RIO (English band)
| Company type | Duo |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Headquarters | Hertfordshire , England |
| Products | Rock music, albums, singles |
RIO was a rock duo originating from Hertfordshire, England, consisting of Jon Neil and Steve Rodford.
History
Formed in 1982, the band initially operated under the name Bombay, with Jon Neil handling vocals and guitars, and Steve Rodford covering keyboards, bass, and drums. Their 1984 single "Breaking the Rules," released through Food for Thought Records and featuring guest bassist Jim Rodford, received notable UK radio exposure. It climbed to number four on the ILA Airplay Guide Top 15 in June 1984. Following this achievement, they secured a contract with Music for Nations in the UK. Due to the existence of an American band named Bombay, they adopted the name RIO.
The duo's first album, Borderland, was recorded at Liverpool Road Studios and Livingston Recording Studios. It was released on 9 September 1985 in the UK by Music for Nations and later in the US via Elektra Records. The album included the single "I Don't Wanna Be the Fool," which came out on 19 September 1985 in the UK. Although it did not chart, it received airplay on US radio stations. In its initial three weeks on sale in the UK, Borderland sold approximately 8,000 copies and reached number 19 on Music Week’s Heavy Metal Top Albums chart in October 1985. The album earned positive reviews; for instance, Paul Suter from Kerrang! awarded it four and a half stars and anticipated strong sales in America.
After releasing Borderland, RIO expanded their lineup to five members for live shows but later returned to their original duo format for their second album. Their sophomore effort, Sex Crimes, featured a heavier sound with greater emphasis on guitars. Elektra Records chose not to continue working with them, resulting in Sex Crimes being produced with a reduced budget and released solely by Music for Nations. The single "Atlantic Radio" was issued on 14 July 1986, followed by the album release on 20 October 1986. Critical reception was mixed: Derek Oliver of Kerrang! identified four tracks with potential appeal to American audiences but felt the album lacked overall impact; Paul Elliott from Sounds recognized its more aggressive tone compared to their debut but expressed dissatisfaction with the album’s sleeve design.
After their departure from Music for Nations, Neil and Rodford persisted as collaborators under the name Big Talk around 1987, creating demo recordings intended for record labels. In 2021, RIO returned with a new song titled "Long Way From Home," which they released on YouTube.
Between 2023 and 2024, MelodicRock Classics undertook remastering and reissuing both albums, adding bonus tracks. The second album was rebranded as Dangerzone and featured new artwork—this change reflected Rodford’s displeasure with the original 1986 cover design and title, which had been created without their involvement.
Albums
- Borderland (1985)
- Sex Crimes (1986)
Singles
- "I Don't Wanna Be the Fool" (1985)
- "Atlantic Radio" (1986)