Not many bands in the metal scene - or any other for that matter - can lay claims to being true flag bearers and essential ingredients in shaping the history of music. Sure, many can try, and just as many come off as ill-informed, but the ones that are, know, and those same ones don't ever brag about it.
Unless they're asked, of course.
Rising from the infamously riotous city of Newcastle, England, in 1974, Raven predated even the massive New Wave Of British Heavy Metal period that spawned some of the legends of heavy metal. The trio went on to release three of the most influential metal albums of the NWOBHM, inspiring every band of that era and beyond. Basically, without RAVEN you just would not have thrash/speed metal…. after all, the band did give Metallica and Anthrax their first tours!
And, as all good things do, Raven are the gift that keeps on giving, still powerful and influential half a century after their birth. Still consistently releasing new albums, Raven are also still a formidable force on the live circuit, attacking their craft with the same energy and take-no-prisoners attitude that saw them quickly touted as one of the best bands to grace a live stage.
Period.
After a five-year absence, Raven return to Australia in early November for a select number of shows, with frontman and bass player John Gallagher forcing HEAVY to arise at the crack of dawn just to have the pleasure of 20 odd minutes of his company.
Was it worth it? Fuck my oath it was… One of the topics of discussion was the popular affirmation that Raven, to this day, are still one of the best live bands in the world. A statement we challenge will be hard to live up to.
"Not really," he responded confidently. "It's what we do. Go watch some videos. We'll put bands who are teenagers, 20-year-olds, we'll put them to shame because we go out to kill 100% every night. It sounds like bluster or BS, but it's not. It really isn't. Come to the show and that's what we do. We have a hell of a good time, and we get everyone in on the act. We grew up in a time where the bands we saw were performers. And entertainers. And they reached out, and they grabbed. The first band we ever saw was Slade and the opening band was The Sensational Alex Harvey Band. Imagine being a 14-year-old kid seeing The Sensational Alex Harvey Band? That changed our lives. Because there you've got a guy who literally reached across everyone's face and freaked them out. Initially, it was 'Who's this band? I don't care, I wanna see Slade. Who are these guys?' And by the end everyone in the place was screaming for them. They were amazing. That's the kind of thing that went in our head. That's how you do it."
In the full interview, John discussed Raven's recent activities and their upcoming tour in Australia. John mentioned that the band has been touring since the release of their new album, All Hell's Breaking Loose, and that they are celebrating their 50th anniversary.
We talked about the challenges and fun aspects of playing in a band. He also talked about the musical climate in the 1970s, which inspired him and his brother Mark to form Raven, citing their influences such as Slade, Sweet, Gary Glitter, Status Quo, T-Rex, Deep Purple, and Montrose. John emphasized the importance of learning from other bands and adapting to audience reactions.
We discussed their experiences with the early 1980s NWOBHM scene. John shared his involvement in the Newcastle music scene, describing the competitive yet supportive atmosphere among bands. He recounted the band's rapid rise to fame, from playing pubs to opening for Iron Maiden within three months. John also shared instances of competition and sabotage among bands but emphasized the overall camaraderie and respect among musicians.
HEAVY highlighted Raven's influence on thrash metal and their contributions to the music industry. John shared that they were one of the first bands to rev up the genre, and their energy and cutting of "fat" riffs were groundbreaking. He also mentioned their influence on German bands and how they inspired many musicians. He emphasized the importance of creativity and the joy of creating new music, even after 50 years as a band. He also mentioned the band's resilience in the face of changing music trends and personal challenges, plus more.