Late in 2001 Steve Luongo and fellow Rat Race Choir member, guitarist Mark Hitt formed the progressive rock band TorQue. The two musicians co-wrote 11 songs for the debut album titled TorQue 103103. The original band was started as a power trio with Mark Clarke (Billy Squier) on bass and vocals. This line up was joined in the studio by Chris Clark on keyboards. The new quartet served as the backing band for 2 tracks on the CD Songs From The Material World - A tribute to George Harrison on Koch Records. They performed with Leslie West on "Old Brown Shoe" and John Entwistle on "Here Comes The Sun." The tracks were produced by Steve Luongo.While recording 103103 Mark Clarke was tapped by his former band for a tour. Luongo & Hitt added bassist Jeff Ganz(Johnny Winter). Luongo served as producer and lead vocalist in addition to his usual spot as drummer. Both Luongo and Hitt have said that 103103 is among their proudest musical achievements. TorQue 103103 is considered to be a huge step in their progressive musical journey which began in 1974. TorQue toured nationally in 2003-2005.
The band has also backed up some familiar names on the live concert stage. Robin Zander & Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick), Buck Dharma (Blue Oyster Cult), Eddie Money and Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad) to name a few. Mark and Steve recorded and toured in 2007 with Brian Johnson & Cliff Williams (AC/DC). They also performed a set of Cream material with bass legend Jack Bruce for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
After a break Luongo and Hitt reformed the band as a trio with bassist Larry Hobbs. They played some one off gigs in 2011 including an appearence at the famed Playboy Mansion in LA. The band recently invited Tommy Zvoncheck(Blue Oyster Cult) to fill the keyboard seat and is once again performing as a four piece group. This progressive rock band is looking forward to playing some "prog" festivals in the fall. Dates will be announced here and on all of the band's media outlets.
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REVIEWS:
I Listened - I Liked!
Riff-rock central! My faves are the MASSIVE fretless 8-string on "I Won't Be Coming Back", the R&B-rooted bass on "Take Me", the Living Colour-ish groove of "Is Anybody There", and the riffy-ness of "Hard Time". This is a first rate hard rockin' band!phenominal!!!!
So many great memories of being in my early 20`s + going to see the awesome rat race chior,which mark and steve were the heart and soul of for so many years.Just a great feeling listening to that fat sound and great musicianship mark and steve put into this c.d.!!Some of the best rock music out today is on this album!!!CLASSIC.WHERE ARE YOU GUYS PLAYING??!!ALOT OF US ARE WAITING.It is a great CD ! It was good to hear those classic sounds againIt was great to hear that RRC sound again. Steve Luongo and Mark Hitt are still the best at what they do.Would like to see them live again.thank god they are still playing!well, this is part review and part attempt to hook up with old friends. The ablum is great, brought back a lot of memories and it definitely has the "signature" Rat Race sound to it. Other reviewers mentioned the Gemini in Yorktown NY. I spent more nights there than I care to admit, but it wasn't possible to pass a Rat Race gig by. Jim M. from Wilmingtion NC - old school and drinkng buddy Jud saying hello. If you see this you can email me at Brknarrw@comcast.net.I didn't think it would ever happen...We finally get to hear the meat of Rat Race Choir in Torque. I can finally listen to great music on CD rather than all the tape recordings I did at the back of clubs way back when. You can not go wrong with this CD. AWESOME!!Mark Hitt? Ferocious!!!I don't even have it yet but, I know these guys. Every Wed night found me at Speaks (Long Island) 6 feet in front of Mark and every Wed night Mark proved he is the most ferocious guitar player ever. If you think these songs are great playing you gotta see Mark live. I have been telling people about Rat Race Choir for years with nothing to back it up. Now I intend to blow everybody away with this. More boys, keep 'em coming. FINALLY I have a REAL Rat Race recording (Bittersweet Love and Struck By Lightning...good songs but not what defines RRC)old memoriesLast time I heard these guys was at the shaft (Fore N Aft) in Brewster, NY around 1975. Rat Race Choir was the best band that played there in those days. Blew Sister off the stage. Richie Scarlet was good too but Rat Race ruled that club. And this CD sounds like I remember it, the two main guys from Rat Race are in Torque.Real Rock Lives On!!!!!GET TORQUED !!! YOU WON'T BE SORRY!! BEST ROCK ABLUM OF THE YEAR!VERY Special Playing and WritingWish 103103 had been a double CD, since there's just not enough of this special album, even after an hour. OUTRAGEOUS soaring guitar, superb drumming, vocals and lyrics, a wide variety of bass grooves, and well orchestrated synths and piano all come together to form one of the smartest musical collaboraions in years. Mark Hitt's a grand slam. Thanks for raising the bar! Can't wait for the next one.This CD Rocks!Excellent! Classic and contemporary rock meet on this CD. Great hooks, vocals and musicianship on every song. What ever age you are, If you like good music you'll LOVE this CD. If you're a musician this CD is a Must Have! If you have ever heard Rat Race Choir you will agree ........................ This is Rat Race Choir on Steroids!!!Forget about Horsepower it's all about TORQUE!!!Kickin' rifs of old...Zep/RatRace/Who/Motorhead all wrapped up in the ultimate rockin' package! Your collection need this CD.Can't Get Enough of this CDThe more I listen, the more this CD kicks me in the butt.Immediatly brings me back to the Rat Race Choir days at Brewster. Hard to believe that Steve and Mark could get any better. But they did! The bass player and keyboard only add to the awesome sound of this CD. Perfect combination of talents.Music for me and my generationI feel like someone finally released a CD just for me and others my age. This IS my kind of music and I thank these guys for putting out such an outstanding collection of writing and playing. BRAVO!!!The ROCK GODS are singing praise, and getting high on this workThe ROCK GODS are singing praise, and getting high on this great work of masterful artistry for sure! Bottom line this cd rocks your balls off!! Like the virtuoso he is, Mark Hitts screamingly wicked riffs and solos sting you with sweet, venomous, vibrations. A lethal dose of sheer wickedness! The chemistry between mark and stevie is so pure and unadulterated. As it is no secret these guys belong together on the alter of rocks hiarchy. Steve Luongos gritty and soulful vocals blend beautifully with the lyrical themes and genius production. Torque reminds us all that true rockers still exist and here's their stamp.....LICK IT AND STICK IT!.....Rock on boys.......Let's hear more!Having 1st seen Rat Race in the 70's, I was always amazed, so it was great to hear Steve and Mark on this CD... I would like to have heard the bridge for Pi! The four of you sound great, so let's hear more from you guys, on the road and CD's.... and Mark, don't hold back this time!Thank you Torque & Rat Race Choir & John Entwistle !!I hear some Who, some Led Zepplin, some Rat Race Choir. Hard Rock, great harmony, etc. The lyrics sometimes feel like they are fit into the music ... but what music!!! A must have. If you are a fan get the word out to your family, and co-workers friends!!!PHENOMENAL!!!!!Virtuosos Mark Hitt and Steve Luongo have all the fire and essence of Rat Race Choir...THE GREATEST unsigned rock band of all time...in Torque. Ganz and Clark are equally powerful. I play this CD all the time; my friends are all completely blown away by it. The songs are tight, the performances razor-sharp, and Torque's sound is heavy like Zeppelin, yet completely original. This is the only new rock CD anyone needs!!!Great to hear Mark again--but I want more.It's great to hear anything by Mark Hitt--I'm one of those people who marvelled at Mark Hitt's musicality and total dominance on the guitar, "six rows deep by the front of the stage", paraphrasing another review posted here. And I've always been amazed by Mark's generosity in discussing his technique and practice ideas. My fan days go way back to Mark Hitt's work with Gates Pass (Manhattan College in the Bronx, early seventies, before his Rat Race Choir days). So you can understand how I would buy the Torque CD--even if the mpeg samples I've heard always fade out by the time Mark starts to cook. My disappointment in the underplaying of Mark's talents continued after I received the CD: there's just not enough of Mark's playing on this CD! Oh, I know, he's playing all the time: nice little backup lines and power-crunch chords--all of the same type of playing that RRC's cover material required, but so, so little of Mark's blazing finesse, so little of his mind-blowing prowess and ability to surprise. This CD is fine, really, for the people who miss the RRC days--I'll still try to catch Torque if they play in the New York area. But for myself, I'm waiting for the Mark Hitt record that either he hasn't allowed himself to make or he doesn't even recognize he should make. I don't expect his bandmates to push him in directions where only he can go; this is something that sits on his shoulders alone.Totally awesome stuff! A music enthusiast and musicians gotta have CD!This is a great body of work. I knew when I heard the demo that these would be lyrics and guitar riffs that I would want to put in my bag of tricks. Hendricks meet Hitt! Louie meet Luongo! Cliburn meet Clark! ??????meet Ganz! Way to go boys,MMBA long time coming and WORTH the WAIT!Its been great to have been associated with Mark and Steve,and I am very proud for the both of you!I still cant believe its been so long since RRC,but judging by the songs on this CD,it was well worth the wait! Rock on boys!! COZGreat Stuff! Current, yet classic!Wow! Incredible work from a great bunch of musicians! This CD rocks from beginning to end. I can (and do!) listen to it over and over. This is what I've been looking for in a band. Can't wait to see them live! When will they be playing here???Awesome, pop-progressive rockAwesome, pop-progressive rock. It brings me back to the days of Rat Race Choir when I stood in front of Mark 'Direct' Hitt and they would have to scrape my jaw from the floor at the end of the night. I swear I remember hearing a lot of 'The Horror Rock Suite' from 'Rat Race' around 1980. Great stuff! I want to hear more!!!!"Satisfied my RRC fix to hear Mark Hitt and Steve Luongo again"I knew, and roadied for, Rat Race Choir in the late 70's and early 80's, and I just loved to watch Mark Hitt and Steve Luongo jam together - just unbelievable musicianship! So, I was absolutely thrilled to discover that they are together again in TorQue, and I must admit, it satisfied my fix to hear RRC again! Buy this CD, you'll be glad you did!I feel like I was "STRUCK BY LIGHTIN"I was lucky enough to have been a bartender at the Gemini Night Club in Yorktown NY. And during the 70's and 80's I was lucky to have seen many of the great NY bands and national bands. Rat Race Choir was the one I grew up with. When I heard 103103 after not hearing them in so long it was like hearing and old friends voice. I was STRUCK BY LIGHTIN if some of you know what I mean. Mark and Steve DON'T STOP ROCKIN.!! Jim M. Wilmington NC.A blast from the past; a new chapter in real rock.Powerfull, interesting, dynamic and creative best describe this CD. The band is packed with top shelf talent. Half the band are former members of Rat Race Chior, enough said.Mark must owe the Devil his dues.When you listen to Mark Hitt play you hear the best of all the great legends of rock. Some where along the way Mark must of made a deal with the Devil, because when you hear him play you would swear it was Hendrix, Buchannen, or who ever he is playing, that's how good he is. Quite possibly the best guitarest in rock and roll. He should gig with Richie Scarlet and pump out the greatest rock our ears have ever heard.Excellent ! Music like this has been a long time comin'This is what happens when incredibly talented musicians get together to put out great music. This CD fills a whole bunch of gaps that are missing from todays music scene. Great vocals/harmony - intense playing!!! Torque ROCKS!!!!!I felt like I was"STRUCK BY LIGHTIN"I am amazed at how these guys end up blowing your head off with there music. It makes me feel like I was Stuck by Lightin...TWICE.!! I remember the days of GATES PASS. I knew back then that I was witnessing a great guitarist in Mark. 103103 is very intense rock and breath of fresh air for some of us. It brings back the classical rock days with a great taste for todays jam. I wish I still lived in the New York area to see them play. I'll just have to play this great CD and remeniss.It's MAJESTIC! Make room on your CD rack for this one.Teach an old dog new tricks? You new dogs better learn quick. So you bought the latest CD from your favorite MTV band and got tweaked from it? FORGET IT, I GOT TORQUED !F- - - in' WOWAgain, F- - - in' WOW!In your face!Very groovy, lots of guitar tone, in your face, but still subtle. The band captures the essence of Long Island rock in the 70s/80s(RRC). If you missed it or miss it, here's your chance. I wait for Torque 2 with open CD trayMaMa said knock you out!!!!!!!!!!!Heavy Duty Twist...........'Nuff SaidBuy this CDI agree with all of these people!Carries on the progressive rock tradition...Keeps the flame(Dancin')burning for progressive Rock, the players are top shelf Class A rockers, the legends Mark Hitt & Steve Loungo 1/2 of the best band I've ever seen RRC, put it all together on this one! can't wait to see them live! a must have cd for 04
Now this is Rock and Roll....... When was the last time you listened to an album end to end? Well, this is one of those albums. A MUST for any collection. The songs tell stories, have meaning, with Mark Hitt "Rippin" out the leads.....Steve Luongo "Lead drummer" (enough said ) is the vocalist for these talented musicians. Clarke's keyboards/Piano (my favorite) and Ganz bass are outrageous and make this group sound right. Link on to any of these musicians web sites and see who they played with in their past. If your only going to buy on album this year...This is it.... EXCELLENT JOB GUYS. See you on the Tour...... Chris PikeTake 2 parts Rat Race.. parts JEB..throw in a dash of Johnny Winter...These guys rock(how could they not?) Carrying on the legacy of The John Entwistle Band & Rat Race Choir? We opened for these guys last year on the Chance/BOC show and got to hear these shows live..If you dig The Who,Zep,Tull,Procol Harum..you'll dig this..BUY IT!! No drum machines were harmed in the making of this CD('cause they didn't use one!)
The Who meets Holdsworth and Page,tighten with a RatRace Choir and you get TORQUWith RatRaceChoir being the great uknown act of the 70/80s, a relief that there is some remnant of this band to get us through these trying[music]times. What a tribute to their heritage and their artistry. Steve and Mark-thank you!! A CD in the best of driving Who(Quadrophenia!),Page riffs, Holdsworth riffs in the Hitt style. The DRUMMING!! Bass lines that resuscitate classic rock and the keyboards pulling it all together. FORGET Boston and those imposters...get TORQUE. They'll remind you of how ROCK once lived.Superpowerful and ProgressiveCan't ask for much more than this for a musical debut. The album makes a bold statement, there are in-your-face riffs, some really great accents and catchy tunes. Great job guys. Can't wait to hear it live.Great hard rock!It is great to hear Mark Hitt and Steve Luongo playing together again. These guys are as good if not better than any rockers out there. I hope you keep on going and show the young guys how it should be done! All the best!!!Great job!Great playing....reminds me of the good 'ole days! Looking forward to the next one.
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