Steel Panther live on stage feel like the good old times … Party Hair Metal at its best, impressing that not just middle agers groving up in the 80s belong to the fan base … at least 3 generations show up to watch this Hollywood-Metal-Attraction … sold out shows in the UK, sold out shows in Germany, of course sold out shows especially in California. Four guys whose lives are just parties and who really know how to rock no matter what happens, how to party and to offend people who don’t know words like „irony“. So the last album „Balls out“ has been put on the index and can’t be sold in Germany like in the Middle Ages or times of the PMRC in the States – censorship for Rock’n’Roll! So you gotta fight for your right to rock … anyway … we met lead singer Michael Starr to talk the new phenomenon of Metal, censorship, hot girls and Vince Neil becoming the President of the United States:
Interview: Martin Hannig / Dennis Rowehl
Picture 1 : Dennis Rowehl / Picture 2 by courtesy of Steel Panther
entertaim.net: Michael, what do you think. What can the United Nations do to save and to bring democracy the Middle East?
MS: Äh … what?
entertaim.net: Just kidding …
MS: … (laughing)
entertaim.net: Let’s start with something political. The USA aready had a bunch of curious Presidents, an actor, a Texas cowboy … isn’t it time for a female President?
MS: Honestly, Vince Neil should be President! He knows how to party and to enthuse people. He might do stupid thinks if he’s drunk but the other Presidents did stupid things even without alcohol. Man, he’s definitely the right one! I think he would tax alternative bands and metal bands wouldn’t pay taxes at all. This would be good for the American music (laughing).
entertaim.net: What about a law that beautiful women should wear high heels in public?
MS: That would be f…ing awesome. I think they really should. Well, in California many, many beautiful chicks are dressed slutty … but aywhere else like here in Germany girls more and more like to be dressed sexy … but it’s not that easy cause it’s too f…king cold (laughing). In California it’s a lot easier to be dressed in sexy clothes.
entertaim.net: When Grunge was taking over girls took out there glam dresses and looked more like lumberjacks …
MS: (laughing)
entertaim.net: … so the whole Glam thing was over in about one or two years … any explanation?
MS: I guess it’s the fault of the Heavy Metal bands. First we got the real rough sound of the real hair Metal bands and more and more Pop Metal bands like Firehouse showed up … less quality … and bands like Alice in Chains and Nirvana knew how to rock. That’s it.
entertaim.net: You acted as a cover band and you played all the classic tracks from huge bands. Now most of those bands just play in small venues and are not able to come over to Germany cause it’s too expensive and ony about 100 people would show up. By the way … WASP used to play in exactly this venue (Live Music Hall – Cologne) a couple of days ago and just 50% of the room was crowded. Now your show is sold out … all your shows in Germany and the UK are sold out. So you pass the huge bands you covered and now you’re the bigger act …. how does this feel?
MS: Well you know, this is totally awesome and I really appreciate this. It’s f…ing great!
entertaim.net: Do you have an explanation for this?
MS: When Grunge was taking over most of the bands changed to remain successful with the Alternative style … they cut their hair and tried to sound like these Grunge bands. We still remained the same. We didn’t want to change just because other peole did and we just did what we wanted and … well, we survived! And now Alice in Chains are Steel Panther fans!
entertaim.net: You become more and more successful. You are really awesome and highly professionel musicians…
MS:… we are the best…
entertaim.net: (laughing) Why did you chose this comedian way and not the serious way?
MS: It was an organic process … we played many, many shows as a cover band. Sometimes we did 3 shows in a day. And we always really loved what we did! Then we played as a Van Halen cover band …
entertaim.net: … let me guess: you were David Lee Roth …
MS: Yeah (laughs). So we just did what we did, and the feedback became bigger and bigger that we started to write our own songs. So finally we got the deal with Universal. We didn’t expect such an amazing feedback in Europe and the UK. You know, we keep on playing live, we are an excellent live band and we have a very, very good show. And we play with the audience, that’s it. We keep them involved during our show. I guess, this is the secret of our success. Some bands don’t even l0ok at the fans, they just stand around and play. That’s not our way!
entertaim.net: Do you know that your new album isn’t allowed to be sold to people under 18 in Germany?
MS: Yes, it was just because of some lyrics! That’s crazy. In the UK we were banned just because of the cover photo. They said it could be seen as a girl sticking her fingers in her pu@@y. That’s kind of middle age.
entertaim.net: Some bands do have a strict diet while touring. What about you guys? Do you party a lot?
MS: Oh yeah man – our aftershow party is the best. We do it every day! We really love to party.
entertaim.net: Only after the show?
MS: I have to be very careful with my voice. So before the show I just drink water to be in a good condition. Alcohol makes your voice dry. You know, fans paying lot of money for the ticket and they won’t see a drunken singer who don’t get the notes. I know there are some singers who can drink and perform and sing well. I can’t do that.
entertaim.net: What about the bands name? We guess it’s from the movie „Rockstar“, there’s the band called „Steel Dragon“…
MS: Ah no, definitely not. That’s a coincidence. Hey but I love that movie. It’s incredible! With Zakk Wylde, Jason Bonham, Jeff Pilson. Awesome. And Jennifer Aniston!
entertaim.net: On the new Steel Panther DVD there are a couple of interviews and you guys just talking about loving to f@@@ bitches…
MS: (laughing) Yeah man, we name it! I mean everybody wanna do this, right? That’s what it’s all about! And we do it! What’s wrong in saying it?
entertaim.net: Especially in California many hot chicks love Metal and Rock. In Europe and Miami they are more focused on DJs …
MS: Even in California we got both … don’t know why …
entertaim.net: Ok Michael – thanks for bringing Glam Metal back to the people!
MS: Yeah! You guys have to spread our words!
entertaim.net: We’ll do!
MS: Thanks and enjoy the show!
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