Steeler (American band)

Steeler
Origin	Nashville, TN / Los Angeles, CA, United States
Genres	Heavy metal, hard rock
Years active	1981–1984
Labels	Shrapnel Records
Associated acts	Keel, Alcatrazz, W.A.S.P., Stryper, Die Happy, Badlands
Past members	Yngwie Malmsteen Ron Keel Michael Dunigan Tim Morrison Bobby Eva Mark Edwards Rik Fox Mitch Perry Kurt James Greg Chaisson Bobby Marks

Steeler was an early 1980s American heavy metal band originally formed in Nashville, TN by Ron Keel in 1981. Original band members included: Ron Keel on vocals and guitar, Michael Dunigan on lead guitar, Bobby Eva on drums and Tim Morrison on bass. In 1982, they released the single "Cold Day in Hell".

Eva left the band after a short while and was replaced by drummer Mark Edwards. This line-up did not last long and released no albums or singles. The band was now based in east Los Angeles, CA, living and rehearsing in a large warehouse.

In February, 1983, 19-year-old Swedish guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen completed the new line-up, after Dunigan and Morrison left the band. Rik Fox was now on bass and this classic line-up released the band's first and only album, Steeler. It saw moderate commercial success and is now a sought after album for many fans of Malmsteen and Keel. Malmsteen left soon after the record's completion and joined Graham Bonnett to form Alcatrazz. Future MSG guitarist Mitch Perry (aka. Mitch Brownstein from the band The Kydz)^[1] was brought in as his replacement.

The final line-up of Steeler saw the departure of Perry, Fox and Edwards who were all replaced by Kurt James on lead guitar, Greg Chaisson on bass and Bobby Marks on drums. This line-up recorded five singles, two of which appear on the 2005 Steeler Anthology. After the loss of Malmsteen in the summer of 1983, and due to the constant change in band members, Steeler never signed with a major record label and Keel decided to split up the band and start a new project.

During Steeler's short time in the world of Heavy Metal, the band became quite popular in LA and even performed to some sold out venues.

In 2005 a compilation album with songs from the single, album, live show bootlegs and unreleased tracks was released. This album was titled Metal Generation: The Steeler Anthology.

Legacy

Steeler's self-titled debut is considered critics and fans alike as "groundbreaking". Much of the themes, style and structure of the music would go on to dominate towards the late 1980s. The futuristic guitar work of Malmsteen was also incredibly important in bringing shred guitar to prominence.

Ron Keel later formed his own project, Keel, with moderate commercial success later in the 1980s.

Yngwie Malmsteen became the guitarist for the newly formed band Alcatrazz, including Graham Bonnett (vocals), Gary Shea (bass), Jan Uvena (drums) and Jimmy Waldo (keyboards). They released one album under this lineup (No Parole From Rock N' Roll) in October, 1983 and a live release, Live Sentence, recorded in Tokyo, Japan on January 18, 1984. Later, Malmsteen began his solo project, Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force, which went on to produce numerous albums with a considerably increased commercial success.

Bassist Rik Fox reminisces:

“

Steeler was one of those 'groundbreaking' bands of the 1980s Sunset Strip. We were lucky and fortunate to be in that particular place in time and history, look at the awesome results that we left behind! But it was the songs that made it happen, and...the FANS! Thanks for keeping the faith.[2]

”

There is a misprint vinyl where side B has the label for a band called Christian Death.

Discography

Studio:

• 1983 – Steeler
  

  Steeler 1983
• 2005 – Metal Generation: The Steeler Anthology

Single:

• "Cold Day in Hell" (1982)

References

1. http://smg.photobucket.com/user/MadScntst/media/music/magscans/KYDZINRAGMAG.jpg.html
2. Youtube – Steeler – Backseat Driver