Picture this: It's 1974, somewhere up north in England, and school's out for the summer. A teenage John Gallagher is just minding his own business when his brother and a mate from down the street come up to him and drop the bomb: "We're forming a band. You're the bass player."

John, without hesitation, goes, "Okay, let's go!"

That's where it all started. Raven was born out of youthful energy, makeshift instruments, and sheer willpower. No fancy music schools. No YouTube tutorials. Just three kids figuring it out as they went -- and accidentally launching themselves into the history books of heavy metal.

The UK music scene in the '70s was nothing like it is now. Especially in Northern England -- right before you hit Scotland -- where Raven called home.

John describes it: "You wanna talk sparse? There was NOTHING. In America, there's a band on every street corner. Not where we were. Any musician with half a name moved to London. And don't even think about A&R guys venturing up north -- they wouldn't go more than 50 miles past London. It was like, 'Here be barbarians, do not cross.'"

But those "barbarians" had something to prove. And thanks to a gritty little independent label called Neat Records, Raven finally got their music out to the world. The rest? History.

Back in those early days, it was all about live shows. No social media. No streaming. You either brought the energy on stage, or you didn't exist.

One night, Raven played a small show in Sheffield. How small? Let's just say the crowd was... intimate. John laughs, "Maybe five people and a dog showed up. And three of those people were Def Leppard."

And yes, that's the Def Leppard. Just a couple of kids in the crowd at the time, soaking up Raven's chaos. Crazy, right? Character-building, as John puts it.

"It wasn't a genre," John explains. "It was an era. The bands didn't all sound the same. What we had in common was the DIY spirit and raw energy. We pulled that from punk. We were just doing what we loved."

And in the process? They inspired a whole new generation of rockers.

Here's a fun fact: Metallica's first U.S. tour? That was with Raven. Yeah, let that sink in.

"They had the same gang mentality we had," John recalls. "But did I think they'd become the biggest band in the world? No way."

Still, Metallica never forgot Raven's influence. John smiles as he remembers a chat with the guys:"They told us they loved All for One because we broadened our sound without selling out. They saw that and did the same thing with songs like 'Fade to Black.'"

And Metallica wasn't the only one. Anthrax, Kreator, Tankard, and Doro? All Raven fans. It just goes to show -- sometimes, the loudest echoes come from the most unexpected places.

Fast forward to 2024, and Raven is still bringing the heat. Their brand-new EP, Can't Take Away the Fire, drops February 14th -- and it's pure electricity.

"It's biographical," says John. "It's about the passion that never fades. No matter the challenges -- Spotify paying pennies, whatever -- it's still there. The fire's still burning in us, and for our fans too."

The EP features five tracks, including "Black and Blue," along with live recordings that capture Raven's journey over the decades. It's a 50th-anniversary package for the diehards and the new generation alike.

Let's not forget, Raven isn't just a band. It's a family. John and his brother have been tearing up stages together for 50 years. And somehow? They haven't killed each other.

"He's a phenomenal, instinctual musician," John says when asked about playing with his brother. "I'm more methodical, so we complement each other. That dynamic makes us who we are."

The fire isn't going out anytime soon.

Raven's 2025 plans include a European tour in September, with U.S. dates on either side. They're also gearing up for a big festival in Houston on March 20th and, of course, more writing and recording.

"We're just keeping it going," John says. "Still doing what we love. Still rocking."

For a band that started in a schoolyard in 1974, Raven's story is nothing short of legendary. They've defied the odds, inspired generations, and kept their passion alive.

So, whether you're an OG fan or just discovering their music, know this: Raven isn't slowing down.