Gary James' Interview With
Ron Keel



He grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, made a name for himself in Nashville, Tennessee, and got discovered in Los Angeles, California. The gentleman we are referring to is Ron Keel. Ron and his band have released their third album simply titled "Keel" on Gold Mountain/MCA Records. In support of the album, Keel has taken to the road, opening for Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, as well as performing in select clubs. Ron Keel talked to us about his journey in Rock.

Q - It used to be when a group had a record deal they said good-bye to the clubs and went straight to the arenas. Now that seems to have all changed.

A - We can't headline the arenas yet because we're not that well-known. We have parties in little bars. We just go in, have some drinks, the people get right into it, and there's no barrier between the stage and the audience. You'll see the audience on stage. You'll see us in the audience. You'll see all kinds of craziness because it's that kind of environment. We've had some great nights in these clubs. It's steamy, hot, sweaty, and people are just going nuts. They're right in your face. Oh, it's beautiful. Also, it's good to get into the arenas and play for 18,000 to 20,000 people at night too.

Q - One thing I've noticed is that your "Somebody's Waiting" video is unlike most Hard Rock or Metal videos. You're not trying to shock or offend anybody.

A - I'm not here to shock. I'm here to rock. It's not shock 'n' roll. That's the way I feel about it.

Q - You've said by the end of this decade (the 1980s), Keel will be a headlining act. How can you be sure the group will even be together by then?

A - It will stay together because we all want it to stay together. Nothing lasts forever. We all want it bad enough to make it last. We know that we have something special that we can never find again. Everybody here knows this is special. This is magic. There's never going to be another band for any of us like this, ever. A team like this comes along once in a lifetime.

Q - Are you worried at all that with the new bands coming up that your band might get lost in the shuffle?

A - My band won't get lost in the shuffle. I'm not worried about that at all. This is the best band in the world, in my opinion. There's nothing that's gonna hold us down or back. Success is measured in many ways. Success can be measured in record sales or your status or your profile. The most successful people out there, in my opinion, are not happening, such as Gary Moore. Gary Moore I feel is the best guitar player in the world. I feel he deserves to headline arenas. He deserves everything that the superstars of Rock get. He doesn't have it.

Q - What does that say?

A - Most work that you do, if you're the best guy in town at your job, you get paid big bucks. You get paid according to the quality of your work. That's not the way it is in Rock 'n' Roll. People who do great work, people who have the best music in the world don't always achieve success. And some of them don't achieve the success until they die. Some people who have very little musical talent latch onto something that people want to buy, a product, a gimmick, a slant, an angle, so to speak. And they make the big bucks. They have fast cars, nice houses and money to burn. They have a lot things that I don't have. But I've got something in my heart and in my soul. I'm a success already 'cause I'm good. I know that I kick ass. Music is its own reward. A lot of people's motivation would be money or girls. Of course those things are neat. You can't live without money or girls. But I can't live without music. When I get onstage it's the fourth of July, a party, a circus. It's everything that Rock 'n' Roll should be. That in its own way will lead me to the success that I desire. We're not rewriting the book of Rock 'n' Roll, but we have something original. We're adding our own chapter.

Q - Where'd you get this super confidence in yourself?

A - It's just an inbred trait I guess. I never had money anyway. I came from a poor family. My father was a construction worker. Still is. Traveled around the country to find work. We had love. We had guitars. We had music. We had each other. Same things I've got now. That's really success. That's something you can take with you.

Official Website: RonKeel.com

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