Ron Keel

2018 marks Ron Keel’s 35th anniversary as a major recording artist. From that first Steeler album to the brand-new Ron Keel Band release by the EMP Label Group, his career in entertainment has taken him from the concrete jungles of arena rock to the dirt roads of country music. Along the way, he has sold millions of albums and toured the world as both a heavy metal screamer (KEEL, Steeler, and a brief encounter with Black Sabbath) a southern rock/outlaw country artist (with dozens of songs in major films and TV shows). Ron’s solo album METAL COWBOY combined both genres, establishing a style and a persona which captures the heart and personality of this self-proclaimed rock n’ roll outlaw.

2018 started out with the official “Reloaded” edition of that disc released by EMP Outlaw, a special imprint created by label founder David Ellefson to showcase this brand of music; the reissue is a totally remixed and remastered package featuring bonus tracks. They’ll follow that up with FIGHT LIKE A BAND from the Ron Keel Band, featuring fresh original tracks as well as a new medley of classics from throughout Keel’s career like “The Right To Rock” and “Tears Of Fire.” Also slated for 2018: reissues of the 80’s classics THE FINAL FRONTIER and KEEL (both on Rock Candy Records) as well as EMERALD SABBATH (an all-star tribute featuring Black Sabbath alumni), and STEELER: COME HELL OR HOLLYWOOD 1981-82 (a compilation of rare recordings from the Hollywood heyday) on FnA Records.

Keel’s legendary major label debut album THE RIGHT TO ROCK was produced by KISS’ Gene Simmons – they went on to notch three albums on Billboard’s Hot 100 as well as MTV and radio hits “The Right To Rock,” “Because The Night,” “Tears Of Fire,” “Somebody’s Waiting,” and “Rock N Roll Outlaw.” Opening shows for Bon Jovi, Van Halen, Aerosmith, Motley Crue, Dio and many more established a hard work ethic that remains strong today; in recent years Keel has become a staple on the Monsters Of Rock Cruise events, played the M3 Festival twice. 2018 performances and events include the Monsters of Rock Cruise, the Atlanta KISS Expo, The Nashville Rock-N-Pod Expo, arenas, festivals (80’s In The Park, PorkPalooza) plus major bike events like Hot Harley Nights.

After nearly three years hosting the “Streets of Rock & Roll” rock-and-talk syndicated radio show, making the transition to a daily rock jock was the next step in Keel’s radio career. He was handpicked to join a dream team of Midwest rock radio royalty on KBAD 94.5 FM, where Ron’s “Mid-Day Mayhem” show skyrocketed to the top of the Neilson ratings for that region. The mayhem continues via the online juggernaut KBACK Rock Radio (http://kback.rocks) as Ron rocks the airwaves live 10 AM – 2 PM weekdays (Central time) when not on the road.

As a songwriter, Ron has dozens of TV and film credits – major movies like “Men In Black II,” “Dolphin Tale,”

“The Messengers” and many more – and his songs have been featured in hit TV shows like “X-Files,” “Desperate Housewives,” “The Simpsons,” “King Of The Hill,” and the Daytona 500 broadcast. 

Ron Keel’s official autobiography “Even Keel: Life On The Streets Of Rock & Roll” was published in 2014. National Rock Review says this about it:  

 “Ultimately, this book is more a story of drive and persistence than ‘just’ a Sunset Strip rock book. It’s a lesson in survival. Of being humble and doing everything it takes to achieve what you love to do. You’ll buy the book for its nostalgia. You’ll finish it feeling you can do anything you set your mind to.”