STEELER's flame burned briefly but brightly enough to provide the entrance point onto Rock history for two hallowed names - Ron Keel and YNGWIE MALMSTEEN. Originally hailing from Nashville, Tennessee, the Ron Keel fronted STEELER debuted with a self-financed single, 'Cold Day In Hell', and it was this track they contributed to the first pressing of Brian Slagel's first 'Metal Massacre' compilation (subsequent pressings found BLACK N' BLUE having replaced them). Keel had been born in Georgia but had moved to Phoenix, Arizona as a child before moving back to the East Coast to wind up in Nashville where he put STEELER together. The band that recorded the single comprised a line-up of Keel, guitarist Michael Dunigan, bassist Tim Morrison and drummer Bobby Eva.

After relocating to Los Angeles, STEELER signed to Shrapnel Records and label boss Mike Varney helped reshape the group by bringing in Swedish protégé YNGWIE MALMSTEEN in place of original guitarist Dunigan; whilst the rhythm section was also replaced by bassist Rik Fox (real surname Sulima-Suligowski) and drummer MARK EDWARDS. Fox, a former member of VIRGIN, LUST, SIN and the first incarnation of W.A.S.P., had apparently turned down an earlier offer from ANGEL to join the band. YNGWIE MALMSTEEN's debut concert on North American soil would be held on 28th August 1982 at the Los Angeles Troubadour supported by SARGE and ASSASSIN.

Produced by Mike Varney at Prairie Sun Studios in Cotati, STEELER's debut album featured LE MANS vocalist Peter Marrino in a backing vocalist capacity. STEELER made significant waves on the international Rock scene with export copies in high demand. Although an unashamed showcase for Malmsteen the cohesive quality of the album would be one the Swede would struggle to attain in his future career.

The group would soon suffer the loss of Malmsteen to the GRAHAM BONNET fronted ALCATRAZZ and Rik Fox was to leave along with Edwards. MITCH PERRY, Greg Chaisson and Bobby Marks replaced them respectively before the group ultimately fragmented.

Following his departure from STEELER, Rik Fox re-formed SIN in the Summer of 1983 only to see his entire band walked out to forge JAGWIRE. He then attempted to reform the band with erstwhile ALIEN vocalist Frank Starr, cutting the demo 'Exploded'. Fox enjoyed a brief tenure with Arizona's SURGICAL STEEL in 1986, prior to founding THUNDERBALL.

After the demise of STEELER, Ron Keel formed the Shrapnel backed KEEL, subsequently enjoying a sustained period in the limelight with that band as it moved onto major label success.

Bobby Marks was initially involved along with Greg Chaisson's bass playing brother Kenny and guitarists MARK FERRARI and David Michael-Phillips. Edwards skills would post STEELER be employed with RIOT, BURNING STARR and LION. Chaisson was to find greater prominence in BADLANDS whilst Perry joined Australian Rockers HEAVEN before a stint with MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP.

Later years post KEEL found Ron, now dubbed 'Ronnie Lee Keel', quite incredibly trying his hand at Country & Western music. In this guise Keel issued two albums prior to getting back to his Rock roots fronting the female backed FAIR GAME comprising of erstwhile NO SHAME members. By 2000 he was mixing Country and Hard Rock with his act IRONHORSE. The singer resurrected KEEL in November 2008.