Who is Vampire Riot?

They say vampires never die, and neither can Rock ’n’ Roll.

Vampire Riot is the sonic collision of theatrical rock, late-night disco, infectious funk, and raw punk energy all wrapped in R&B Soul. Born in the basement of the Delta Upsilon fraternity house at the University of Missouri, the band that was tearing up Columbia college bars is ready to become a global phenomenon—all centered around a single, chaotic night that defines Rock ‘n’ Roll.

The Mizzou Genesis

The blueprint was drawn by Dylan Welch, the band’s lead vocalist and chief songwriter. Looking to fuse the grand theatricality of Queen and My Chemical Romance with the deep, rhythmic grooves of Motown and Hall & Oates, Dylan began jamming in the DU house with powerhouse bassist Wyatt Hayes.

The puzzle pieces fell into place rapidly. Sophomore year brought Dylan’s cousin, Charlie Van Alan, to Mizzou. A virtuoso on lead guitar and keys, Charles immediately became a quasi-honorary DU fixture. The lineup was solidified when jazz-and-punk-infused drummer Jack Flynn locked down the rhythm section, cementing a four-piece capable of flipping from stadium-rock anthems to dance-floor funk on a dime.

The Blue Note Incident

Vampire Riot quickly became local legends, packing out Columbia's historic venue, The Blue Note. Under the guidance of their newly recruited, well-connected manager, Ben Silver, the band took to the road—touring Midwest college towns, playing festivals out of the back of a van, and dropping raw, infectious demos that lit up social media.

Then came the Riot on 9th Street.

During a packed showcase at The Blue Note, the band was mid-way through their explosive track, "The Man with the Golden Gun," when the energy in the room turned primitive. A passionate, rowdy wave of fans rushed the stage, triggering a literal, full-scale riot. It was a scene straight out of 1964 Beatlemania. The band had to flee the venue through a back exit—"Elvis has left the building" style.

The fallout was instantaneous. The story went viral. The world wanted to know who these kids from Missouri were.