Heart Of Steel

When it comes to rock'n'roll parodies, none come stronger or more pure than Steel Panther. Stalwarts of the Sunset Strip circuit, under former guises such as Metal Shop and Danger Kitty, the band were merely good-time LA club fun for those longing for some of that '80s hair metal badness. That all changed, however, when in 2008 the band, known at the time as Metal Skool, changed their name to Steel Panther.

Since then, their fanbase has swollen to a degree far more serious than a simple cult following, and now, their standing as the number-one rocking party band on the planet has all but been secured. They're a cock-rock institution, touring the world playing sold-out headline shows and tackling festivals' biggest stages, and from notorious frontmen to pop stars, television personalities to Hollywood celebrities, everyone wants to be a part of the Steel Panther experience.

“I think that, well first of all actors are extremely frustrated rock stars, they want to be on stage,” Starr observes. “I mean look at Tom Cruise in Rock Of Ages – he wants to rock. And the other guys that come and jam with us I think just really appreciate what we're doing, because we really do take our musicianship extremely serious and it's important for us to replicate our songs like how they sound on record, and sing in key and all that stuff. Every dude that recognises that can respect it and enjoy it by just having fun. That's the message today – fun.

“And that's exactly what we stand for, having a good time, and everyone getting together and fucking. I mean, the '80s was great fun – you could have sex without a condom and party, then the '90s came around and we got all depressed and worried about diseases, then Nirvana came around and it was just, 'Oh man', it was just, 'Eeh!'.” For a moment it sounds like Starr has bitten on the most sour of lemons, but he quickly regains his verbose momentum. “And then the early 2000s were a struggle for us, but then suddenly it was 2009 and the party begun; everyone's out enjoying themselves, marijuana is legal in California now – it's great times.”

Cruising around LA, “…looking to pick up some stuff”, Starr recalls the moment earlier this year when he realised things were starting to blow up, a point in his life that he puts into perspective as only he could.

“Download was the show that for me put everything in perspective of how big this thing is getting,” he remembers. “That we were able to go out on Metallica's eagle ramps and stuff, we could do that, then we went out there and it was like I was in a boat with a sea of people around me and it was just so overwhelming, it was like the first time I did cocaine, it really was, and I remember that clearly. This is a true story – my brother was like, 'Michael, come upstairs, you got to check this out', and he put on Val Halen 1 and he put on Eruption, and he drew out a line of cocaine for me and he said, 'Let's do this and listen to this record and freak out' – I was like nine I think or something. So I listened to Van Halen Eruption and that feeling that I had at that time when I was nine was the same feeling that I had at Download and it was amazing. Complete euphoria – it was killer. I want to say Nirvana but I get pissed off when I think of that band.”

With song titles such as Asian Hooker, Party All Day (Fuck All Night) and Just Like Tiger Woods, the quartet make their mission clear. However, Starr goes deeper when asked to name the track that really summarises Steel Panther as a whole.

“I would have to say Death To All But Metal at this point, just because that song is the one that has been with us for so many years and it's words we live by – we will never, ever, stop playing metal,” he states decisively. “Like I said, the late '80s, early '90s, metal was kind of dying out, Nirvana and Soundgarden were taking over and we were bummed, but we never stopped playing metal. I remember talking to Satchel [guitar] about it and we didn't know what to do; no labels wanted to hear our demos, all our buddies were cutting their hair and playing grunge, so we just thought, 'Fuck it,, and started playing covers, Motley Crue covers, Van Halen, whatever, we just kept doing it, and I think Death To All But Metal really describes what Steel Panther is all about.”

Steel Panther come at you from all corners, combining method acting, comical timing and some serious musical chops. But to laugh or rock? That is the question…

“I want everyone to do both,” Starr tells. “Because when I went and saw Van Halen, David Lee Roth, he'd be rocking and he'd make you laugh, and it was a great heavy metal experience and hopefully we can do ten per cent of what they did back in the day. [But] I think that's what people see when they come and watch us – we're not faking what we're doing. We might be having fun and writing about experiences that are as funny as hell, but the bottom line is we fucking love heavy metal and you can tell that when we play.

“Everyone is connecting with Steel Panther's individual reality, which is, 'We like to escape reality as much as possible'. Y'know, responsibilities are a pain in the arse, taking care of paying your bills sucks, so we try and escape that as much as possible and I think that translates not only in our music but in our live show as well.”

At 47 years of age, it seems like things are only just getting started for Starr, and you better believe that the frontman is ready for some fun. Before he hangs up, the vocalist offers some tips for any Australian ladies looking to Feel The Steel on their upcoming run of shows.

“The best way to get our attention is to be super outgoing and slutty,” he charms, “and if you want us to look at you while we are performing just show your boobs. When it's a big mass of people it's kind of hard [for us] to see, but when you're on someone's shoulders and showing your boobs, usually we'll see you, and usually we'll have a scout that monitors what we are looking at, then we'll send them out with passes to get you backstage. It works really good and then we all can have a great afterparty, and that's what it's all about, having a good time, partying and fucking chicks.”

Steel Panther will be playing the following shows:

Thursday 4 October - Eatons Hill, Brisbane QLD
Friday 5 October - Big Top Luna Park, Sydney NSW
Sunday 7 October - Palace Theatre, Melbourne VIC
Monday 8 October - HQ, Adelaide SA
Wednesday 10 October - Metro City, Perth WA