Steel Panther
Steel Panther |
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Steel Panther (formerly known as Danger Kitty, Metal Shop and Metal Skool), is a Los Angeles, California Glam Metal band. Originally formed as Metal Shop, they're known for their energetic live show, the longest running heavy metal show on the Sunset Strip . Onstage, the band both pays tribute to and lampoons the heyday of 80's glam metal. The band's between-song comedy includes jests at conflict between band members, discussions of drugs, sex, and improvised humor with the crowd.
Pseudonyms
The band members have all adopted pseudonyms in the spirit of the bands they imitate. Their line up is billed as: drummer "Stix Zadinia" (real name Darren Leader), guitarist "Satchel" (real name Russ Parrish), singer "Michael Starr," (real name Ralph Saenz) and bassist "Lexxi Foxxx" (real name Travis Haley).
Other Projects
Saenz is the former lead singer for the Van Halen tribute band the "Atomic Punks", and was lead singer for L.A. Guns for a short period of time. Parrish was formerly the guitar player for the Atomic Punks and for the Rob Halford-fronted band, Fight. Leader and Parrish have another band of their own called the Thornbirds[1] with Jeff Duncan of Armored Saint on guitar and bassist Dean Cameron, who also directed Metal Skool's "Fat Girl" video.
Venues
Recently the band moved to the Key Club on the Sunset Strip where their shows have been selling out regularly. They continue to play other regular gigs in the Southern California area including a weekly show in San Diego, California. Beginning June 2008 every Friday night, Steel Panther began playing The Ovation Lounge at Green Valley Ranch Casino in Henderson, NV. They've been featured on the cover of All Access Magazine [2], and won their award for "Best Tribute Band in the Universe." [3] The San Diego Union-Tribune has called them "the ultimate '80s heavy metal tribute." [4] Dave Swanson has called them "my favorite band I have never seen."
Onstage Guests
Steel Panther frequently invites high-profile guests at their shows (celebrities and musicians) onstage to "crowd participate," and a number of these incidents have been caught on film. They are usually invited to join the band onstage for a song, sometimes temporarily replacing band members. Joined by Nuno Bettencourt and Sully Erna, singer Michael Starr quipped, "Hey, I finally get to play with real musicians!"
Notable onstage guests and songs include:
- Carson Palmer of the Cincinnati Bengals joined the band on stage in San Diego to sing "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey.
- Jeremy Piven, who plays Ari on the hit HBO show Entourage played the drums onstage. [5]
- Avril Lavigne, who sang and played drums onstage in February 2009.
- David Bryan, keyboard player of Bon Jovi joined the band after being spotted in the audience. [6]
- April Margera sang Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer" [7]
- Kelly Clarkson and Ryan Key of Yellowcard sang Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child o' Mine" and Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" while drinking a bottle of whiskey. [8]
- Tony Romo and Dennis Haskins (the actor who played Mr. Belding on Saved by the Bell) appeared onstage together and sang Journey's "Don't Stop Believing". [9] Romo also appeared onstage with girlfriend Jessica Simpson in late January 2008. [10]
- David Draiman, lead singer of Disturbed, and former NBA star Dennis Rodman appeared onstage together. [11]
- Jerry Cantrell, guitarist for Alice in Chains, played guitar onstage during the same show Draiman appeared onstage. [12]
- Billy Ray Cyrus sang "Rebel Yell" by Billy Idol. [13]
- Kip Winger of Winger sang Journey's "Don't Stop Believing". [14]
- Constantine Maroulis, former American Idol finalist, appeared onstage. [15]
- Justin Guarini sang "Don't Stop Believing". [16]
- The Rev from Avenged Sevenfold and Phil Anselmo appeared onstage together. [17]
- Pink sang Skid Row's "18 and Life" [18]
- Brian Posehn sings "You've Got Another Thing Comin'" by Judas Priest on his 40th birthday. [19]
- Michael Strahan, Gavin DeGraw, Ryan Cabrera and Pauly Shore sang Def Leppard's Pour Some Sugar On Me [20]
- Juliette Lewis sang "Ain't Talking Bout Love" [21]
- Rza and Shavo Odadjian [22]
- Tom Morello played drums and Breckin Meyer sang vocals on Alice in Chains' Man in the Box on August 27th, 2007. [23]
- Lil Jon singing "Jump" by Van Halen [24]
- Shavo Odadjian bass player for System of a Down [25]
- Incubus bassist Ben Kenney sang Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer" [26]
- Hal Sparks sang Skid Row's "18 and Life" with the band [27]
- Tom Morello played guitar while Perry Farrell sang the Jane's Addiction classic "Mountain Song". [28]
- Justin Hawkins sang and played guitar for "I Believe in a Thing Called Love".[29]
- Paul Stanley sang "Lick it up" [30].
- Deryck Whibley played guitar onstage in February 2009.
- David Cook, Joey Fatone, Jeff Scott Soto, and Matt Sorum performed "Sweet Child of Mine" and "Paradise City."
- Holly Madison (March 10, 2009 Los Angeles, Key Club) : Appeared on-stage
- Dennis Rodman (March 30, 2009) appeared on-stage interacting with the band through several songs.
- Benji Madden (March 30, 2009) performed Danzig's "Mother."
- Deryck Whibley (March 30, 2009) appeared on-stage.
- Corey Taylor, vocalist of Slipknot and Stone Sour sang Poison's "Nothing But A Good Time" and Ratt's "Round and Round".
- Steve Stevens, guitarist for Billy Idol performed White Wedding.
- Criss Angel has appeared onstage, disappearing shortly afterwards.
- M. Shadows (April 18, 2009) appeared on-stage to perform Guns 'N Roses "Sweet Child 'O Mine"
- Jani Lane of Warrant (American band) has joined Steel Panther once to sing Warrant's Cherry Pie, and another time to sing Ratt's Round and Round.
- Kenny Loggins appeared on-stage to perform Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" with the band.
Recent Events
On November 13, 2007, the band announced on their MySpace blog that they have begun recording new material and posted the lyrics to one of their new songs (called Turn Out the Lights).
On February 8, 2008, they launched their new official website.
On April 13, 2008, the band appeared at The Rockin' Saddle night club and restaurant in Redlands, California billed as Steel Panther formerly known as Metal Skool. Steel Panther became their official new name.
In May 2008, Steel Panther were finally signed to a record label called Universal Republic.
The album will be released June 9th, 2009, and was produced by Jay Ruston.
The first single "Death To All But Metal" premiered on iTunes Monday January 26th, 2009.
In a recent on air interview it was revealed that Satchel and Fitz Madrid of KUPD-FM in Phoenix, AZ are in-laws.
They will be playing at this years Download festival in the UK.
Discography
- Love Rocket (2001) - Promotional one-track single released as Danger Kitty.
- Hole Patrol (2003) - released initially as Metal Shop and reissued as Metal Skool.
- Hey That's What I Call Sludge! Vol. 1 (2004) - compilation appearance as Metal Sludge All-Stars on initial prints (later repressed as Metal Skool), featuring four spoken word skits and the first recording of 'Death To All But Metal'.
- Feel the Steel (June 2009)
Other appearances
When the band was still known as Metal Shop they appeared on a Discover Card commercial as the band "Danger Kitty", a promotional one-track CD for the song Love Rocket was released.
During the final season of The Drew Carey Show Metal Skool performed the show's theme song "Cleveland Rocks" (originally by Ian Hunter). This version of the song was later released on the re-release of the album "Hole Patrol" in 2005. Drew Carey has been known to make appearances at their live shows as well.
Steel Panther plays a cover of Aldo Nova's song Fantasy as the theme song for the MTV show Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory.