RAVEN · A CONNECTION THAT LASTED 45 YEARS

From London’s Lyceum to St. Louis

Bernard Doe took me to see Raven at London’s Lyceum in 1981. I already knew the band through Neat Records’ Lead Weight compilation—especially “Inquisitor”—and soon followed them into Rock Until You Drop. Raven was never an unknown opening band to me.

Forty-five years later, the connection was still alive. In St. Louis I parked behind Raven’s gear trailer and left my headlights on so John and Mark Gallagher could see while they loaded. I played Judas Priest’s Sad Wings of Destiny; both brothers sang along, and Mark called it “the best load-in music ever.”