Early in his musical career Steel was a member of various Melbourne pub bands: Related Mechanics in 1976 with Iain Colquhoun, Peter Lillee, John Lloyd and Nick Reischbeth; Moonshine from 1976 to 1977, the Trouts in 1977 with Mark Bell, Stuart Crosby, Dave McNaughton and Rob Stevens; the Satellites from 1978 to 1981; Zeros in 1981; Strange Tennants in 1981 with Alex Formosa, Lawrence Maddy, Bruce Worrall; and Fire Below from 1984 to 1985.

[1][2] They issued a single, "Walk Tall", in 1985 and provided a track, "Johnny's Tombstone", for a various artists compilation album, A Slab of Vic, in that year.

[2][3][4] Prior to their second album, Karen Middleton of The Canberra Times, described how the group, "[were] compared to Irish post-punk folk rockers the Pogues, the more mellow Bushwackers and even Redgum.

[2][3] Steel relocated to Sydney, where he recorded his first solo single, "The Hardest Part" which was released in October 1988.

[1][2] At the ARIA Music Awards of 1989 it was nominated for Best Indigenous Release but lost to Weddings Party Anything's Roaring Days.

[8] Steel's debut album, Bitter Street was produced by Graham Bidstrup and released in September 1989.

[1][2] McFarlane observed, "Steel's concise and economical arrangements, narrative style vocal manner drew comparisons with Paul Kelly, albeit in a very positive light.

[1][2] His bandmates, Bailey and Goodwin, were joined in the studio by Michael Barclay on drums, James Black on keyboards, John Brewster on guitar, Peter Bull on keyboards, Mark Dennison on saxophone, Kevin Dubber on trumpet and Charlie McMahon on didgeridoo.

[1][2] They released an album, Cross My Palm in June 1993 and an extended play, Broken English in March 1994.

[1][2] Steel's sixth album, The Edge of the World was released in May 1999 and according to McFarlane "featured a collection of contemporary Australian acoustic roots tunes with plenty of charm".

[14][15] Steel was inducted into the EG Fall of Fame in 2012 for his contribution to Australian music as a member of Weddings Parties Anything.