Michael Starr (singer)

Ralph Saenz
Saenz performing with Steel Panther
Background information
Birth name	Ralph Michael Saenz
Also known as	Michael Starr Michael Diamond Michael Saenz David Lee Ralph
Born	(1965-05-17) May 17, 1965 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Origin	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres	Glam metal Hard rock
Occupation	Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)	Vocals, guitar, bass, keyboard
Years active	1994–present

Ralph Michael Saenz (born May 17, 1965), better known by the stage name Michael Starr, is the lead singer for the comedic glam metal band Steel Panther.

Career

Saenz was the lead singer for the David Lee Roth-era Van Halen tribute band Atomic Punks from May 1994 to December 2008, where he had the nickname David Lee Ralph. He was briefly the lead singer for L.A. Guns, singing on the Wasted EP. He also has sung for the bands 7% Solution, First Cause, Longgone, and Nightfall. The latter was featured on the KNAC radio sponsored Pure Rock compilation (1987), with Ralph going under the name Michael Saenz.

Saenz appeared briefly in the 2001 film Rock Star, seen in the glass booth auditioning when Mark Wahlberg's and Jennifer Aniston's characters walk into the audition. He glares at the two before Wahlberg's character takes his turn to audition. He provided background vocals for AFI on the albums Sing the Sorrow and Decemberunderground.

Discography

With Steel Panther

Main article: Steel Panther discography

• Hole Patrol (2003)
• Feel the Steel (2009)
• Balls Out (2011)
• All You Can Eat (2014)

With Metal Sludge

• Hey That's What I Call Sludge Vol – 1 (2003) Compilation feat: original demo of Death To All But Metal

With L.A. Guns

• Wasted (1998)

Guest

• Attitude City (Dick Elders vocals)

Personal life

Saenz was raised primarily in Van Nuys, California, where his father was a college professor. Saenz himself earned a PhD in English Literature from the University of California, Berkeley (c. 1991), and was briefly an assistant professor of literature and cultural studies, at Texas A&M Commerce. Saenz and his wife, Jocelyn, live in Los Angeles, California. He was interviewed by the Swedish magazine Hårdrock, where he revealed that he is half Swedish and half Spanish.

External links

• Rock Pit Interview