Dee Snider states that his uncanny staying power within music industry is 90% desperation
Dee Snider states that his uncanny staying power within music industry is 90% desperation
Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider is on the verge of releasing a new solo album titled For The Love Of Metal via Napalm Records on July 27, 2018. The singer was interviewed by Dawn “Mama Love” Brown for Metal Wani and was asked how about his uncanny staying power within the music industry.
Snider replied (as transcribed by Metal Wani): “It’s 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent desperation and that’s no joke. When the bottom fell out in the `90s, grunge came in and they found a cure for what I was doing, what we were all doing. There I was, I was married with three kids and no income, no prospects, no job prospects. Like I said, everything that I studied and perfected as an art was gone. So, I started desperately looking around to find other things that I could do and, in the process over the decades, I re-established myself but I also ended up rebranding myself through radio, television, movies. I’ve been on Broadway, I’ve written screenplays, lots of different things. But, it really wasn’t any grand plan, like, oh, I’m going to stay relevant. It’s like, I’m not ready to die and I’ve got to take care of this family. So, what are you going to do, boy? And, so I got out and did it.”
When asked about the release of his upcoming solo album, Snider advised: “Incredibly excited. I, sort of, mentally thought I was done recording and didn’t really think there was a place for me in the contemporary metal scene. But, Jamey Jasta, God love him, disagreed with that and so did some members of Toxic Holocaust, Lamb of God, Killswitch Engage, Disturbed, Alissa White-Gluz from Arch Enemy, Howard Jones, so did all these people that joined the party and said, oh hell no. Your voice is iconic and we’re ready to help you create a contemporary rock record that speaks to your old audience but also speaks to a new audience.”
In terms of his thoughts on Twisted Sister guitarist Jay Jay French’s recent comments about legacy bands playing “past their prime”, Snider opined: “Oh, me and Jay Jay see eye to eye on that one 100 percent and Jay Jay is getting a lot of flack because they took a lot of what he said out of context. First of all, I know Jay Jay. Obviously. I also listened to the tape and he was being comedic when he said, you know, Rob Halford is like 90-years old and the Stones are 100. Obviously, they’re not. It was one of those comedic gross exaggerations like, oh my God, Jagger looks like a cadaver up there. He’s a comedic, he’s a New Yorker and we’re very sarcastic and we make fun of everybody.”
Snider continued: “I agree that people should know when to leave. But then again, the other side of me says that’s not my decision to make. Alice Cooper told me he can’t wait to sing “I’m 80”. He said to me, I said, dude, when are you retiring? He said, well, Jagger is four years older than me. So, when Jagger retires, I’ve got four more years. That’s what he said. You know what I said? God love you. If that’s what you want to do, if that makes you happy, God love you. But, I do think, like Jay Jay, that sometimes seeing your heroes in shambles, so to speak, shadows of their former selves, it makes you feel kind of old and sad. That’s why I don’t go to reunion shows.”
In regard to Bruce Dickinson’s comments about not wanting to see audiences filled with people his own age, Snider stated: “Well, it reflects back on you. You could kid yourself, and I’ve seen people in the front row with oxygen tanks. Oxygen tanks. I have seen that and God love them. God love them for still wanting to rock and not letting age or infirmity stop them. I applaud them. I don’t mock them. But at the same time, rock and roll keeps a lot of us young beyond our years and Bruce is one of those guys and I’m one of those guys. It kind of just reflects back on you. Just in case you were kidding yourself. You’re not 20. Plus, when you see the younger fans, and I would say that my audiences are half younger fans, it really just, it says what I’m doing still matters. When it’s just a sea of elderly people, it’s saying what I’m doing mattered. Past tense. So, I understand that feeling but I would never, ever, I don’t know if Bruce discouraged older fans from showing up by saying that. But, I would say, are you kidding me? Get your ass out of the damn house and rock.”
Dee Snider‘s “Tomorrow’s No Concern” lyric video:
DEE SNIDER – Tomorrow’s No Concern (Official Lyric Video) | Napalm Records
Pre-order “For The Love Of Metal” here: http://smarturl.it/ForTheLoveOfMetal Out July 27 One of the most powerful voices in rock & heavy metal is back…and more ferocious than ever! Influential hard rock legend, reality TV star, Broadway alumni, horror movie director, radio host – Dee Snider, the face and voice of the legendary Twisted Sister, has a career many would kill for.
Metal Wani‘s 2018 interview with Dee Snider:
DEE SNIDER on ‘For The Love For Metal’, Jay Jay French Controversy & Wish To Sing for AC/DC (2018)
Dee Snider has been active in the music industry for well over four decades and has firmly established himself as a rock icon, managing to stay relevant in a world where artists come and go like the wind.