Steel Panther drummer Stix Zadinia was recently a guest of the “Iron City Rocks” podcast and talked about working on new music for their seventh studio album. “We’re always writing. I mean, it’s, never a, ‘Okay guys. Let’s go write a record, let’s go record a record, let’s put it out.’ It’s a constant process. Satchel does most of our writing, but we’re always sending ideas back and forth — lyric ideas, song ideas. And if Michael comes up with a riff or I come up with a riff, we throw it in the pot and see what happens. So it’s an evergreen process for us. And then when we feel like we have enough cool ideas, Satchel will demo some stuff up and then he’ll send it over to me. I’ll add my flavour. And then we send it to Michael and he adds his flavour. And then Spyder. And then we get to a point where the demos are really comprehensive. And then we go in, we track it, put a title on it and put it out. So I would say there are ideas floating around and we definitely would like to do another record at some point.”
Asked if he thinks Steel Panther would have staying power without songs that contain what some critics say are racist, misogynistic and lewd lyrics, Stix said, “No, there’s no way. I think that had we come out with lyrics that were, like, typical of a band in 1983 or in 1987, I don’t think it would have flown, because what we sing about, I think people latch on to the lyrics and I think lyrics matter.
“We’re in a really weird time, and I think when we put our first record out, the really weird time — and I use air quotes with that — was starting around then,” he explained. “But we had been grandfathered in because of what we had established since the ’90s. And the ’90s were not the really weird time as far as the political correctness. So we became this place for people to be able to come, have so much fun and not worry about offending people. And we just wrote songs that we wanted to write, and nothing was ever really intentional and it was all super from the heart. Now, I think an interesting question would be if we came out in 1985, how would we be viewed with the lyrics that we have? But I think it could have been insane ’cause I think our songs are just as good, if not better than, most of the bands back then. And I know that might sound blasphemous, but if you don’t think that about your own band, then what are you doing in that band?”
Zadinia added: “I’m proud of that — I’m proud of not playing by the rules. And I’m proud of doing just what comes from the heart for us ’cause, ultimately, we get to keep playing these songs for people who wanna come see it, who listen to it, who may use it as a tool for that escapism. And I’m proud of that. I think it’s more satisfying than if we were being told what to do, what can go on a record. We are our true own bosses, and it’s awesome.”
Earlier this month, Steel Panther announced two more legs of its “Feel The Steel 15th Anniversary Tour”. The first leg is scheduled for March throughout the U.S., the second hits Europe this summer.
Sixteen years ago, Steel Panther changed its name from Metal Skool and they’ve been pedal to the metal ever since!
Their last album, “On The Prowl”, was released in February 2023.
In September 2022, Steel Panther announced the addition of Spyder as the band’s new bassist.
What’s your favourite Steel Panther song, and why is it ‘It Won’t Suck Itself’?
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