Both are excited and somewhat intrigued as to how tonight’s performance will go and as Lexxi is dragged off (mirror and hairspray in hand) for another pressing engagement, we sat down with a very easy going and upbeat Stix Zadinia for a casual chat. Get stuck into some Stix!
OD – So, this is your first time in Ireland. How has it taken this long?
STIX– We have been coming over to this part of the world since as far back as 2009 and the prospect of coming to Ireland has never been put on the table for us ever! With regards to promoters or any kind of offers in the past, we have never had one.
OD – Did you ever wonder about that, because we get a considerable amount of touring bands that will do shows here?
STIX – Yeah, we’ve wondered why and I when I would see the tour schedule I would always ask myself, “why are we not playing in Ireland?“. The usual reply would be “well, it’s just too expensive to just go there for one or two shows“, so I’m super stoked that we are finally here.
OD – Seeing as it’s your first time playing here (or anywhere else for that matter), does that have an impact on the way you approach the show, seeing as it’s a whole new experience/territory?
STIX – For us, I would have to say no. Whether we are doing a show in Hollywood, where we have literally played thousands of times or Dublin for the very first time like tonight, we throw down just as hard and that’s just the nature of our band. I’m gonna come out on stage and not leave anything behind. We’re gonna throw down so hard with all of our shows.
OD – Were you aware of how quick this show sold out?
STIX – Yeah, I heard that it sold out in about an hour, which is fucking crazy man! I know that everyone that’s here is going to lose their fucking minds and I can’t wait for it. I’m already thinking where we can play next here in Ireland. I’m sure we could do a bigger venue the next time around, what do you think?
OD – If there is a demand, then I can totally see that happening.
STIX – To be honest, I don’t think it’s gonna be that long before we’re back here and playing in a bigger venue because we have had so much positive feedback from when the show was announced here. We might not be big enough for the Arena you have here….yet! But, I could see that happening down the line. Do you guys get a lot of touring American bands coming through Ireland?
OD – Sure, we get just about everyone! There are a few bands here and there but pretty much all bands will make a stopover here at some point.
OD – When you think back to Metal Skool days and those shows in the Key Club and House of Blues, to where you are now, does it kind of blow your mind how far you guys have come?
STIX – It truly blows my mind. In fact, it’s the biggest mind-fuck in the world. We do the shows in L.A and there are people there because it’s the night to go because they’ve heard it’s a popular night. So, you’ll see a lot of people with their heads on swivels looking around to check out and see who else is there. But then you’ve got a festival like Download in the UK and we play ‘Community Property‘ and there’s like 90 thousand people singing those lyrics? That’s so fucking insane dude! Totally insane!
OD – Of course, you would have the best view at shows like that?
STIX – You bet your ass I do. (laughing) I see the whole thing and even now I’m actually getting the chills just thinking about it. On several occasions when playing to a crowd of that size, I tend to kind of choke up and get emotional when I hear the crowd sing back to us. It’s also the realisation that the whole crowd are moving because of the beats that I’m serving up on the drum kit and that just blows my fucking mind! I can’t even put it into words of exactly how incredible that feeling is.
OD – Surely, those moments are kind of like a dream of sorts?
STIX – Absolutely! If you really think about it, that is the biggest part of doing this job. Every band out there wants to be the biggest in the world, right? I would imagine that’s what most bands want and to be in a position of playing a crowd of that magnitude is something that most people don’t really get to experience.
OD – Having done thousands of shows, do you still get nervous before stage time?
STIX – Yes! I’m not even kidding right now, I’m feeling nervous about the show tonight and can’t wait for it. The feeling never gets old! It’s the adrenalin before hitting that stage that really gets the heart pumping (laughing). I wanna go out there and just fucking smash it!
OD – Having almost played all kinds of sized venues over the last few years, do you have a preference as to what you guys really like, ie clubs, arenas, festivals?
STYX – To me, I’m just happy to be on stage. There’s something to be said for shows at every level. Like when we’re in the Roxy (L.A.) and it’s dirty and sweaty with 500 people in there having a great time, you can literally smell the room and the people (laughing).
There’s something very cool about that, but it’s kind of like a different flavour if you know what I mean. There is a different vibe, but it’s still fucking awesome. When I’m playing a festival stage, I don’t see the facial expressions, I just see patches of hair colour all over the place. It’s like, brown into blond into dark brown and then a lighter shade of brown. It’s a totally surreal sight, to be honest. When we play in a club or a theatre, we can see peoples expressions, like when they smile and in some cases, when they yawn! I’m thinking ‘hey mother-fucker, how can you be yawning right now?” (laughing)
OD – So, you enjoy playing all sized venues then?
STIX – Each one has their own pluses and minuses. Especially for a Steel Panther show. When we are playing a big festival stage, we have to speak slower because we are such an interactive band and do a lot of stupid shit on stage and if we race through that, the most of the people are not going to either hear us or the time delay at the back will just fuck things up. We have to change the cadence and the ideas have to be bigger and slower to make it work.
OD– Having toured the world, I’m sure you’ve seen all kinds of insane situations, would you agree that this is the main inspiration behind the lyrics?
STIX – Dude! All of it is based on shit that’s actually happened to us. You don’t even know man. It is…. erm…. (laughing). Let’s put it this way. There are things that I have seen that no man should be lucky enough to see and I feel lucky. I feel very fortunate, to play in a band, tour the world and be part of something that people actually want to see!
OD – Was this always the dream for you, ever since you were a kid?
STIX – I think when I was about 10 years old I made my mind up that this is what I wanted to do with my life and I’m fucking doing it man! (laughing) I feel like the luckiest mother-fucker ever! I have seen some crazy shit tho….
OD – I’ve got to ask about the story behind ‘Bukkake Tears’, how is that chick doing these days?
STIX – (Laughing) She survived! They all survive! The ladies are all pretty resilient. That song stemmed from a girl that wanted to explore and let’s just say, she had mid-experience regrets. There’s a lesson to be learned here. Most people would like to think they can handle most situations, but sometimes the reality is a little overwhelming, to say the least! (Laughing).
OD – There has been a huge reaction to Steel Panther on this side of the pond, do you find that the crowds are more interactive in the UK/Europe rather than back home?
STIX – Playing over in Europe and the UK, it seems to me that Rock n’ Roll is more ingrained in the people over here. The fact that people over here will buy tickets for a festival and camp out in the mud for three fucking days is some awesome shit, right there!
OD – To be honest, it’s a right of passage for most of us.
STIX – That’s exactly what I’m talking about man. That attitude just doesn’t really exist, or it’s not a common feeling back home. American’s are more like “It’s a one-day festival, it’s gonna be 80 degrees and I guess I’ll go” (laughing). Even if someone was like “hey, I’ve a free ticket for you“, they would be like “hmm okay, I guess“. That’s not to say I don’t appreciate the American fan because we appreciate all our fans. It’s just that the European and UK fans are a lot more rock n’ roll when it comes to things like that.
OD – Why do you think that is the case?
STIX – There is more of a focus on music over here than back home. It might have something to do with the 50 million TV channels that we have (laughing) as well as shit coming at us from every angle to distract us from good rock music and when you look at somewhere like here, there’s way more of a focus. Also, I think that with us and our approach to some subjects, there is more of an offensive reaction from people back home than over in this part of the world. They get our sense of humour if you know what I mean.
Also, I believe that the parents who grew up listening to Rock music, tend to pass that on to their kids as they are growing up, which seems more common over in this part of the world, rather in the US.
OD – In light of Donald Trump’s ‘Grab Her By the Pussy’ “Golden Shower’ and ‘Shithole’ comments, have you ever considered penning a few tracks based this? They almost sound like track titles.
STIX – Well, the short answer is no because we don’t do politics. But, I have to admit, there are some sweet song titles/ideas there. Trump’s “Grab Her by the Pussy“, that could be considered to be a little ‘rapey’ perhaps, I don’t know. I mean, we talk about fucking 17-year-olds and going to a glory hole, but when you say ‘grab her by the pussy‘ it might be a little too much! I don’t know man, it just doesn’t have that rock n’ roll spirit! (laughing).
We have a song called ‘Critter‘ where we say “Hit her in the shitter, Treat her like a critter, Fuck that lady right” and it’s pretty direct, but it’s said with that rock n’ roll spirit. Kind of like, ‘ if you know what I mean. So yeah, ‘Grab her by the pussy‘ feel kind of assault-y to me (laughing)! And that’s just not where we’re at.
The other Trumpisms, like ‘Shithole‘, is kind of meh! But “Golden Shower“, that could work because it’s mutual (laughing).
Steel Panther are currently on tour in the UK and you can see them at the following dates listed below.
Oran O’Beirne
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