Steel Panther

Steel Panther bring their tongue-in-cheek glam metal to Manchester Academy on 21 July 2026. Born on the late-90s LA club circuit, the band spins the clichés of 80s hair metal into a tight, irreverent show: big chorus hooks, stacked backing vocals, flashy solos and lyrics that lean into excess. Frontman Michael Starr and guitarist Satchel steer the chaos with swagger and deadpan banter, while Spyder holds down the low end for riffs built to be shouted back.

On stage, the quartet push the theater of the genre without losing the punch of the songs. Expect sharp guitar work, call-and-response moments and a steady flow of crowd participation, with costumes and power ballads sitting next to high-energy shred. The set digs into the band’s catalogue from Feel the Steel and Balls Out to All You Can Eat, Lower the Bar, Heavy Metal Rules and the more recent On the Prowl, mixing singalongs with tongue-in-cheek storytelling. It’s a night where the Sunset Strip vibe meets modern precision, balancing comedy and musicianship in a show designed for maximum noise and zero downtime.