The Return of Steel Panther: Michael Starr Interview Part 2

AFTER TWO LONG months of good behavior, Steel Panther is welcomed back with open arms to Green Valley Ranch’s Ovation beginning Saturday, June 19. Best known for its embodiment of all that is rock ‘n’ roll, the ’80s glam metal parody band rocks the stage with its colorful repartee, loud costumes and graphic body language, in addition to paying homage to great bands like Bon Jovi, Motley Crue and Poison.

We caught up with lead singer, Michael Starr, to talk about what’s new with Steel Panther in this, the second of two interview blog entries. (Interview Part One)

*Consider yourself warned, some of the language in this interview is as colorful as an 80’s spandex jump suit. The opinions expressed in this interview are not necessarily those of Station Casinos, Green Valley Ranch Resort, the management, the web team, our internet host, any of the casino hosts, the door guys at Ovation, or anyone else we may have forgotten. If you’re easily offended, jump over to one of our wonderful recipe blog entries instead. They’re delicious!

Continued from Part 1…

Station Casinos Blog (SCB): What’s this we hear about a Steel Panther television show and  – didn’t we see you guys in a beer commercial recently?

Michael Starr (MS): Yeah, that’s cool you mention that. We shot a Bud Light ad in December, and it was supposed to come out for the Super Bowl, so we had this big party and we got a bunch of strippers and had them come over and watch with us, but then it didn’t air! So we’re all, like, bummer, dude. But then I was at a bar in Henderson last week, and a friend of mine said he saw it during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, so I guess they decided to start playing it. It’s about a guy who gets a haircut and they turn it into a huge party… hell, I don’t know. I haven’t even seen the finished ad yet…

The Comedy Central thing: really important. We’ve been trying really hard to bring Heavy Metal back. Everybody in this band LOVES Heavy Metal.  That’s one of the things people absorb when they see us – we really, really love what we’re doing. I think this show is our way for us to get into every household. Because, with the record, we sing about whatever we want, and it’s tough to get it all on the radio, if you know what I mean. (Laughs, referencing some song titles we can’t mention here. Hey, our mothers read this blog! ) So we went in and re-recorded some of the songs and changed out some of the dirty words for TV. Comedy Central contracted us to do a pilot to show how our Mission (to bring Heavy Metal back) is going.  It shows the struggles we have had with our label and stuff. It’s all true – all reality. So we shot it, then we edited it and went back and forth with some changes, and now it’s with the president of Comedy Central who is the guy who decides whether or not to buy the show. We’ll probably find out by the time we start playing GVR if it’s going to become a reality and become a show starting in the fall. The cool thing about the commercial is that it puts us out there even more. People who are spending millions and millions of dollars on a TV show want to know that what they’re spending money on is going to be worth it for them. I think Steel Panther is something that everybody in America and worldwide is going to dig.

SCB: You think everyone in America will dig Steel Panther? Why’s that?

MS: Hell yes! Because – who doesn’t like to get high, *&^@%$ chicks, and listen to metal? I mean, really? Even if you don’t like Heavy Metal, who doesn’t like to !#@$ chicks? Know what I mean? Unless you’re gay, and then who doesn’t like to listen to Heavy Metal, get *%#*& up and ^@%&* guys? Lesbians? Same thing.  It doesn’t matter what your sexual preference is! With Steel Panther, we’re all inclusive: It’s doesn’t matter if you’re black, white, asian, gay or straight or bi. You don’t even have to get high if you don’t want to!

You can even bring your grandmother to the show. Check this out: we’ve had a grandmother, a mother and a daughter back stage at the same time. I’m telling you right now: This grandmother hung out with Zeppelin, the mom with Poison, and now, you know, the new kid is learning about metal. Who better to teach her the lineage than Steel Panther?

SCB: All that animal print… How do Steel Panther and PETA get along?

MS: Well, we have not had ANY problems from Pamela Anderson! She still um, likes it… (censored), so that’s cool. Most people realize that all this animal print stuff that we wear is synthetic – it’s spandex! There’s no animal with spandex skin, you know? No one really freaks out anymore. I eat meat though – a lot of meat. I’m actually a vagitarian. Print that $#!&@!

SCB: Let’s play a game of “Who’s Gnarlier?”

Van Halen or Van Hagar? Van Halen!

Def Leppard or  Motley Crue? Whoa. That’s @#$% up!  Dude, that’s like saying P@#$% or B$%#’s?!  They’re both good for different times.

Eyeliner or Hairspray? Eyeliner.

Cheech or Chong? Cheech.

Fishnet or Spandex? Well, when you’re skinny – fishnet. If you have a beer belly goin’ on – spandex, so I’m going with spandex.

Ozzy or Lemmy? Ozzy! Just jammed with Ozzy. Played Iron Man at the Spike Men’s choice awards. House band for the whole show. It was sweet.

Jack Daniels or Jose Cuervo? Jack Daniel’s. Cheaper and easier to get.

Thanks, Michael. We’ll see you Saturday Nights inside Ovation at Green Valley Ranch.

About Steel Panther:

Steel Panther, formed in 1983, has gathered a large fan base on the west coast, jamming onstage with rock stars such as Sully Erna of Godsmack, Aaron Lewis of Staind and Justin Hawkins of The Darkness, among others. Steel Panther members Michael Starr, Satchel, Lexxi Foxxx and Stix Zadinia rock the stage with their big hair, tight pants and hilarious rock-star banter. Performing songs from their 2009 debut album Feel the Steel such as “Death to All But Metal,” “The Shocker,” “Eatin’ Ain’t Cheatin’” and many more, the rock stars hold nothing back for audiences. The band also recently filmed a pilot displaying their wild and crazy antics for a reality show with Comedy Central. With what is sure to be a raucous return, guests of Ovation can enjoy the loud and colorful stylings of Steel Panther every Saturday with doors at 11 p.m.

Ovation is a 500-seat venue offering booths for up to six people with a $200 minimum bar tab. The show is open to adults 21 years or older and there is no cost for admission.  Entry to the concerts will be first come, first served and based upon venue capacity. To reserve a booth, please call 702-617-7777.