If you’re not familiar with Steel Panther’s music, the only question is- why not? If you’re any kind of fan of the Glam or Hair metal genres, or you just think music died somewhere in the 80s and has never recovered since, then Steel Panther are the group you should have on auto-play on your iPod for sure.
The band’s whole ethos is built around bringing the fun, the crazy and the party back into the metal genre and music in general. With their comical, over-blown stage personalities- obsessed with girls and groupies and sex in large amounts- they encourage us to laugh at the spandex-shrouded antics of rockers and metal heads gone by. However, that’s not all there is to the band. They bring a total package of clever, hooky and often painfully yet amusingly reminiscent lyrics and guitar riffs to match the best. There’s no wonder that this band regularly have celebrity ‘gatecrashers’ joining them on stage [the list of musician’s who’ve gate crashed Steel Panthers sets is growing to be legendary], and their unofficial cover versions of metal greats with their special guest starts are some of the best out there. If you don’t believe us, just get searching! Try a fabulous version of the Scorpions “Rock you like a Hurricane” featuring Jericho and Biersack of Fozzy and Black Veil Brides respectively as a great starting point.
Steel Panther’s music isn’t to be dismissed as lightweight. The band’s last UK appearance, in conjunction with the release of their 2nd album, “Balls Out”, was to a packed out audience- before the album had even released! That should give you some idea of the popularity of this fabulous satirical band, even though it’s always best to take them themselves with a pinch of salt. That album debuted straight to 40 on The Billboard 200 chart in the United States, too. They’ve just released their 3rd studio album, “All you can Eat”, in early 2014, and there’s already rumors of a 4th in the working- given the ridiculous working title of “You can’t get Herpes twice” by the band. Knowing them, however, that may well be the title to hit the shelves too.
Be warned, though, if you’re heading straight to YouTube- stop right now if you’re at work! While the band’s clever lyrics both mocking yet exalting the Metal genre are hilarious and occasionally pithy, they’re not for work or other sensitive environments. Be especially wary of live clips too- whilst some of their best work is out there only as live on-stage recordings, there’s also the greatest of chances of a boob-flash at least once per video, so handle with caution around those with a chronic sense of humor failure, especially if they pay your salary.
If you’re looking for a slick combination of talent and fun that metal- and music in general- seem to have forgotten, or if you are indeed looking to bring the party vibe back to your listening, you can’t do much better then giving Steel Panther’s music a try. Your ears and your funny bone will love you.