“Shoes or Booze” — An I-Rock 93.5 Interview with Steel Panther’s Stix Zadinia

Steel Panther is coming to the Rust Belt on April 18 for the Twenty Twenty Sex tour.  Their drummer, Stix Zadinia, talked with I-Rock 93.5 about all the important things it takes to go on tour with Steel Panther.

From being a young Stix and getting into drumming, to what it takes to open for Steel Panther, to a little game the guys like to play called "Shoes or Booze", we talked about it all in the interview below.

What Got Stix Behind The Drum-Kit?

Stix (pictured on the right) said he got into drums when he went to his friend's house and hit his friend's drumset once.  He said when he told his dad he was playing drums, his dad said he was crazy.  "Dad said to me, 'We're going to get you a practice pad.  We're going to get you lessons.  I'm never going to tell you to practice. The first time your teacher tells me you haven't been practicing or improving, we're going to stop.'  Clearly, I faked my parents into thinking I was practicing enough."  So his parents got him a drum set, and the rest is history.

Stix now says that being the drummer is the best job in Steel Panther.  He says, "If a chick is a drummer chick, I don't care who you are (guitar player), she won't be into you cause you don't hit things hard."

Play The Game With Steel Panther, "Shoes or Booze"

At almost every Steel Panther show, the guys invite the ladies on stage to rock with them.  I asked Stix if any of the ladies had ever fallen into the drums.

"I've had girls fall over on me, but I've never had any fall into the drums.  A lot of credit goes to my drum tech.  We play a little game in Steel Panther called "Is it the booze or the shoes," and once you see somebody start to wobble, they'll come over and gently escort the ladies off the riser if they think it will cost us a drumset."

LISTEN TO MORE I-ROCK WITH ROCK STARS HERE

If you don't understand the game...it's pretty easy.  Stix says, "When you see stumbling chicks, play is it the shoes or the booze, and you have to determine if she's hammered or does she have ill-fitting shoes she just doesn't know how to walk in."

Stix's Favorite Songs To Play Can't Be Played Here

Yeah, you can't watch Stix's favorite songs here.  He says, "The two that are most fun to play are '17 Girls In A Row' and 'Glory Hole'. But I also love playing 'Wieni Ride' cause it's a piano ballad and I get to come out and play piano."

Will those songs be played at The Rust Belt?  Stix said he wasn't sure yet, but he said they aren't going to reinvent the wheel and come out in tuxedos with a horn section.

Who Will Oepn For Steel Panther On April 18 at The Rust Belt?

At this point, they don't have an opener.  But Stix is taking submissions.  Just be prepared to run a nude relay.  He explains more in the full interview that you can listen to below.

Get your tickets now right here, and we'll see you for the show!