Neal Kay

Neal Kay is a British DJ, who play a key role in the development of the music genre New Wave of British Heavy Metal occupied from the end of the 1970s and bands like Iron Maiden and Praying Mantis promoted.

After he was able to gain good knowledge of the contemporary rock scene through employment in Berlin night clubs, he became in 1975 a job as a DJ at London club The Bandwagon. In addition to its disposal the week he also took over the music selection on Sunday under the name of London 's Only Heavy Rock Disco. These shows were over 500 guests soon become the best-attended events of The Band Wagon and found after a short time in five days instead of a week. With music by bands like Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Rush and Thin Lizzy established the now Heavy Metal Soundhouse mentioned event as an alternative to the then popular in London punk and New Wave clubs. In addition to the evening disco soon played regularly coming bands live at The Bandwagon, including Samson, Angel Witch, Praying Mantis, commercial and Saxon. The young band Iron Maiden also sent Kay a demo recording with four songs that he recorded in his program. This recording was later published as The Sound House Tapes and the band photos used for record covers were included in The Band Wagon.

"I think the most important was the demo recording and that it was played in the Sound House of Neal Kay, because that has aroused the interest of the people in the band. "

Special attention was paid also selected by visitors to the clubs and compiled by Neal Kay charts of the most popular songs. These were published, among others, regularly in the British music magazine Sounds. Kay was also involved in putting together the compilation Metal for Muthas and wrote liner notes for the same. He also went with bands like Iron Maiden, Praying Mantis and Saxon on tour and provided the background music before the performances of the bands.

The organizers of a competing heavy metal disco convinced in 1980, the owner of The Band Wagon, there to organize events instead of Heavy Metal Soundhouse, which led less than a year later to the closure of the premises due to the lack of success. Neal Kay and the Soundhouse eventually decided in the London pub The Headstone until this in 1982 was forced to close. Kay took after DJ items in the clubs The Clay Pigeon in Eastcote, where he worked until 1992, and The Queens Arms in Harrow on.

In the 1990s, Neal Kay introduced a new compilation called Metal for Muthas '92 together, lived for a time in Japan and Portugal, and worked as a music producer. Chance he organized individual concerts under the name Soundhouse Reunion in changing clubs.