Whether he helped metalheads in the ‘80s realize we had the right to rock, or delved into country music while he lived in Nashville, Tennessee, or continues nowadays for his right to Southern rock, Ron Keel has always put his heart and soul into whatever beckons.
From his first album fronting Steeler in 1983 with a budding — and butting heads — young guitarist named Yngwie Malmsteen to Keel hits such as “Somebody’s Waiting,” “Because the Night,” “Tears of Fire,” “I Said the Wrong Thing to the Right Girl” and a cover of “Rock N’ Roll Outlaw” to his new Southern metal concoction Ron Keel Band, the vocalist/guitarist has put his stamp on the rock scene. In between, Keel also became a force in radio and with his “Streets of Rock N’ Roll” weekly podcasts. He combines that journalistic love today with his new band’s April 24 release of covers album South X South Dakota that pays tribute to some legendary artists plus his group’s 2019 debut Fight Like a Band.
Given his persona, Keel would fit right into the Alamo City if he ever chooses to call San Antonio home. But there’s other aspects to Keel that the average, or even above average, rock and metal fan might not know. To list them here would be to give away the ending to a story rooted in dedication to family, Rock N’ Roll and living the American dream. It doesn’t matter whether Keel the man sports hair spray or a cowboy hat, spurs and a guitar while doing so. He’s just doing things his way. Because he earned the right.
Keel discussed it all with Alamo True Metal exclusively this week. Click the widget below to hear our entire conversation, watch a few of his videos, and check out more of his content at Patreon.com, where you can pay a monthly subscription fee to get all access to exclusive content and personal fan experiences (photos courtesy Best Bet Promotions).