After short stint and one album with STEELER, the band that also featured guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen, singer Ron Keel formed his own band simply called KEEL. 1985’s “The Right To Rock” is their second album after “Lay Down The Law”, put out the year before.
This album gained the industry’s attention as it was produced by Gene Simmons of KISS for Gold Mountain Records in New York. Ron Keel already had been turning heads with his powerful vocal style and teaming up with Gene Simmons was a winning combination.
The album barely broke the Top 100 at 99 on the Billboard Charts, but this was still a little early in the commercial success of the Glam Metal so breaking into the mainstream was still a challenge.
I love the raw and live feel of this album. It’s not overproduced, it sounds like it was recorded as a band with that “analog” feel. Ironically the production would be why some people have a problem with the record, not me, I love the simplicity and the fact that it’s NOT perfect.
I always preferred Gene Simmons penned songs off the KISS album so this was right in my wheelhouse. Keel has a bit of Simmons in his style and Gene wrote several of the tracks on the album like “Get Down”, “So Many Girls, So Little Time” and “Easier Said Than Done”. The band does a great job making them their own.
The two best songs were written by the band. The single “The Right To Rock” and “Electric Love” were just killer anthems. The latter SHOULD have been released but I don’t think there was a huge budget or push for the band at this time.
The also cover the Stones “Let’s Spend The Night Together” in a much heavier style than the original. Again, I think they nailed it and made it their own. Keel’s voice is so far removed from Mick Jagger, which is why Iove Keel’s version of it.
“Speed Demon” has remained one a signature song of the band, it appeared on their first album and on the “Men In Black II” soundtrack in 2002. It’s the most “Metal” song on the album and snapshot of that early to mid 80’s timeframe.
The band members had great talent as time as proven. Ron Keel is a successful radio host with his own band and KEEL is brought back together on special occasions. Guitarist Marc Ferrari has had huge success with a company that produces original music that was purchased by Universal Music Publishing Group where he was a senior executive for several years.
Ron Keel – vocals and guitar
Marc Ferrari – guitar and vocals
Bryan Jay – guitar and vocals
Kenny Chaisson – bass and vocals
Steve Riley – drums and vocals
