Ron Keel is a brilliant artist with a rich back catalogue with different bands and projects. Truth be told here, personally I have a special bond with the band Keel since I loved their albums as a teenager (and I still do, by the way) but no one should ignore Ron’s other works. “KeelWorld” is a very special release since it focuses on all the bands Ron has played with. In fact, Keel and Steeler fans get ready for two great songs! Ladies and gentlemen, Ron Keel…
Interview : Sakis Nikas
Rockpages.gr: You are about to release “Keelworld” which covers more or less the entire spectrum of your career. Was it your idea and why did you decide that it was now the right time to do this?
RK: We’ve been working on KEELWORLD for several years now, and I love that process – creating, writing, building, working. Life is a journey, not a destination. And yes, it was my idea to create an album of all-new tracks that represent all my bands and brands: Ron Keel as a solo artist, Steeler, Ron Keel Band, Keel, IronHorse, Ronnie Lee Keel and Emerald Sabbath.
Rockpages.gr: Obviously, the biggest surprise in there is the song “Moving Target”, a new Keel composition that is absolutely fantastic and captures the 80s spirit of the band. First of all, why it took you 14 years to come up with a brand new Keel song especially after the positive reaction towards “Streets of Rock N’ Roll” back in 2010?
RK: There are a lot of surprises on this album. The new Keel song “Moving Target” is certainly a highlight and I’m glad you and the fans are enjoying it and giving it such a great reaction. Why did it take 14 years? Well, I’ve been very busy the last 10 years recording and releasing new music – my 2014 album “Metal Cowboy,” important releases from the Ron Keel Band like our 2019 album “Fight Like A Band,” our EP of re-energized Keel songs “KEELED,” and “South X South Dakota” in addition to my work with the Emerald Sabbath project. I’ve been touring the world, building a business empire called RFK Media, working in radio. My brothers in Keel understand and support that I need to keep moving forward, and it was very cool of them to sink their teeth into “Moving Target;” without their contribution, this would be a very different album.
Rockpages.gr: You wrote “Moving Target” with Marc Ferrari and the song features also Dwain Miller and Bryan Jay. Take us through the writing and recording process for the song…who wrote what, how much time it took you etc.?
RK: The creative process is not always simple, but for “Moving Target” it was as basic as it gets. Marc Ferrari sent me a brilliant piece of music, and the title, words and melodies just poured out of me. I recorded a demo vocal which is the actual take that appears on “KEELWORLD,” and Marc, Bryan Jay, Dwain Miller and Geno Arce laid down killer tracks. I fully intended to re-record the lead vocal, but there’s something magical about that first take so I just kept it. There’s a difference between “simple” and “easy” – the process of creating the song was simple, but it’s the lifetime of experience that makes it seem easy.
Rockpages.gr: I guess you know that this song only wet our appetite for a full length album. Any chance for new Keel album in the future?
RK: I’ve just given you a brand new full-length album from a man named Keel. Let’s enjoy it.
Rockpages.gr: How about Steeler? It was quite a surprise to see the excellent compilation “Come Hell or Hollywood” that included some really great cuts. I remember reading an interview of yours a couple of years ago that you stated that you might work on some Steeler new songs. Any news on that front…?
RK: The Steeler song “Give Me Guitars (Or Give Me Death)” is certainly a focal point of this new KEELWORLD album. This is a song for the ages – a screaming metal anthem that pays tribute to the era, the genre, and the guitar heroes that fueled that fire, from Malmsteen to Mitch Perry. There will be a major metal video for this song premiering in November that features the classic album lineup of Mark Edwards, Rik Fox, and myself, and we’re joined by Mitch Perry on lead guitar who replaced Malmsteen in ’83. Mitch delivers insane lead guitars on the recording session and in the video for “Give Me Guitars.”
Rockpages.gr: You have a rich and versatile career and you have managed to remain productive throughout the years without losing your core fan base. What’s the secret behind it? I mean, most of rock fans would turn their backs on their favorite artists if they change musical direction…but not the Ron Keel fans!
RK: I give it all I’ve got. My heart, my soul, my energy, my time, my passion – I give it all to everything I do. I’m very thankful to those that are willing to listen and enjoy the music, the shows, the radio show, the book, all that. I do believe at the core of it all, the reason the old school fans stick with me and the reason new fans are always coming on board is that the music – and the man behind it – are real, and everything comes from the heart. Songs like “The Right To Rock” blend perfectly with new songs like “Hard On The Outside” with lyrical and musical messages that never go out of style.
Rockpages.gr: I gotta be honest with you. Here in Europe, it’s really hard to get stuff from your solo efforts. Even the Keelworld album doesn’t have a European distribution. Will the album be available in Europe, too?
RK: We have great worldwide distribution through Amplified Distribution. In the modern age, the majority of people who buy CDs and albums use Amazon, which is available in many countries throughout Europe. (Unfortunately, Amazon does not operate in Greece.)
Rockpages.gr: Speaking of difficulties, lots of people didn’t have the chance to buy your biography. Will there be a second, revised version in the future?
RK: We sold many thousands of copies, then I decided not to print anymore until I finish the new revised edition. A lot’s happened in the last ten years, and the story needs to be updated. For that, I have to lock myself away and just write, and I’ve been too busy rocking.
Rockpages.gr: When was the last time that you played in Europe?
RK: It’s been too long – I think it was 2012? I have been all over the world since then – all across North America, South America, Central America, Australia – I would like to bring the KEELWORLD show to Europe. Any events, agents or promoters can always find me at http://ronkeel.com.
Rockpages.gr: Last but certainly not least: which is your favorite Keel album and why? Thank you!
RK: I’ve made a lot of albums the past 25 years that I’m really proud of. If you’re limiting the topic to the band Keel, then my favorite is easily “Streets Of Rock N Roll,” I can listen to that album every day. I love the songs, the musicians are on fire, the production is brilliant, and I’m very proud of those vocal sessions. The Keel song “Moving Target” continues that tradition on the new album KEELWORLD.
