Guitar work for the band was done by Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society), drums by Jason Bonham (Bonham, UFO, Foreigner, Led Zeppelin, Black Country Communion), and bass guitar by Jeff Pilson (Dokken, Dio, Foreigner). The lead singers were Jeff Scott Soto (voicing Bobby Beers) and high pitched Miljenko Matijevic from hair / metal band Steelheart (voicing protagonist Chris "Izzy" Cole).
The story behind the band in the movie was freely based on a curious incident that happened to Judas Priest; their original vocalist Rob Halford was replaced by a fan, Tim 'Ripper' Owens, who was previously the lead singer of a Judas Priest tribute band called British Steel, which may have influenced the name Steel Dragon.
Long Live Rock And Roll
Steel Dragon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you know where I mean
When the mist just starts to clear
In a similar way
At the end of today
I could feel the sound of writing on the wall
It cries for you
Like a spiral on the wind
I can hear it screamin, in my mind
Long live rock and roll
Long live rock n roll
Long live rock and roll
In a different time
When the words didn't ryhme
You could never quite be sure
Then on with the change
It was simple but strange
And you knew the feeling seemed to say it all
It cries for you
It's the least that you can do
Like a spiral on the wind
I can hear it screamin' in my mind
Long live rock and roll
Long live rock n roll
Long live rock and roll
Getting as good as you give
Sleep with the devil and then you must pay
Sleep with the devil, and the devil will take you away
Look away from the sea
I can take you anywhere
Spend a vision with me
A chase with the wind
Move closer to me
I can make you anyone
I think you're ready to see
The gates of babylon
The power of what has been before
Rises to trap you within
A magic carpet ride a genie maybe more
A city of heavenly sin
Sleep with the devil and then you must pay
Sleep with the devil, the devil will take you away
Black gates of babylon
The devil is me
And I'm holding the key
To the gates of sweet hell
Babylon
The opening lyrics of Steel Dragon's "Long Live Rock and Roll" are a poetic reflection on the fleeting nature of life and dreams. The singer asks the listener if they know that moment at the end of a dream when the mist begins to clear, and suggests that the feeling of clarity and insight that follows is similar to the sensation of writing on the wall. The phrase "it cries for you, it's the least that you can do" could be interpreted in a few different ways; it could mean that the message on the wall is desperate for the listener to hear it, or it could be a commentary on the singer's own creative process, implying that writing and music are something of an obligation.
As the song progresses, the lyrics become more abstract and impressionistic. There are references to a time when words didn't rhyme, and to the simplicity and strangeness of change. The chorus, which repeats the phrase "long live rock and roll" several times, can be interpreted in different ways: on one level, it serves as a rallying cry for the genre itself, affirming the eternal power of rock music. On another level, the repeated phrase could be seen as a ritual incantation of sorts, summoning the spirit of rock to fulfill some mysterious purpose.
The lyrics then shift abruptly to a more mythic and fantastical realm. The singer promises to take the listener anywhere and show them visions, and the imagery becomes increasingly bizarre, with references to a genie, a magic carpet ride, and a city of heavenly sin. The reference to the "gates of Babylon" is particularly intriguing; this could be a reference to the biblical story of the Tower of Babel, a symbol of human arrogance and overreach. Overall, the lyrics to "Long Live Rock and Roll" are suggestive and metaphorical, inviting the listener to explore multiple layers of meaning.
Line by Line Meaning
At the end of a dream
As a dream ends
If you know where I mean
If you understand my perspective
When the mist just starts to clear
As things start to become clearer
In a similar way
Similarly
At the end of today
At the end of this day
I could feel the sound of writing on the wall
I felt the foreshadowing of something happening soon
It cries for you
It's a call out to you
It's the least that you can do
The minimum action you should take
Like a spiral on the wind
Spiraling on the wind which symbolizes change and growth
I can hear it screamin, in my mind
I can hear it loud and clear in my thoughts
Long live rock and roll
Let rock and roll music prosper
Long live rock n roll
Rock and roll must thrive
Long live rock and roll
Rock and roll will never die
In a different time
In a different era
When the words didn't ryhme
When words did not have matching sounds
You could never quite be sure
There was always some degree of uncertainty
Then on with the change
Then came the time for change
It was simple but strange
The change was easy but peculiar
And you knew the feeling seemed to say it all
You understood the change completely
Getting as good as you give
Giving as much as you receive
Sleep with the devil and then you must pay
Making a deal with the devil always comes at a price
Sleep with the devil, and the devil will take you away
Once you get mixed up with the devil, you will lose yourself
Look away from the sea
Don't let the sea distract you
I can take you anywhere
I can lead you to new places
Spend a vision with me
Experience a vision with me
A chase with the wind
A pursuit of something difficult
Move closer to me
Come nearer to me
I can make you anyone
I have power over you
I think you're ready to see
I believe that you are prepared to view
The gates of babylon
The location where one's fate will be determined
The power of what has been before
The influence of previous events
Rises to trap you within
Becomes a trap from which it's hard to escape
A magic carpet ride a genie maybe more
A mystical experience, where anything is possible
A city of heavenly sin
A place where one can lose oneself in earthly pleasures
The devil is me
I am the tempter
And I'm holding the key
I have the power to give or take away
To the gates of sweet hell
To a tempting but dangerous place
Babylon
The place where temptation lies
Contributed by Hunter F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@cassianolopesdasilva3863
Lyrics
Yeah, rock and roll
At the end of a dream
If you know where I been
When the mist just starts to clear
In a similar way
At the end of today
I could feel the sound of
Writing on the wall
It cries for you
It's the least that you can do
Like a spiral on the wind
I can hear it screaming in my mind
Long live rock and roll
Long live rock n roll
Long live rock and roll
In a different time
When the words didn't rhyme
You could never quite be sure
Then on with the change
It was simple but strange
And you knew the feeling seemed to say it all
It cries for you
It's the least that you can do
Like a spiral on the wind
I can hear it screaming in my mind
Long live rock and roll
Long live rock n roll
Long live rock and roll
Rock and roll
Yeah, please live
Long live rock and roll
Long live rock n roll
Long live rock and roll
Long live rock and roll
Long live rock n roll
Long live rock and roll
Long live rock and roll
Long live rock n roll
Long live rock and roll
Rock and roll
@Skidztheguitarist101
This has gotta be one of my favourite covers of all time! in my top 10 somewhere, Zakk's guitar playing is epic here!
@cassianolopesdasilva3863
Lyrics
Yeah, rock and roll
At the end of a dream
If you know where I been
When the mist just starts to clear
In a similar way
At the end of today
I could feel the sound of
Writing on the wall
It cries for you
It's the least that you can do
Like a spiral on the wind
I can hear it screaming in my mind
Long live rock and roll
Long live rock n roll
Long live rock and roll
In a different time
When the words didn't rhyme
You could never quite be sure
Then on with the change
It was simple but strange
And you knew the feeling seemed to say it all
It cries for you
It's the least that you can do
Like a spiral on the wind
I can hear it screaming in my mind
Long live rock and roll
Long live rock n roll
Long live rock and roll
Rock and roll
Yeah, please live
Long live rock and roll
Long live rock n roll
Long live rock and roll
Long live rock and roll
Long live rock n roll
Long live rock and roll
Long live rock and roll
Long live rock n roll
Long live rock and roll
Rock and roll
@thefallenofficial6786
Rock star still a beautiful movie and the soundtracks are epic. Steel Dragon for life ❤️💯
@NightmareSnake
I listen to all music. ALL MUSIC. And STILL, Heavy Metal will ALWAYS be the best.
@educollantes8828
Larga vida al rock n rollo 🇵🇪🇵🇪
@orlabassoficial
Essa versão é muito foda também!
@justinfencl1643
This band isn't even real and there better then most bands today!!! This is REAL metal!!!! \m/
@MrMaxcj2
LONG LIVE ROCK N ROLL FOREVER!!!
@DcnBls
I'd like to see a reunion tour of the Steel Dragon musicians.
@jakejohnson8235
That would be awesome but one problem. Mark Wahlberg a.k.a izzy can't actually sing. 😂 So I guess the singer from steel heart would sing then. I mean technically he is Izzy voice.