Lynn’s Anthony Coughlin, right, performs with Steel Panther frontman Michael Starr.
By BILL BROTHERTON
Picture this: You’re attending a show by your favorite band. Next thing you know, you’ve been invited onstage to play guitar.
It happened to Anthony Coughlin of Lynn. The 20-year-old Saugus High graduate rocked out to Steel Panther at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom in New Hampshire last Sunday. When he held up a sign to request the hilariously vulgar “17 Girls in a Row,” the band stopped mid-song and called him to the stage.
“It was easily the best moment of my life,” said the Information Technology major at Southern New Hampshire University. “Surreal is the only way to describe it. I was on stage with my favorite band of all time. I was nervous at first, but once I started rocking it went great.”
Equally awesome, after the show he got to hang out with the L.A.-based metal band that includes Michael Starr, Lexxi Foxx, Stix Zadinia and his hero, guitarist Satchel. The boys signed a custom guitar Coughlin made to resemble Satchel’s model.
“They were very complimentary, saying what a great job I did,” he said. “I’ve left out the profanity they’re known for … of course.”
Ah yes, the jaw-dropping, tongue-in-cheek profanity. Check out the band’s lyrics if you dare, and imagine the words accompanied by a Spinal Tap, Guns N’ Roses, Def Leppard metal onslaught.
Coughlin is a fine guitarist in his own right, as the crowd soon discovered. He’s been playing since age 13, when he traded in his Ibanez starter guitar for a Gibson Les Paul, a gift from his parents. He’s forming a band and is president of his college’s music club.