Show Notes
Twisted Sister started as a hard-working bar band in the New York/New Jersey club scene. These guys played thousands of shows—eight thousand performances—grinding it out night after night in dive bars long before anyone knew their names. They perfected their wild theatrical metal sound the old-fashioned way: pure sweat and persistence.
Then came 1984. Stay Hungry exploded, and MTV turned 'We're Not Gonna Take It' and 'I Wanna Rock' into anthems. Those over-the-top videos launched the band from club stages straight to multi-platinum stardom. One minute they're playing for drunks; the next, they're rock stars riding the video revolution.
But success has its battles. In 1985, Dee Snider stood before a Senate committee during the PMRC hearings. While others stayed quiet, Dee looked Congress in the eye, defended artistic freedom, and made the whole room look like out-of-touch fools. It was one of the most badass moments in rock history.
Years later, the band was gearing up for their 50th anniversary shows. But Dee made the tough call: he couldn't deliver the high-energy, kick-ass performance he demanded of himself anymore—thanks to arthritis and the wear of decades on the road. Rather than give fans anything less, he stepped down with class and integrity.
Now, he's handed the reins to Sebastian Bach, who has Dee's full blessing to front Twisted Sister for these special 2026 dates. The spirit lives on: loud, defiant, and still not gonna take it.
From the bars to MTV glory, from humiliating Congress to passing the torch—that's the Twisted Sister story
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