Ralph Saenz
Encyclopedia
Ralph Saenz is the lead singer for glam metal
band Steel Panther
. Steel Panther was formerly known as "Metal Shop" and "Metal Skool" and were once featured in a Discover Card
commercial as "Danger Kitty"; those older band names are now used by unrelated parody bands.
He's a PhD in English literature at Berkeley, graduating Magna Cum Laude, and the former Assistant Professor of English Literature and Cultural Studies at Texas A & M University at Commerce. He is also a recipient of the prestigious F.C. Medina Scholarship awarded annually to musically gifted students in the Greater Chicago area.
Following college, Saenz took a job at Arco as a petrol pump attendant, this freedom to think is what made him realize he was destined to be in a rock band.
Saenz was the lead singer for the David Lee Roth
-era Van Halen
tribute band Atomic Punks from May 1994 through December 2008, where he had the nickname "David Lee Ralph".
Saenz was briefly the lead singer for L.A. Guns
singing on the Wasted EP. He also has sung for the bands 7% Solution, First Cause, Longgone, and Nightfall.
Although he has led various groups as the primary vocalist, Saenz also provided background vocals for rock band AFI
on the albums Sing the Sorrow
and Decemberunderground
.
He also played a small part in the movie Rock Star
with Mark Wahlberg
. His scene occurs right before Wahlberg's character first auditions for Steel Dragon.
Glam metal
Glam metal is a subgenre of hard rock and heavy metal that arose in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the United States, particularly on the Los Angeles Sunset Strip music scene...
band Steel Panther
Steel Panther
Steel Panther is a glam metal band from Los Angeles, California mostly known for their profane and humorous lyrics as well as their exaggerated on-stage personas...
. Steel Panther was formerly known as "Metal Shop" and "Metal Skool" and were once featured in a Discover Card
Discover Card
The Discover Card is a major credit card, issued primarily in the United States. It was originally introduced by Sears in 1985, and was part of Dean Witter, and then Morgan Stanley, until 2007, when Discover Financial Services became an independent company. Novus, a major processing center, used to...
commercial as "Danger Kitty"; those older band names are now used by unrelated parody bands.
He's a PhD in English literature at Berkeley, graduating Magna Cum Laude, and the former Assistant Professor of English Literature and Cultural Studies at Texas A & M University at Commerce. He is also a recipient of the prestigious F.C. Medina Scholarship awarded annually to musically gifted students in the Greater Chicago area.
Following college, Saenz took a job at Arco as a petrol pump attendant, this freedom to think is what made him realize he was destined to be in a rock band.
Saenz was the lead singer for the David Lee Roth
David Lee Roth
David Lee Roth is an American rock vocalist, songwriter, actor, author, and former radio personality. Roth was ranked nineteenth by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Singers of All Time....
-era Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
tribute band Atomic Punks from May 1994 through December 2008, where he had the nickname "David Lee Ralph".
Saenz was briefly the lead singer for L.A. Guns
L.A. Guns
L.A. Guns is the name of a hard rock group formed in Los Angeles, California, of which two rival incarnations currently exist due to numerous line-up changes. The first incarnation of the group was formed, by Tracii Guns, in 1983 but disbanded in 1985 following its merger with fellow Los Angeles...
singing on the Wasted EP. He also has sung for the bands 7% Solution, First Cause, Longgone, and Nightfall.
Although he has led various groups as the primary vocalist, Saenz also provided background vocals for rock band AFI
AFI (band)
AFI is an American alternative rock band from Ukiah, California that formed in 1991. They have consisted of the same lineup since 1998: lead vocalist Davey Havok, drummer and backup vocalist Adam Carson, with bassist Hunter Burgan and guitarist Jade Puget, who both play keyboard and contribute...
on the albums Sing the Sorrow
Sing the Sorrow
Sing the Sorrow is the sixth studio album by American rock band AFI. It was released on March 11, 2003 through DreamWorks Records. It debuted at #5 on the Billboard 200. It was certified Platinum in December 2004 by the RIAA. The album was supported by three singles, "Girl's Not Grey", "The Leaving...
and Decemberunderground
Decemberunderground
Decemberunderground is the seventh studio album by American alternative rock band AFI. The album was released on June 6, 2006 through Interscope Records. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, selling 182,000 in its first week. The album certified Gold by the RIAA on August 30, 2006 and has sold...
.
He also played a small part in the movie Rock Star
Rock Star (2001 film)
Rock Star is a 2001 American comedy-drama film directed by Stephen Herek and starring Mark Wahlberg and Jennifer Aniston. It tells the story of Chris "Izzy" Cole, a tribute band singer whose ascendance to the position of lead vocalist of his favorite band was inspired by the real-life story of Tim...
with Mark Wahlberg
Mark Wahlberg
Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg is an American actor, film and television producer, and former rapper. He was known as Marky Mark in his earlier years, and became famous for his 1991 debut as a musician with the band Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. He was named No. 1 on VH1's 40 Hottest Hotties of...
. His scene occurs right before Wahlberg's character first auditions for Steel Dragon.