Rock N Roll All Night

The early 1990's are a time in Michael Gunner's life that he could've lived without.

In 1991, Nirvana's Teen Spirit hit the airwaves signaling the beginning of a new music genre, Grunge, and usher edanother one out, Hair Metal.

"That was the death of our era and I hated it," he said last week. "We won't be covering any Nirvana songs in Malta, not even close."

Gunner, who plays lead guitar, is one-fifth of the Montana based Heavy Metal tribute band Metal Steel, who will be rocking like it was 1986 this Saturday night (June 4) at the Milk River Pavilion in Malta. Metal Steel formed in 2010 and did so because each of the members have a deep love of the Hair Metal Genre.

"We lived through that time and we are all of the age that we were playing that music back then," Gunner said. "It was just an age of debauchery and a decade of decadence and we love reliving it at our concerts. We live the experience with the ultimate 80's hair tribute band. "

Though they won't be covering any Nirvana or Pearl Jam songs, the play list for Metal is extensive – from Autograph to Ozzy Osbourne and from Poison to Saigon Kick, Metal Steel covers them all and boasts a concert that lasts upward of 150-minutes.

The concert is brought to town by Malta's Greg Smith who brought AC/DC tribute band Hell's Belles to town last year during the Car show and then Country-Rockers Royal Bliss to the Pavilion last March. Smith said he enjoys hosting concerts in Malta and hopes people enjoy Metal Steel on Saturday night.

"I have seen them play a couple of times at Rockin' the Rivers and they are awesome," he said. "They cover a bunch of different songs and they take you back into a time-warp that everyone can enjoy."

The event is for all ages and the doors at the Pavilion open at 7 p.m. and Mable's Rage, the opening act, makes a return visit to Malta and take the stage at 8 p.m. The show will feature full concessions from DalRena's and a full bar by the Malta Shriners. Tickets for the event -- $20 in advance or $25 at the door – can be purchased at Crossroad Coffee, Sew Sassy and Westside Self Service.

"We have all the Aqua Net, all the leather, all the hair," Gunner said. "Any adjective you associate with Hair Metal applies to us."

Gunner said the Pavilion is an ideal spot for Metal Steel to play as their stage is elaborate and their mu-sic is loud.

"It's a big production with lots of lights and lots of volume," Gunner said. "We have never been told to turn it up and we are proud of that."

If it is too loud, you are too old, as the saying goes. Gunner said, as a guitar player, his personal favorite band to cover is Judas Priest, but his favorite tune lead vocalist Steve Keller wails is Iron Maiden's Wasted Years. Gunner said following a two and a half hour show, the band is always ready for more and said those in attendance on Saturday night in Malta are in store for all the Metal they can handle.

"They can expect to relive the experience and go back in time," he said. "If you weren't there then, this is your chance to live 1985 for the first time. If you were there, it's time to live it again."