokken, and Vince Neil. Over time, he worked to move beyond imitation and identify his own voice.

How Fire ‘N Ice Came Together

John describes the formation of Fire ‘N Ice as a determined effort to find musicians who shared his commitment to the music and image he loved. Frustrated by the limited original rock scene on Long Island, he posted an ad online and was contacted by musicians in New Jersey interested in bands such as Van Halen, Y&T, Cinderella, and Sweet. Although the first lineup did not last, John stayed in contact with bassist Mark and later connected with guitarist Shane and drummer Mike. When the four finally rehearsed together in January 2023, their first song was a cover of “Shout at the Devil.” John says the chemistry was immediate, especially after hearing Mike’s Tommy Lee-inspired drumming, and the band recognized that it had found its sound.

From Hypnotized to High Roller

The band’s first release was a four-song EP called Hypnotized, featuring “Rock This Night,” “Escape into the Night,” “Lust for Love,” and the title track. John explains that the EP was largely recorded and produced by the band themselves as an early demonstration of their style. After listeners responded positively and the group began playing frequent live shows, they decided to record a full album. The resulting album, High Roller, took about a year to complete and was recorded with producer Beto, who repeatedly challenged the band to improve each performance until the recording matched their vision. John says the album draws inspiration from the polished hard rock sound of bands such as Dokken, Cinderella, Quiet Riot, Winger, Skid Row, Aerosmith, and Van Halen.

Songs, Live Shows, and Coming Home

John discusses several songs from High Roller during the interview. The title track grew from drummer Mike’s interest in dice, casinos, and New York–New Jersey crime-film imagery, becoming a song about a reckless gambler living dangerously. “Don’t You Cry,” written largely by Mark, showcases the band’s ability to feature more than one lead singer and became a melodic, audience-friendly ballad. “Lust for Love,” the first full song John wrote with the band, began with feelings from a difficult past relationship but was shaped into a more universal song about painful love. John closes by discussing “Coming Home,” which he wrote about long drives, late nights, rehearsals, shows, recording sessions, and being away from family and loved ones while traveling between Long Island and New Jersey. He also promotes upcoming Whiskey a Go Go performances with Dokken, Steelheart, and Slaughter, saying Fire ‘N Ice intends to keep working, supporting the scene, and moving toward the next level.