Balls Out: Our Interview With Steel Panther's Michael Starr

It would be easy for detractors to write Steel Panther off as a joke band, a parody. But what's often lost in the discussion is that they're a damn talented band. Listen to the music. Check out the vocals. This is something you would've dug back in the '80s. Yeah, you with the Warrant t-shirt that you pretend to wear ironically.

Steel Panther just released their second album, Balls Out, which perfectly sums up the affair. With tracks like "Weenie Ride," "It Won't Suck Itself," and "17 Girls In A Row," you know what you're getting before you hit Play. It's a funny, sexist, and immature album, but it's awesome as hell. As Michael Starr proclaims below, they're hoping to "bring back having a good time." If this album is any indication, they're gonna make that happen.

I got to sit down with Starr, Steel Panther's outspoken lead singer. We talked about the new album, bad press, touring with Motley Crue and Def Leppard, whether metal's making a comeback, and sex.

How's it going today?
Good man! Just hanging out looking at some fucking stuff on the Internet.

Cool. Your sophomore album, Balls Out, came out November 1st. That's an awesome title. Is that a personal motto of yours?
Well, it's actually been coined by race car drivers. You know, they're "balls out" around the track and I think it really relates to what Steel Panther is all about. We don't leave anything on the table. We're balls out.

Were there any other titles in consideration?
There were. Several, actually. One of them was Sloppy Seconds.

That would be great!
Yeah, it's pretty cool. And then we were thinking about Smells Like Number Two.

And Tongue Punch In The Fart Box. That's about it. I think Balls Out's the best.