Keel

OPERATING FROM Los Angeles during the early to mid 80s, Keel looked as if they could well be the next in line to follow hot on the heels of neighbourhood bands such as Mötley Crüe, Dokken and Quiet Riot. They had it all; a charismatic front-man in Ron Keel, two smoking-hot guitarists and solid industry support. Kiss man Gene Simmons had produced two albums, helping to establish them as the next big thing. When it came time to record their third and fourth, albums, they had done their homework and prepared a clutch of world beating anthems, all injected with the energy and enthusiasm of men expecting big results. Recruiting producer Michael Wagener (Mötley Crüe, Ozzy and Accept) the band wasted little time in laying down the law in Los Angeles, creating a sound that combined all the exciting elements of hard rock at the time. The crystal clean production paid handsome dividends whilst one or two of the songs benefited by choice co-writes from Jack Ponti (Bon Jovi co writer), Bruce Springsteen and Dio's Jimmy Bain. Released in 1986 and 1987, the albums received a very positive reception but inexplicably failed to commercially realize their potential. And that was a shame as this is a fine and near perfect example of red hot rock from an era that embraced the style and sound that Keel perfectly embodied.