“Yes, this is an American classic rock anthem,” says Ron Keel. “But the message is global and timeless.”
“Red White & Blue” is the first single from the new Ron Keel Band album “South X South Dakota” just released by HighVol Music/HVM Entertainment. The song was a Top 30 hit for Lynyrd Skynyrd in 2003; written by Johnny Van Zant, Donnie Van Zant, Brett Warren and Brad Warren shortly after the 9/11 attacks, Keel feels the song resonates just as loudly now as it did then.
The music video premiered today at ultimateclassicrock.com as the new album garners worldwide attention and unanimous praise from fans and the media. “South X South Dakota” pays tribute to the legendary icons of southern rock, as the band tackles material from the Allman Brothers, Molly Hatchet, .38 Special, Outlaws, Blackfoot, Marshall Tucker Band, Atlanta Rhythm Section, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Rossington Collins Band, and of course Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Ron Keel began this musical journey in the 80’s, scoring three albums on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart while opening for bands like Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Van Halen and Motley Crue. His southern roots run deep, having been born in Georgia and gotten his start in Nashville before landing on the Sunset Strip in the middle of the 80’s Hollywood heyday. Evolving into what has become known as the Metal Cowboy, Keel has spent most of the past two decades combining his passions for heavy metal and country music into a hybrid style that sounds surprisingly like…you guessed it: southern rock.
Shooting the music video for “Red White & Blue” presented a unique challenge, as the band practiced what Ron calls “musical distancing.” Each member of the band – bassist Geno Arce, guitarists Dave Cothern and Jason Haven, keyboardist Dakota Scott and drummer Jeff Koller – were filmed separately, at various iconic South Dakota locations in total isolation. “It was a strange experience,” Keel admits. “I filmed my piece at Mt. Rushmore on an absolutely beautiful Saturday in springtime, and there was no one there. The lockdown has been tough on everyone in many ways, but it sure gave us the chance to shoot an epic music video.”
