LIVE REVIEW … Steel Panther bring their raunch n’ roll back to California and Michael Starr states: “No One Wants to See a Fat Lead Singer”

“We came ALL the way from the San Fernando Valley.” — Satchel / Steel Panther lead guitarist

VENTURA, Calif. – Ray Ilona, a 26-year old female professional job recruiter, is half-dressed, standing at the backstage door for Steel Panther.

“I just want them to sign my tits,” the striking brunette said.

A few moments earlier, Ilona was actually ON stage, as singer Michael Starr and his bandmates took turns serenading her, as she flashed her breasts to the delight of a capacity crowd of about 1,500 who all went wild.

Then 32 more girls jumped in stage, most dancing seductively as the music and colorful light show never stopped thumping Friday at Ventura Theatre.

Welcome to Steel Panther and their raunchy brand of R-rated Rock, a phenomenon that continues to flourish in the face of the me-too movement and everything else that is politically correct in 2023.

“I met her after, and I’m not surprised she’s a professional,” said Starr, who did fulfill Ilona’s racy autograph request. “Not everyone who comes to a Steel Panther concert is a hooker or a stripper. They’re just regular women who like to get crazy for Steel Panther, and that’s just what she did.”

There is more.

“She said she wanted to turn the autograph into a tattoo, but I said don’t do it,” Starr said. “I told her to see us at least one more time, and if she still wants to do that, then OK.”

Steel Panther’s appeal cuts across all demographics – except for maybe the strictest Mormans.

Zadi Beltz, a 16-year old student, arrived hours early just to say hello.

“I just love the showmanship, the energy and the humor, and of course the expletives,” she said.

And while the risqué theme that bordered on salaciousness was omnipresent, Steel Panther plays beautiful music. Starr is a stunning vocalist who once sang for L.A. Guns, and founding guitarist Satchel played with Rob Halford years ago.

These days, Steel Panther is a bigger attraction than L.A. Guns ever were, and they’ve played for the grandest of festival audiences with receptions equal to prime-era Judas Priest.

“Asian Hooker” got the crowd really going, and by the time Steel Panther got around to “Community Property” – their big ballad with the catchy, zany lyric “my heart belongs to you, but my cock is community property” – the Los Angeles foursome was in control of the room.

This satire band is funny even if some so-called experts don’t get it.

“We came ALL the way from the San Fernando Valley,” Satchel laughed.

The group has a great new song called “1987” that is everything you’d think it is.

Steel Panther has a new bass player, Spyder, who appeared to fit in well as a replacement for longtime standout Lexxi Foxx.

Stix Zadinia, a very strong drummer, rounds out the band.

Satchel appeared to be wearing assless chaps like David Lee Roth at the Us Festival, though Starr confirmed there is actually a thin, tan lining.

“I just told him if he wants to wear that, he better keep doing his squats,” Starr said.

Like his guitarist. Starr works hard to stay fit in as senior citizenry creeps forward.

“No one wants to see a fat lead singer,” Starr said.

The performance was an overwhelming success.

“I really didn’t know what to expect, because we’ve never played in Ventura, but it was a great show,” Starr said. “I mean, that was crazy in there. That was like a real rock show in a real theater.”

Gerry Gittelson can be reached at [email protected]

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