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Steel Panther, Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard
Thursday, December 15th, 2011 10:53 amHeavy Metal is not a multi-themed musical genre, it rarely if ever attempts to explore anything more deeply than exhorting the listener to get drunk, drugged, shagged or drive something fast and loud. You kind of accept that from the get go. It likes to be direct.
But there are shades. Mötley Crüe manage to personify the style rather well. They are loud, swear a lot and like their pyrotechnics. They are also, for want of a better word, ‘laddish’ with the female fans. I could comment about that, but I shan’t because I wish to comment instead on Steel Panther.
Last night we went to see Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe at Wembley Arena, supported by Steel Panther.
I’m not really familiar with Mötley Crüe and knew nothing about Steel Panther other than what I’d been told. I have a passing acquaintance with Def Leppard, but Metal is not really my genre. Heavy yes, Metal less so. Leppard wander across the divide somewhat, which is why I am more familiar with them.
Anyway. Steel Panther.
I was told to expect something that parodied 1980s American Glam Rock (as opposed to 1970s British Glam Rock, which is an entirely different beast), with a hint of Spinal Tap thrown in. Well, that’s accurate as far as it goes: they are all glittery leotards and long bottle blond hair with spangles, multi colours and Flying V guitars. They are loud, repetitive and in your face parody Metal.
They are also not funny, offensive, vile and misogynistic in a way that makes the laddish Mötley Crüe come over like choir boys misbehaving. Neither Furtle nor I found them remotely likeably either musically or as a comedy act. I don’t know what dismayed me the most, their overall nastiness, their abusive and vile approach to anyone who was not a spotty heterosexual male teenager, or the fact that the crowd – which included, I would estimate more than 40% women (men were in the majority, but not by much) seemed to lap it up. They took it for the joke it was meant to be, but I think they rather missed the point (or I did).
Just because you have the freedom to take something over the top doesn’t mean that you should necessarily avail yourself of that freedom. I shan’t be looking to see them again in this life time.
Def Leppard on the other hand managed to put out a good, loud and varied set, veering from Metal to acoustic, almost folky numbers and crossing a few genres in between. I recommend them very highly; they were energetic, entertaining and managed to do an entire 90 minute set without swearing or being abusive to anyone. Thoroughly recommended.
Just reading back through this I am aware that I sound like an old fuddy duddy. I don’t think I am, but I as I get longer in the tooth, I find my capacity to tolerate tossers somewhat diminished. And Steel Panther are tossers par excellence.
But there are shades. Mötley Crüe manage to personify the style rather well. They are loud, swear a lot and like their pyrotechnics. They are also, for want of a better word, ‘laddish’ with the female fans. I could comment about that, but I shan’t because I wish to comment instead on Steel Panther.
Last night we went to see Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe at Wembley Arena, supported by Steel Panther.
I’m not really familiar with Mötley Crüe and knew nothing about Steel Panther other than what I’d been told. I have a passing acquaintance with Def Leppard, but Metal is not really my genre. Heavy yes, Metal less so. Leppard wander across the divide somewhat, which is why I am more familiar with them.
Anyway. Steel Panther.
I was told to expect something that parodied 1980s American Glam Rock (as opposed to 1970s British Glam Rock, which is an entirely different beast), with a hint of Spinal Tap thrown in. Well, that’s accurate as far as it goes: they are all glittery leotards and long bottle blond hair with spangles, multi colours and Flying V guitars. They are loud, repetitive and in your face parody Metal.
They are also not funny, offensive, vile and misogynistic in a way that makes the laddish Mötley Crüe come over like choir boys misbehaving. Neither Furtle nor I found them remotely likeably either musically or as a comedy act. I don’t know what dismayed me the most, their overall nastiness, their abusive and vile approach to anyone who was not a spotty heterosexual male teenager, or the fact that the crowd – which included, I would estimate more than 40% women (men were in the majority, but not by much) seemed to lap it up. They took it for the joke it was meant to be, but I think they rather missed the point (or I did).
Just because you have the freedom to take something over the top doesn’t mean that you should necessarily avail yourself of that freedom. I shan’t be looking to see them again in this life time.
Def Leppard on the other hand managed to put out a good, loud and varied set, veering from Metal to acoustic, almost folky numbers and crossing a few genres in between. I recommend them very highly; they were energetic, entertaining and managed to do an entire 90 minute set without swearing or being abusive to anyone. Thoroughly recommended.
Just reading back through this I am aware that I sound like an old fuddy duddy. I don’t think I am, but I as I get longer in the tooth, I find my capacity to tolerate tossers somewhat diminished. And Steel Panther are tossers par excellence.