2 , ▁ 1 9 5 6 ▁– ▁November ▁ 8 , ▁ 2 0 0 3 ) ▁was ▁an ▁American ▁singer ▁best ▁known ▁as ▁New ▁York ▁City - based ▁metal ▁band ▁Ri ot ' s ▁original ▁front man ▁from ▁ 1 9 7 6 ▁to ▁ 1 9 8 1 . ▁ ▁He ▁played ▁at ▁the ▁first ▁Mon sters ▁of ▁Rock ▁festival ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 0 ▁and ▁sang ▁on ▁their ▁first ▁three ▁albums , ▁ 1 9 7 7 ' s ▁Rock ▁City , ▁ 1 9 7 9 ' s ▁Nar ita ▁and ▁ 1 9 8 1 ' s ▁Fire ▁Down ▁Under , ▁before ▁leaving ▁the ▁band ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 1 . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 8 2 , ▁Scott ▁Ian ▁called ▁S per anza ▁to ▁offer ▁him ▁the ▁position ▁as ▁the ▁lead ▁singer ▁for ▁Anth ra x . ▁S per anza ▁decl ined ▁the ▁offer , ▁saying ▁he ▁was ▁done ▁with ▁the ▁music ▁business . ▁ ▁After ▁ret iring ▁from ▁music , ▁S per anza ▁worked ▁as ▁an ▁ex termin ator ▁in ▁Florida ▁until ▁being ▁diagn osed ▁with ▁pan cre atic ▁cancer , ▁from ▁which ▁he ▁died ▁on ▁November ▁ 8 , ▁ 2 0 0 3 . ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁External ▁links ▁▁ ▁Ri ot ▁– ▁Official ▁Website ▁ ▁Category : 1 9 5 6 ▁birth s ▁Category : 2 0 0 3 ▁death s ▁Category : 2 0 th - century ▁American ▁sing ers ▁Category : American ▁heavy ▁metal ▁sing ers ▁Category