MetalTalk was born in July 2009, not from a grand vision but from necessity, curiosity, and a clever bit of improvisation. At its core, it began as a side project to support the work of Steve Göldby managing the legendary Krusher Joule.
While building Krusher’s online presence, Göldby found himself increasingly inundated with press releases, promo materials, and industry news. Recognising the potential of these materials and wanting to give his commentary a home, he decided to build a platform to house it all. Thus, MetalTalk.net was launched, a digital magazine that would go on to reshape the UK’s rock and Metal journalism scene.
“There was no real ambition for MetalTalk at all in those very early days,” Steve Göldby said, “other than to be in control of a facility where I could do favours for people in the hope they would be returned in the form of business for Krusher.”
Steve always gave credit to David Meehan, who not only designed the original MetalTalk site and logo but kept it updated through its formative years, what Göldby fondly refers to as the site’s “Jurassic era.”
But things escalated quickly.
By 2010, MetalTalk had grown into something far more dynamic. Editorial contributors joined, daily publishing became the norm, and the quality of reviews—especially live gig reports—began earning a strong reputation. “It wasn’t just a blog anymore,” Steve said. “It was a news machine.”
The turning point came in 2011 when MetalTalk broke the story of Black Sabbath’s original lineup reuniting before it was officially confirmed. “I received a phone call from someone with very serious connections to Black Sabbath,” Göldby said, “who went on to unleash a heated diatribe against the band.
“I dislike having to hear people I like and admire being slated, but I listened anyway as the caller gave me details of how members of the original Sabbath lineup had decided to reunite at Ronnie James Dio’s funeral the previous year and were about to gather in Birmingham to seal the deal.”
The story would go global, putting MetalTalk in the spotlight. “The infamous dismissive remark by Tony Iommi’s manager, who called it some insignificant little website, ironically cemented MetalTalk’s status in the industry,” Steve said. “It became the site that scooped the Sabbath reunion—and got it right.”
From there, MetalTalk grew into a Heavy Metal institution. It played a crucial role in stories like Richie Faulkner’s sudden rise to join Judas Priest, the wild behind-the-scenes drama in Queensrÿche, and the eventual documentary Scream For Me Sarajevo, which originated from a MetalTalk column by bassist Chris Dale.
Steve Göldby was instrumental in Steve ‘Loopy’ Newhouse’s fourteen-part memoir about his time as an Iron Maiden roadie in the very early days of the band. This resulted in his hugely successful book, The Iron Maiden Years.
What started as a clever little trick to make a one-man operation seem bigger eventually turned into one of the most respected voices in Heavy Metal journalism. MetalTalk became not just a platform for news but for legacy storytelling—telling the tales the mainstream would not touch, all with Steve Göldby’s signature mix of sharp insight, unfiltered honesty, and love for the genre.
In March 2014, Steve Göldby was invited to conduct what would become KK Downing’s first major interview since his departure from Judas Priest in 2011. This was a big deal. KK had not spoken publicly about leaving one of the most iconic Heavy Metal bands in history. And it wasn’t a cold studio setting either—this interview happened in KK’s home in Shropshire.
“There were no big revelations in there,” Steve said, “just a solid career perspective that kept his name in the minds of the millions of fans who had adored him for decades. This, KK’s first interview with a music journalist for three years, was his definitive word on his whole career.”
It was a gentle reintroduction of KK to the public narrative, setting the stage for what would come years later: his return to the stage with KK’s Priest and the release of his memoir Heavy Duty.
“These weren’t just articles,” Steve said. “They were relationship builders, reputation makers, and part of why MetalTalk could go toe-to-toe with major music outlets—and win.”
The stories here are the tip of the iceberg. We will never know the full story of the Motörhead sex toys episode, for example, and there are many more like this.
“A legacy was a long shot when I founded MetalTalk in July 2009,” Steve Göldby said. Today, we say farewell to Steve, but the MetalTalk team will ensure his legacy remains for years to come.
Steve Göldby’s funeral will be held today at Manor Park Cemetery, with a send-off at the Cart & Horses, the birthplace of Iron Maiden.
“Though I know we must be parted
As sure as stars are in the sky
I’m gonna see when it comes to glory
And I’ll see you, I’ll see you on the other side.”
