Story by Charles K
Nickelback frontman met Steel Panther at a show
Bringing a satirical brand of hair metal band that’s loud, raw and over-the-top, Steel Panther have won the hearts of many fans of ‘80s-flavored metal. Modern rockers, however, will get the biggest kick out of the fact Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger guests and collaborates on a track, called ‘It Won’t Suck Itself,’ off Steel Panther’s latest release, ‘Balls Out.’
As it turns out, Chat Kroeger and the guys of Steel Panther have gotten to know each other over the years. “We play a lot of shows, and we have weekly residencies in L.A. and Hollywood,” Steel Panther drummer Stix Zadinia exclusively told Audio Ink Radio. “Chad was in L.A. for a while, and he would come to our shows and get up onstage and jam. We got to know him, and at one of the shows, we were like, ‘Dude, we should write together!’” Kroeger did the classic, “Yeah, bro!” But for a while, nothing came of the friendly exchange. “We kept saying it enough times that finally, we were like, ‘Let’s do it.’”
So, when the guys were up in Vancouver, they called Kroeger. The rest is rock ‘n’ roll history. “We started writing the song together from scratch, and it’s a true collaboration,” Zadinia said. “It wasn’t a riff lying around that hadn’t been used yet or something that was recycled. We walked out of there with the core of what is that song.” Check back next week for our full interview with Steel Panther. We cover the success of the band’s new album (it debuted inside the Billboard 200’s Top 40), loving metal and, believe it or not, his thoughts on Lady Gaga.
