STEEL PANTHER strut their smut for Comic Relief.
THE DRUM CHANNEL STUDIO, LOS ANGELES
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STEEL PANTHER HAVE become metal’s unofficial COVID-19 comedians. As the days blurred into one, they started a series of daily videos called ‘What fucking day is it?’, featuring bandmembers and celebrities answering the question. They also appeared on Download TV and have kept up their educational ‘Great Mysteries From History’ Youtube videos – ‘perfect’ for home-schooling.
When it comes to live-streams, they’ve been a little slow off the mark, although ‘coming late’ in June – and having the backing of Monster Energy, which they ironically slurp whenever they can – means their ‘Concert To
Save The World’ has a more complex set-up than most. They approach the venue in yellow containment suits, and inside there’s a banner, a proper stage and decent lighting. “Humanity needs their fucking balls rocked and no one, no one, is more prepared to do that than us,” comes the voiceover.
Opening with Eyes Of A Panther and the strangely appropriate Party Like It’s The End Of The World, SP are on arena form, slapping each other on the bum and grinding in their spandex. “Let me fucking hear you out there!” yells Michael Starr, as their team pump in fake crowd noise. Steel Panther live and die by their comedy chemistry – you have to be in on the joke, knowing they’re parodying 80s hair metal. There are obligatory dick jokes, vagina jokes and fat jokes, but a decade on, and in today’s heated social climate, it’s feeling tired.
It’s quite sweet, though, that they’re obviously genuinely enjoying playing together again, especially when bassist Rudy Sarzo makes an appearance – prompting a ridiculous Ozzy Osbourne impression from Michael Starr – along with previous collaborator/funnyman Rob Riggle. Some of tonight’s proceeds also go to Crew Nation, supporting unemployed touring staff, plus Heavenly Pets Animal Rescue – pretty unfuckwithable stuff. They’re not exactly key workers, but there’s something to be said for comic relief. ELEANOR GOODMAN