SUTB Interviews: Interview with Iron Horse

September 13, 2004

Interview with Iron Horse

Hard Rockin' Southern Country Metal; how many bands do you know who can claim that as their style? I’d say not too many, but I would like to introduce you to a band that not only makes that claim but backs it up with hard rockin, fun tunes and a lot of style! Iron Horse is a band that follows its own rules and its own path; while doing it for the music and for the fans they also do it for charity a great deal of the time. This is a band with a heart of gold and a sound … well, that’s Hard Rockin’ Southern Country – what else can I say?! To learn more about these five guys in leather pants and cowboy hats stop by their website at http://www.ironhorseband.com and check out their new album and “Bring it On!”

1. First we want to thank you for taking the time to do this interview, to give us a chance to view the force behind the music. Strikeupthebands.net is dedicated to bringing the bands to the fans on a whole new level, so please; tell us about the man behind the music.

RK: Thanks for featuring us on your site – strikeupthebands.net is awesome and we’re glad to be here.

For the past four years I’ve been on a rockin’ ride with my new band IronHorse…some fans may be familiar with my previous bands, most notably KEEL, which had some hits like “The Right To Rock”, “Because The Night”, and “Tears Of Fire”. My heart and my music are both motivated by a sense of adventure, to go places and do things that are unique and special. I’ve been (and still am) both a metal maniac and a good old country boy, and I’ve been lucky to have enough success in several genres of music to enable me to live a life most people only dream about. To travel around the world, record albums that I’m very proud of, and make music that comes straight from the heart.

2. Hard Rockin’ Southern Country Metal…wow, that’s a combination few people can compete with. Your unique sound has fans from across the board clamoring for more. Can you describe the progression, the evolution if you will, that resulted in the very recognizable sound of IronHorse.

RK: Well, as I said, I’ve always had one foot on either side of the musical fence…I love the excitement, energy, and sound of big powerful Arena Rock, but I also love the personal aspects of Country music, which is built around the voice and the lyrics. When you fuse together Rock and Country, it comes out as Southern Rock, and IronHorse is very proud to be at the forefront of a new generation of Southern Rock bands. There are clear traces of Heavy Metal in our music – screaming guitars from our lead guitarist Jay Rusnak, and thundering drums courtesy of our drummer Gaetano Nicolosi, and of course my Metal influences rear their ugly heads from time to time, especially on the new CD…our bass player and my long-time friend Geno Arce has also done time in the big Hair Band scene as well as playing Country Music extensively; our keyboardist/multi-instrumentalist Dean Lehman is the guy who really adds a lot of the flavors to our sound, like banjo, mandolin, and harmonica.

I know people have to put labels on things to categorize them, but we’ve come up with our own brand: Hard Rockin’ Southern Country Metal. I hope they have a section for that at the record store!

3. As individuals and as artists you know how important it is to keep a balance in your lives; with all of the shows, the travel, and the numerous other projects that IronHorse is currently involved with, how do you find the time to maintain your own energy?

RK: Unfortunately, balance in my life is something that has always eluded me. The scales have always tipped heavily on the side of my music.

You gotta dig deep, and realize that this may be your only shot. Live every day to the fullest, sleep when you’re dead. Work hard, play hard, give it all you got – I’m a walking talking rocking cliché, but it’s all true.

4. IronHorse is very involved in charity work and fundraising events. With so many causes and movements out there, how do you decide which organizations to support?

RK: It’s impossible to say ‘no’ when you can do something positive for someone in need…the common thread that seems to run through all our charity work is that it’s always for the kids. One cause that is near and dear to our hearts is “Justin’s Run For Hope”, an annual benefit in Ohio that we have played for the past four years – this year we raised money to send diabetic kids to summer camp. Keep an eye out for a new website – justinsrunforhope.com – which will be launching soon to promote future events. We have also been involved with CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates, they represent the needs of neglected and abused children. And there is a selfish motivation to our involvement with these charities…it feels damn good to be able to make a difference in the lives of these children.

5. “Bring it On” is the first album to be released since signing with Compendia Music Group/VTone Records. Signing with a new label can open a lot of doors for many musicians. What changes, if any, do you expect to encounter in the next year?

RK: It’s great to be working with Compendia/Vtone…we’re very proud of our relationship with the company, and to be on a roster with so many other talented artists, including one of my all time heroes Merle Haggard. It’s a good feeling to know that the distribution is so solid, and that the new CD will be so accessible and available to the fans. As far as what I expect, I just expect to work my ass off on the road, doing interviews like this one, making new friends and fans wherever we go, and let the people decide the fate of IronHorse.

6. The latest album “Bring it On” is already creating a great deal of anticipation among your fans, so tell us a bit about the response it has generated at your live shows.

RK: The new CD has been in the works for a year and a half, and we’ve been playing many of these songs in the show for that long. So there are two responses: when we play in one of our strong markets, like Ohio for instance, everyone already knows the songs and they are singing along with every word. They love the songs like we do. And when we go to a new town that has never heard them, it’s a great feeling to be able to win over an audience with new material that they are not familiar with – that’s when you can tell that it’s really working.

7. In an interview from way back when, you referred to IronHorse as “…a family, working together to follow a common dream.” A few years later and a new label, have you realized that dream?

RK: The dream is the journey, not the destination. I’m very thankful for what we have: for the brotherhood of this band, for the fans who love what we do, for the opportunity to take it as far as we can take it. But we have set our goals very high, and when we have enough fun, enough money, and enough love to last a lifetime, then I’ll be able to answer that question!

8. One of the characteristics that truly sets IronHorse apart is the sense of humor and fun that is an integral part of the band, the music, and Ronnie Keel. With the demands of keeping up with an ever-changing industry what keeps the humor alive for IronHorse?

RK: When it comes down to it, this really is supposed to be fun, and if you’re not having a good time something’s wrong. When things are great, it’s easy to laugh and get crazy…and when times are hard, you gotta laugh about it just to get through it. And someday, hopefully somebody will make a movie about us, and call it “This Is Iron Tap”…

9. With the blend of country and hard rock you must have a pretty diverse CD collection. Can you tell us what artists or bands have had the most influence on your music?

RK: My tastes gravitate between Rock and Country, as you can imagine. When it comes to Rock & Metal, I enjoy listening to favorites from ‘back in the day’ – Aerosmith, KISS, Van Halen, Bon Jovi, Scorpions…there are a few new acts in this vein that I like, such as Highwire, a band out of Buffalo. In terms of Modern Rock, I get into Nickelback, Matchbox 20, 3 Doors Down. And of course I love Country Music – anything from the classics like Cash, Merle, Hank Sr., to Brooks & Dunn, Montgomery Gentry, Keith Urban.

In terms of who influenced me, if I had to narrow it down I would say The Beatles, KISS, Judas Priest, and Garth Brooks.

10. Although the official release date for “Bring it On” is September 27th, your album has been available either from your website or at your shows. Why the long wait to release the CD to the public?

RK: It takes months to gear up the distribution and promotional machines and slot a release date for a new CD – but it only takes a few weeks to actually manufacture the disc. Therefore, we have them a couple of months before the stores have them, and it is available now on our website http://www.ironhorseband.com, my web site http://ronkeel.com, and at all IronHorse shows.

11. Are you currently working on any new material for your next album?

RK: Writing is my first and strongest musical love, and I try to keep those wheels always turning. When you are constantly on the road, on the radio, doing interviews, and taking care of the day-to-day responsibilities of being in a band, it’s tough to set aside time to just write. I’m always capturing ideas in my notebook or tape recorder, and every few days you lock yourself away and take stock, or I sit with our guitarist Jay and we hash out ideas for new songs. One of the songs on the new album, “Haunted Saloon”, was begun on-line when I emailed him the lyrics and he started formulating musical ideas to compliment it.

12. Thank you for taking the time to do this interview, is there anything else you would like to say to your fans?

RK: To those who have followed my career, enjoyed my music and supported my musical adventures, I must give heartfelt thanks – they have kept me and my dreams alive. To those who have caught IronHorse mania the past few years, we love you – You’re Our People, and We’re Your Band. And to all the new fans that are discovering IronHorse now, welcome to the ride – BRING IT ON.

Posted by Kathy at September 13, 2004 07:24 AM