STEEL PANTHER – MARGARET COURT ARENA – MELBOURNE – 26.10.2024
Review: Craig Eriksson. Photos: Jason Rosewarne.
Last night Steel Panther pounced on the Melbourne crowd with their On The Prowl World Tour, delivering a kick-ass, hot and spicy rock n roll show that had a bit of everything.
They thrilled the audience with a super-tight performance blended with their outrageous, sleazy, tongue-in-cheek stage theatrics and showmanship.
Formed in 2000, Steel Panther are a 4-piece, fun-loving bunch of glam hard rockers from the Sunset Strip of Los Angeles –
• Michael Starr (lead vocals)
• Satchel (lead guitar)
• Spyder (Bass guitar)
• Stix Zadinia (Drums)
Clearly influenced by 80’s hair metal bands like Motley Crue, Poison, Warrant, Ratt, Stryper, Whitesnake, Van Halen, Ozzy Osbourne, the lads all have the 80’s absurdly ‘high hair’ look that has been blow-dried and teased to nosebleed heights. Mastered by their glamorous androgynous image and fashion, wearing colourful bandanas, trademark tight spandex pants, mesh, leather chaps, chains, scarves and guitarist Satchel in his cowboy boots, however the band don’t let the paraphernalia overshadow their incredible musicianship.
You can see that Steel Panther love what they do and are the most politically incorrect band on the planet but man can they create an incredible party-like atmosphere, welding hard rock virtuosity with parody. They absolutely created mayhem and rocked the foundations of Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne.
JOHN 5
John 5 was the support tonight and is an American guitar virtuoso well-known for playing in iconic bands Motley Crue, David Lee Roth solo band, Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie. Brandishing his signature Fender Ghost Telecaster, he played a powerful instrumental set with Alejandro Mercado on drums and was a welcoming intro to what was about to come. Highlights of John 5’s set included his signature tune I Am John 5 and instrumental versions of Queen’s Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit and a fabulous Motley Crue medley.
STEEL PANTHER
Steel Panther opened with the killer EYES OF A PANTHER from Feel the Steel (2009) album which got the crowd rockin straight up with its fast and furious, full throttle hard rock. Starr has an incredible vocal range and can certainly match the likes of Vince Neill (Motley Crue) and Bret Michaels (Poison). LET ME CUM IN from Balls Out (2011) was next with its sexualised innuendos and connotations. This theme travels throughout all of Steel Panther’s show.
ASIAN HOOKER (2009) is a catchy anthem-like, almost thrash song, with big riffs and a catchy sing-along chorus. The crowd loved this song and a few girls from the audience got up and danced with them. FAT GIRL (Thar She Blows) (2009) was next and was almost a Bon Jovi-like ballad. Starr’s vocals are amazing and the harmonious backing vocals of Satchel and Spyder made for a beautiful song including a great guitar solo by Satchel.
FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS from On The Prowl (2023) with its huge guitar riffs and catchy anthem-like chorus had the crowd head-banging and singing along. Satchel then launched into a guitar solo showing that although he may look like fashion model, Derek Zoolander with his chiselled body, charm and good looks, he is a gun guitarist.
Throughout the show, Satchel gave the crowd his best ‘blue steel’ look as he trades inappropriate jokes with Starr between songs about outlandish sexual acts and experiences with no topic being off limit. There are a few impromptu comical moments during the show, one where the drummer (Stix) impersonates Rick Allen from Def Leppard.
Their interaction with the audience is second to none and Starr and Satchel had the crowd in absolute stitches, laughing so hard at times it almost hurt, making us cry tears of joy. The show features pyros and smoke machines, creating a mesmerising rock show. Throughout their show each band member really interacts well with the crowd, performing striking rock poses for fans and the photographers and flicking out loads of guitar picks.
DEATH TO ALL BUT METAL (2009) had a Motley Crue Looks that Kill intro and quirky lyrics that take the mickey out of bands/artists like The Goo Goo Dolls, Eminem, Dr Dre, Blink-182, Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, Sheryl Crow and worships bands like Def Leppard and Motley Crue.
Starr and Satchell give a hilarious intro to 1987 also from On The Prowl (2023) that was so politically incorrect that I won’t go into it, but it certainly won the crowd over and was a crowd favourite tonight.
GIRL FROM OKLAHOMA (2009) is a country-like rock ballad with seedy lyrics that the Panther fans enjoyed.
A song that has now become Steel Panther’s most popular and watched youtube song is 17 GIRLS IN A ROW (2011) where the band invites girls from the audience to come up and join them on stage. About 30 girls got up on stage with them and had so much titillating fun, flirting with the band and enjoying the moment.
COMMUNITY PROPERTY (2009) is another quirky ballad about hookers. Starr’s vocals shine in this song and Satchel’s guitar solo matches any 80’s hair metal guitar virtuoso.
The anthem sing-along PARTY ALL DAY (F*CK ALL NIGHT) (2009) is an absolute banger! The crowd sang this song so loud it was thunderous. The lyrics are hilarious and you can’t help but fist punch the air and sing along, laughing at the same time.
The encore was GLORYHOLE from the All You Can Eat (2014) album. Another fan favourite and has become their trademark song to end their spectacular shows.
Looking around the arena at the end of the show, there was no doubt that Steel Panther had delivered a very entertaining show that left punters with huge smiles on their faces, fuelled with adrenaline and ready to kick on and keep partying throughout the night.
SET LIST:
Eyes of a Panther
Let Me Come In
Asian Hooker
Fat Girl (Thar She Blows)
Friends with Benefits
Guitar solo
Death to All but Metal
1987
Girl from Oklahoma
17 Girls in a Row
Community Property
Party all Day (F*ck all night)
Encore: Gloryhole
