When it comes to PetRock, few names carry as much weight as Steely Dana. A true multi-instrumentalist, Steely handles rhythm, lead, acoustic, and electric guitars, lap steel, keyboards, plus lead and backing vocals. If it makes a sound, Steely can probably coax magic out of it.
Early Influences
Music was part of his world from the start—his father was a professional musician, and his older brother and aunt filled the house with records from bands like Kiss, Boston, and Queen. At first, Steely wanted to play the drums. But since a guitar was lying around, that became his first real instrument—and the beginning of a lifelong obsession with sound.
The Origins of PetRock
The seed of PetRock dates back to 2007, on a golf course. Steely and Flam shared a thumb drive packed with AM Gold classics and joked about starting a band. The working name was “Resinence” (though Resonance was probably what Flam had in mind). They laughed, smoked, and drank at the idea, convinced that nobody else would want to play soft 70’s hits—let alone come see them performed live.
However, a couple of years later, Steely introduced Flam to Duke, who also shared a passion for light 1970s music. Slowly, what once seemed like a far-fetched dream started to take shape. PetRock was born.
On Stage
Ask Steely for a favorite song to perform, and you won’t get a straight answer. “I love them all,” he says. But there is one hidden gem he keeps close: “Fallen” by LeBlanc & Carr. Whether PetRock ever performs it or not, he’s happy just listening on his own.
When it comes to gear, Steely doesn’t hide his enthusiasm. He admits he’s a “gear nerd through and through”—drums, guitars, keyboards, recording, sound systems, you name it. His most prized possession? A Gibson ES-1275 doubleneck guitar. Iconic, impractical, and larger-than-life, Steely says it feels more like it owns him than the other way around.
Pre-show rituals
Steely calls them quirks—compulsive attention to detail and endless motion. “Gig days are like Christmas, New Year’s, and my birthday all rolled into one,” he says. The excitement never fades.
The Big Moments
For Steely, the most powerful memories come from those times when PetRock walks on stage to the roar of a sold-out crowd. The sound is overwhelming—like standing next to a jet engine. In those moments, he flashes back to being eight years old, holding a guitar for the first time, dreaming of this very life. Tears well up, his heart races, and he has to pull himself together before the music begins. “It’s a wave of emotion that’s fun—but challenging—to ride.”
Looking Back—and Forward
When asked which 70’s concert he’d go back in time to see, Dana’s answer is bittersweet. “I lament the fact that I can’t be in the crowd watching a PetRock gig.” For someone who has poured so much into the project, he’d love to experience the music from the other side of the stage.
Looking back, Steely admits he was wrong about PetRock. “I loved the project so much that at first I didn’t even want to play in front of people. I just wanted to get together with the guys and play this music. Turns out, I was completely wrong about people not wanting to play in this band—or about people not wanting to come see it.”
PetRock is living proof of that.
And with that, our “Meet the Band” series comes to a close. From the first spark of an idea to the roar of the crowd, PetRock exists because of the music we love and the energy you bring to every show. Thanks for letting us share our stories — now let’s keep writing the next chapter together, one smooth night at a time.
Duke
