Neal Kay

British heavy metal/hard rock DJ, producer, live sound engineer and concert promoter (b. 10 February 1950). Neal Kay was one of the forefathers of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) movement alongside Tommy Vance and Geoff Barton. From 1975 to 1980, Neal Kay, who has been DJ'ing at London youth clubs since the mid-sixties, managed a venue called "The Bandwagon Heavy Metal Soundhouse," originally in the back room of the Prince of Wales public house in Kingsbury, North London. With one of the city's loudest club PA sound systems (8 kW JBL/Martin speakers) and Kay's passion for hard-n-heavy music, the Bandwagon soon became the main center of attraction for metalheads. In August 1978, Neal Kay invited Geoff Barton, a deputy editor of Sounds, England's leading music newspaper, to attend one of his Bandwagon nights. Barton was surprised to see a metal scene alive and blossoming in the era when punk seemingly dominated the mainstream. Sounds soon began publishing a weekly Heavy Metal chart, solely based on Kay's DJ requests at Bandwagon and featuring mainly pre-punk era bands: UFO (5), Rush, Scorpions, Rainbow, etc. Other periodicals that covered the new underground movement included Melody Maker. In November '78, Tommy Vance launched his new radio program, "Friday Rock Show," on BBC, also dedicated to heavy metal/hard-rock repertoire. In May 1979, Neal Kay organized a historical concert for Angel Witch, Iron Maiden, and Samson (3) at The Music Machine in London. Geoff Barton reviewed the event with a centerfold article in Sounds titled: "If You Want Blood (and Flashbombs and Dry Ice and Confetti) You Got It." Barton's boss and Sounds editor-in-chief, Alan Lewis (2), penned the ironic subtitle for the piece: "The New Wave Of British Heavy Metal: first in an occasional series by Deaf Barton;" and that's how a catchy NWOBHM term was born. With the media exposure and highly-publicized new "movement," Neal Kay became one of the UK's first high-caliber rock/metal DJs. He toured with Black Sabbath, Ronnie James Dio, AC/DC, Judas Priest, Ted Nugent, Motörhead and other prominent acts, playing sets at venues from Rainbow Theatre London to Hammersmith Odeon. Kay participated in compiling and producing demo tapes for new unsigned bands at Spaceward Studios in Cambridge: Saxon, Praying Mantis (3), Apocalypse and Iron Maiden (which soon landed a contract with EMI, partially due to Neal Kay's efforts). In 1980, the label released Metal For Muthas LP compilation with an assortment of Soundhouse demos; Neal wrote liner notes and helped to compile the release. The same year, he appeared as an MC at the inaugural Monsters Of Rock Festival. During his Japanese tour with members of Praying Mantis, ex-Iron Maiden, and The Sweet, Neal Kay arranged a collaboration with Pony Canyon label, resulting in the release of Metal For Muthas '92 CD compilation.