The Burden of Being Wonderful

The Zoo Crew is spinning the gloriously over-the-top track The Burden of Being Wonderful by Steel Panther from their 2014 album All You Can Eat, and the Zoo Freaks are in for a treat with this tongue-in-cheek glam metal anthem. One juicy piece of trivia about the song comes from an interview with guitarist Satchel, who revealed that the track was deliberately crafted to be radio-friendly while still embodying the band’s outrageous spirit. Unlike their usual raunchy fare, which often gets them banned from airwaves, this song’s lyrics were toned down just enough to sneak onto mainstream stations, though it still drips with their signature self-aggrandizing humor. Satchel noted that the line “I’ve got the grace of a dancer” was inspired by lead singer Michael Starr’s comically awkward dance moves, which become a hilarious highlight during live performances. The music video, directed by Kirker Butler of Family Guy fame, stars comedian Matt Braunger as an everyman who transforms into the “perfect” Steel Panther persona, poking fun at the band’s exaggerated self-image.

Another tidbit about The Burden of Being Wonderful surfaced during a 2016 performance captured in their DVD Live from Lexxi’s Mom’s Garage. Filmed in a staged garage belonging to bassist Lexxi Foxx’s “mom” (played by Bobbie Brown), the acoustic rendition of the song was performed amidst a crowd of scantily clad fans, amplifying the band’s campy, 1980s-inspired aesthetic. In a 2021 livestream event called “Fans Come First,” Steel Panther let their fans, affectionately dubbed “Fanthers,” curate the setlist, and this song was a top pick, showcasing its enduring popularity. The band shared fan-submitted videos during the stream, some of which highlighted how listeners connected with the song’s playful narcissism, with one fan joking on Instagram that it’s their “morning mirror anthem.” The song’s lyrics, like “I’m just a Maserati in a world of Kias,” have become a fan favorite, often quoted in posts on X for their absurdly boastful charm.

Steel Panther started as a comedic glam metal act in Los Angeles, California, in 2000, initially under the name Metal Shop. The quartet—lead vocalist Ralph Saenz (Michael Starr), guitarist Russ Parrish (Satchel), bassist Travis Haley (Lexxi Foxx), and drummer Darren Leader (Stix Zadinia)—began performing covers of 1980s hair metal hits at venues like the Viper Room on the Sunset Strip. Their over-the-top personas, complete with spandex, big hair, and crude humor, parodied the excesses of the glam metal era while building a cult following. By 2003, they were known as Metal Skool and had landed a track, Death to All But Metal, on a compilation by the Metal Sludge website, a hub for hair metal fans. In 2008, they rebranded as Steel Panther, shifting focus to original songs that leaned into their satirical take on the genre. Their big break came with the 2009 album Feel the Steel, which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Comedy chart and featured guest appearances from stars like Corey Taylor.

The band’s rise was fueled by their relentless live shows and viral moments, like appearing as themselves on the TV show Las Vegas in 2007 and performing at Gene Simmons’ roast. Their fake Behind the Music podcast in 2009, featuring cameos from Dee Snider and Dave Navarro, cemented their status as rock’s resident jesters. Today, Steel Panther continues to tour and release music, with their latest antics shared across their official Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts, where they post everything from tour updates to cheeky memes. Fans can dive deeper into the Panther universe through the community-run Metal Sludge site, which chronicles their early days, or join the Steel Panther Fanthers Facebook group, a lively space where devotees share concert photos, lyric quotes, and stories of epic shows. Whether you’re a Zoo Freak or a full-fledged Fanther, Steel Panther’s brand of outrageous rock is guaranteed to keep the party going.