Tracii Guns Slams 80s Rockers Who Can’t Appreciate STEEL PANTHER’s Ultimate Tribute to Hair Metal

In a recent interview on The Logan Show, L.A. GUNS guitarist Tracii Guns opened up about his experience working with future STEEL PANTHER frontman Michael Starr, whose real name is Ralph Saenz, on L.A. GUNS’ 1998 EP Wasted. Reflecting on the collaboration, Tracii shared his thoughts (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):

“Ralph, or Michael Starr, had this unique ability to bring that David Lee Roth-esque energy to the band, even when singing darker, more serious songs. L.A. GUNS had a bit of a darker edge at the time, and it made the experience so much fun. The whole Wasted EP is killer, especially the track ‘Forgiving Eyes.’ That’s the other singer I really had great chemistry with.”

When host Logan Crosland asked Tracii for his take on STEEL PANTHER, especially considering some 1980s rock veterans don’t fully appreciate the humor the band brings to their music, Guns didn’t hold back. “Any guy from my era who doesn’t like or get STEEL PANTHER is just an a*s,” Tracii declared. “STEEL PANTHER is the ultimate tribute to ’80s rock and hair metal. Their lyrics are brilliant, the musicianship is top-notch, and their stage presence is wild. It’s like, are you looking in the mirror and not liking what you see? To me, it’s like looking in the mirror and thinking, ‘Wow, that guy used to sing in L.A. GUNS.’ It’s that bada*s. And they’re so funny.”

Tracii continued to praise STEEL PANTHER’s influence, saying, “Out of all the bands from the ’80s that are still rocking, STEEL PANTHER is by far the most entertaining. No one else in a stadium is doing what they’re doing, f*cking around like that.”

When asked whether L.A. GUNS and STEEL PANTHER had ever shared a stage, Tracii said, “No, but Ralph and I talk about it all the time. Every six months, we have this brief conversation where we say, ‘We need to tour together.’ And that’s how it always ends. We just fantasize about it, but it never happens.”