As the world continues to mourn the loss of guitar icon Eddie Van Halen, California glam metal jokesters Steel Panther decided to pay tribute to the legend the best way they know how — by going back to their cover-band beginnings. Steel Panther has recorded its interpretation of the seminal tunes Beautiful Girls and D.O.A. from the classic album Van Halen II. The songs have been some of the band’s favorites to play live and that became the inspiration to actually record them after all these years.
Their versions of Beautiful Girls and D.O.A. are available via all streaming and digital platforms, and the band filmed a quarantine-style music video for each track.
Steel Panther said, “When we were playing weekly shows on the Sunset Strip, Van Halen music was essential to our set lists to keep the place rocking. The music of that band is what helped shape who Steel Panther is today. The loss of Eddie Van Halen has affected each of us in the band and these covers are our tribute to him to say thank you for the joy Van Halen music has given us.”
Steel Panther band members guitarist Russ “Satchel” Parrish and singer Michael Starr used to play in a Van Halen cover band called Atomic Punks.
Watch Steel Panther’s Van Halen tribute videos below. [Dana’s note: As always if you have trouble viewing the videos, please refresh your browser until able to view.]
7 Responses
He has Eddie’s sound down to a T.
And Starr has DLR’s and all the funny facial antics! 🙂
Despite the fact that these guys are a goof on all things 80’s MTV Metal (Notice I didn’t say Hair Metal – I know Mr Trunk thinks it’s an insult) I think this once again shows (and proves to those who haven’t taken any notice of them before) that these guys are really good at what they do as musicians.
They maybe a goof; but I think that they show that you have to know what you are doing to make it work. I’ve saw them at the o2 in London supporting Ozzy in 2010, and whilst they were a lot of fun and they certainly had nearly 20,000 people laughing, their playing was top notch.
I remember Michael Starr saying: “Be honest; how many of you didn’t think that you were going to have a good time with Steel Panther?”
Most of the crowd put their hands up.
He then said something along the lines of: “And how many of you are having a good time with Steel Panther?”
ALL of the crowd put their hands up.
Good stuff there.
I enjoy Steel Panther, great entertainment & pretty good musicians too!
Seen them open for Judas Priest and liked it. I get the shtick.
I don’t care for the shtick at all, but I appreciate their musicianship when they are being serious, like in these VH covers.
I’m with Dana, love their musicianship, and Starr is an incredible singer, but not their misogynistic themes. Yeah, I get it, it’s supposed to be over the top. I wish more “The Burden of Being Wonderful,” and less “Gang Bang at the Old Folks Home,” “She’s on the Rag,” and so on…..
These guys are awesome . My wife hates them but I think these guys are super clever and talented. When I first heard the cd feel the steel and the 1st song Death to all but metal i was hooked. I hadn`t laughed that hard in freaking years . The whole album is hilarious and repulsive and has some great singing and playing. There`s not to many people out there that have the pipes that Michael Starr has.