Blabbermouth reports that singer Michael Starr (real name Ralph Saenz; ex-L.A. Guns) of parody band Steel Panther tells The Tennessean that, despite the band’s cult band status, “now, with where we’re at with 25 employees, trucks and buses, there’s a lot riding on what comes out on our CDs. Plus, we’re getting a lot of pressure to write clean stuff from people surrounding our camp, so they can make money off of what we’re doing,” he adds. “They’re like, ‘Look, we need a serious record from Steel Panther.’ From day one, we said, ‘No. We’re not doing that.’ ”
Starr explained the band’s attitude in a 2012 interview with Billboard.”We just have fun. We’ve always had fun. We’re guys that obviously are just comedic all the way to the core. We just decided, ‘Hey, let’s have fun and not take ourselves seriously.”
He continued, “And you know what, dude? I’m glad that we did it this way, because now I’m happy. This is who I am, y’know? We have the [different] names but we’re not putting on, like, an act. I don’t have to act like some other dude. I get to be myself and people dig it. Even people that laugh at us are still fans, which is really cool.”
Having wrapped a highly successful run as main support for Judas Priest in North America last month, Steel Panther is currently on a North American headlining run, which began in Charlotte, North Carolina. Following the North American headlining dates, the band will be play a series of “Threesomes,” two three-night residencies, one in their hometown of Los Angeles and the other in nearby Las Vegas, at the cities’ respective House Of Blues venues in February.
Steel Panther’s third album, All You Can Eat, sold around 13,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 24 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD arrived in stores on April 1 via Open E/KLS.
Read more at http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/steel-panther-has-no-interest-in-making-serious-album/#7mLRF2qdiYby8IES.99
22 Responses
Respectfully, I guess I would disagree, just a bit. While I appreciate the comedy and parody of Panther, in my humble opinion, it’s their lewdness that halts their ability to garner greater success. I think if they toned down, again just a little bit, and were cleverer in their approach, they would not hear folks around their camp trying to convince them to produce cleaner stuff. Because they are such talented musicians, is why I suspect they hear these comments.
I can understand that, but I think without the lewdness, you kind of miss out on the point of Steel Panther.
They take the parody to the extreme, which is what parodies usually are. A caricature.
You know, people didn’t like Kiss or Genesis at first either, but they stuck with what they wanted to do and it seemed to work out okay. I really like Steel Panther and what they are doing. Nobody else is doing it…as well as they can do it. They are the ONLY band that puts a smile on my face EVERY time I hear one of their songs. Keep it up boys!
Not sure how you can compare a band like Kiss or Genesis to a parody band making fun of the 80’s? Every band that has an act like this eventually runs it’s course which is why there may be pressure to change one day. Fozzy started like this, Spinal Tap tried to have a music career with it, etc.
Well, Kiss is definitely a theatre “band”. Simple rock songs and a big show. I don’t see them as being much different than Steel Panther. They had a schtick and worked it. Steel Panther does the same.
I think the 80’s metal is begging to be made fun of. A good portion of it was absurd and shallow, I know, I was there too.
Perfectly said…grown men in makeup and platform boots singing about ‘Love Guns’, 16 y/o girls and plaster casts of dicks is total shtick. I enjoyed them back in the day, but there’s nothing serious about them at all. There is no doubt a difference between the bands…and musical talent is one of them, in Steel Panther’s favor!
Weird Al topped the charts for 8 weeks with parody this year.
Ugh, Weird Al. 🙄
What’s wrong with Weird Al? He’s lasted longer than most of the artists he parodies.
Some of his stuff was funny back in the day but now all left to parody is Justine beiber and katey perry
That’s like a parody of a parody
I need some Pepto Bismol.
didn’t steel panther just get nominated for the rock n roll hall of fame………?????
Yeah. and I think weird Al as well! LOL! 🙂