Hello there fellow Otaku & Metalheads!
With the rather depressing January behind us, it’s time to return to some happy! All through February, I’ve devoting my posts to as much happiness as I can fit in here. To start things off I’m taking a trip back to the 1980s for my first overview of 2021, and there was one band that was up to the task. One band so out their. One band so wild, and one band so.....twisted.....they were the only natural choice. That’s right, I’m covering Twisted Sister!
Now I managed to cover this guys back in December of 2018 (More on that towards the end of this overview), but that was just one album. Today, I’m getting down to the nitty gritty, and I’m taking a look at their entire main discography. Despite being one of the small Hair Metal bands from the 80s, they none the less maintain a sizable cult following to this very day. I’ve enjoyed the group for ages, and it seems that in recent memory things are twisted enough that their music makes sense. So, without further adieu, here’s my overview on Twisted Sister! Let’s begin.
Under The Blade (1982)
Our story about this twisted back actually begins in the 70s. 1972, to be exact. Originally called Silver Star, the name change would happen rather quickly when John Segall (later renamed to "Jay Jay French") was added following auditions in the "band house" located in Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey in late December 1972. The original incarnation of the band was composed of founder & drummer Mel Anderson (Mel Star), Billy Diamond (lead guitar), Wayne Brown (lead vocals and guitar), Tony Bunn (bass), and Steve Guarino (keyboards). The band’s original purpose was to be the "New Jersey version" of the New York Dolls, but J.J. disliked the name. The change in the band name would come in February of 1973 during a rehearsal, when Michael O'Neill took over the lead singer role from Wayne Brown, and he came up with the name that would echo throughout metal history. Along with this change in names, there were stylistic shifts that eventually resulted in an amicable parting of ways for some members. Bassist Tony Bunn and keyboardist Steve Guarino left soon after first lead singer Brown. Guitarist Billy Diamond, drummer Mel Star, Johnny Heartbreaker (soon to change his name to Jay Jay French), and new bass player Kenneth Harrison Neill made up the next lineup of Twisted Sister.
After a few years of playing in clubs with some modest success, it was suggested by their manager in February of 1976 that they pick up this guy Danny Snider to take the roll of lead singer of Twisted Sister. Danny would change is first name to the more famous Dee at the suggestion of J.J., and the band’s 6th incarnation came....and went just 6 few weeks later. It was also around this time that the band’s musical influences changed as well: originally inspired by David Bowie, Slade, Mott the Hoople, the Rolling Stones, and the New York Dolls, they became more influenced by heavier bands like Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Slade (Still), and Alice Cooper. On top of this, they acquired the services of new bassist Mark Mendoza to replace Kenny Neill, who left due to alcohol issues.
With the shift in stylings & band members, the group seemed to be gaining more ground. So much so, that they eventually managed to sell out at the Palladium, but began to aggressively pursue a recording contract, due to the fact of to the club circuit’s impending collapse due to the upcoming change of the drinking age from 18 to 21. They managed to secure a deal with Secret Records, a small British label that was mainly an outlet for Punk, in April of 1982. They still went through a few more changes, with AJ Pero becoming the permanent drummer for Twisted Sister after a string of changes. This would ultimately be considered the true “original” incarnation of the band because they were responsible for almost all the studio albums, singles, videos and DVDs. In June of 1982, they released their first EP, Ruff Cuts, on their new label, but it would be just a few months later on the 18th of September that their first full album, Under the Blade, was released.
As stated by Wikipedia:
“Modern reviews are very positive. Greg Prato of AllMusic reminds how the band moved to the UK, which was having a "heavy metal resurgence (dubbed the New Wave of British Heavy Metal)", to record with UFO bassist Pete Way "many of the band's best compositions from their club days" and finds Under the Blade "one of Twisted Sister's hardest rocking albums... highly recommended to lovers of early-'80s British heavy metal." Also Exclaim! reviewer Ian Gormely considers the album "a must for anyone with an interest in the history of American hard rock". Despite "the raw production... and lack of an obvious hit... it laid the groundwork for their future success", thanks also to Twisted Sister's "tongue-in-cheek presentation that latter-day hair metal bands clearly lacked." Adrian Begrand of PopMatters reviews the album as a "near-classic" and "the most ferocious of the band’s career." He writes that the musicians may have "bar band roots", but on the album "the fun side of Twisted Sister is set aside in favor of something a lot darker", which brought to "a hell of a debut that not only connected with British heavy metal fans, but would eventually lead to a contract with Atlantic Records, paving the way to stardom a couple years later." Canadian journalist Martin Popoff considers Under the Blade "dead serious despite the garish imagery, a good four-fifths of it rocking with hellacious clout, attitude and clever economy" and remarks how the influence of Judas Priest is evident in Dee Snider's compositions.”
Best Track? Have to give it up to the title track, and for two reasons. First, as an song it’s fantastic! You’re given a barrage of excellent guitarwork & bass, drumwork that’ll break eardrums, and Dee Snider’s signature style of singing is just perfect. Even the atmosphere the band creates is pretty sinister, as it feels like you’re witnessing something pretty gruesome. As for the other reason why I’m picking this, it’s gotta do with the holier-than-thou PMRC. During the hearing in 1985, Tipper Gore stated that the song was about sadomasochism, bondage, and rape, as well as promoting violence. Dee countered Ms. Gore’s words, stating that the song was actually about surgery and the fear it instilled in people. He concluded his testimony stating that the only sadomasochism, bondage, and rape in the song is in Ms. Gore’s mind. That’s a great way to get me to like a song!
Under The Blade
Worst Track? If Under The Blade has one single & rather big flaw, it would be that the album sounds incredibly dated. Now, I did listen to the remastered version, but even then it still sounds like something from the early 80s. It didn’t ruin the experience for me for the most part, but I did feel a little distracted by how old it felt, which is ironic considering that other albums from the same year sounded & aged far better than this one.
Under The Blade. Definitely dated, but it kicks ass regardless, and is a perfect window into the world of Twisted Sister. If you’re in the mood for some early 80s Hard Rock/Hair Metal, then this is a good choice. Next album!
You Can’t Stop Rock ‘n’ Roll (1983)
Under The Blade, while definitely a great way for Twisted Sister to start, certainly could be improved. Well, wish fulfilled! After appearing on the TV show The Tube, the band was approached by Atlantic Records and was signed on shortly after (Ironic, given that the company rejected T.W. during their club days). It was under Atlantic that You Can’t Stop Rock ‘n’ Roll was released. Coming out on the 27th of June, 1983, the record sounded far better than Under The Blade, and was just as heavy (More on that in a bit). Upon the success of this album, Atlantic Records began to push the band, and Twisted Sister’s first music video was made, as it’s comedic nature helped popularize them. By November of 1995, You Can’t Stop Rock ‘n’ Roll went Gold in the United States, selling 500,000 copies.
Best Track? Virtually ever single song on this record is fantastic, but my favorite is the opening track, The Kids Are Back. This isn’t just a song, but a statement. A statement from the band saying that they’re back, and stronger than before. This is translated into the drumwork, which comes across like marching sometimes. This is translated into the guitarwork, which is precise yet powerful, and this is translated into Dee’s voice, which sounds like someone that shouldn’t be messed with. Overall, a great song & great opener!
The Kids Are Back
Worst Track? You Can’t Stop Rock ‘n’ Roll’s only fault happens to be the same as that of Under the Blade. The production on here isn’t necessarily the best, and the datedness of the previous album creeps onto here as well. That being said, it has aged far better than Under the Blade. Sure the production could be better, but it’s a big step up from what came before, and thanks to the remastered version it sounds considerably fresher.
You Can’t Stop Rock ‘n’ Roll. Still dated, but in comparison to what came before it’s a considerably better produced, and has aged far better. If you liked the feel of Under the Blade, but wanted a cleaner sound, then this is what you’re looking for. Next album!
Stay Hungry (1984)
As the band progressed further & further in the Heavy Metal scene, Twisted Sister was getting more & more attention. Under The Blade & You Can’t Stop Rock ‘n’ Roll definitely got people’s attention, but people wondering if the group had a card up their sleeve. Something that would blindside everyone, and make them truly take notice. In May of 84, the card in question would be Stay Hungry! Released on the 10th of that month, Stay Hungry hit people with the force of a Mach truck, and is the definitive Twisted Sister album. Masterful instrumentation, excellent guitar work, perfect usage of humor & in-your-face themes, etc. How successful was this album you ask? Well, during the tour for the album, an up & coming Metallica were big supporters of Stay Hungry (And Twisted Sister by default). On top of that, the album would eventually go multi-platinum in the United States, selling more than 3,000,000 copies!
However, Stay Hungry would also be the album where controversy would finally catch up with them. In 1985, the band would be targeted by conservative groups & the infamous PMRC for what they claimed was violence against parents and teachers in the music videos for We’re Not Gonna Take It & I Wanna Rock, and during the hearings the songs Under the Blade and We're Not Gonna Take It were specifically mentioned. Snider, along with folk legend John Denver and musical oddball Frank Zappa, testified before a Senate committee during these hearings on September 19, 1985. Snider’s testimony was particularly potent, as he managed to shutdown many of the criticisms flung his way. If I was to describe how he did it, I’d say it was in a fashion that would have impressed Sun Tzu.
Dee Snider PMRC Testimony
Best Track? I think it would be absolutely insane to not say We’re Not Gonna Take It. Though I Wanna Rock is just as badass & over the top, it was the previously mention song that effectively put Twisted Sister into the spotlight. Wild guitars, pounding drumwork, and the rough-and-tumble nature of Dee Snider’s vocals are all highly evident on this song. On top of that, the humorous and absurd music video that went along with the song just made it work so well. Definitely a track that’ll get under some people’s skin!
We’re Not Gonna Take It
A good second place song would have to go to the surprisingly emotional The Price. Taking a slightly more serious route with this one, it portrays the band as worn-down heroes, and as they journeyed to become one of the baddest bands out there, they’re pondering whether it was actually worth it or not. They’ve sacrificed quite a bit for what they’ve gained, but they’re thinking that perhaps they sacrificed too much in the process. Still, with great instrumentation and vocal work, The Price is a catchy song that’ll stick with you long after you’re done listening to it.
The Price
Worst Track? If there is any bad aspect (and I mean any) to Stay Hungry, it would be that the band may have set the bar too high for themselves. I don’t think this was necessarily intentional, but at the same time they went all out on this record and in the process the next few albums to come didn’t quite live up to this classic cornerstone of mid 80s Hard Rock/Hair Metal. As superb as almost all of what was to come, it never quite managed to achieve what Stay Hungry did.
Stay Hungry. An absolute treat to blast through your speakers, it’s a testament to it quality that it’s still remembered by many even today. If you wanted to known why the 1980s was the bedrock of Heavy Metal, Stay Hungry is a perfect place to look at. Next album!
Come Out and Play (1985)
And here we begin to see the downfall of Twisted Sister. Don’t take this the wrong way: 1985's Come Out and Play isn’t a bad album by any means. Despite being less successful critically and commercially, it did eventually go Gold as it sold more than 500,000 copies. It was the circumstances that lead to the band going downhill, and they’re kinda rough. After the massive and unexpected success of Stay Hungry, Twisted Sister came to a crossroads. To the left was a more pop-oriented direction, and to the right was a return to their Heavy Metal roots. They ultimately decided to go down both roads, but in doing so began the descent to their demise. The album's first single Leader of the Pack (A Shangri-Las cover) intended to continue the band's popularity and commercial appeal, but proved very unpopular with Twisted Sister fans. Ultimately, neither it or it’s second single (More on that in a moment) received the positive reaction that the band and their record label were expecting. Coupled with the fiasco that was the supporting tour for the album, not to mention Drummer A.J. Pero leaving the band after the tour ended in 1986.....you can see why they eventually fell apart after their 5th album.
Best Track? Be Chrool to Your Scuel has got to be an 80s guilty pleasure. For starters, Twisted Sister teamed up with the Shock Rock legend Alice Cooper, and given the theme of the song it’s quite appropriate. A second plus is the old school 1950s Rock ‘n’ Roll flavoring used in parts of the tune, adding even more to it’s atmosphere. Finally, what makes this track so good is the music video made for it. Bobcat Goldthwait is a over-energetic teacher at a school who’s students would probably maul him to death like a rabid grizzy bear, but a fateful trip to the Teacher’s Lounge changes everything. How you ask? Well, click the link below to find out!
Be Chrool to Your Scuel
Worst Track? While I wouldn’t say there’s any bad tracks on this album per se, I do find the abundance of ballads on here to be overwhelming. Not in the league of something like Ozzmosis, but when I think that a quarter of the album (Maybe even half of it. I’m not quite sure.) is nothing but ballads it comes across like the band is spinning their wheels in the mud a little. What is a little worse is that Come Out and Play isn’t that much different than Stay Hungry. A touch more commercial in terms of sound & feel, but for the most part sounds similar to the previously mentioned record. Whether it’s because the group was hesitant to leave their comfort zone, or they didn’t know what to do apart from Stay Hungry, I’m not sure.
Come Out and Play. Not bad by any means, but a step backwards when compared to everything else that came before. Still, if it happens to come your way, it’s definitely worth a listen. Next album!
Love is for Suckers (1987)
So this is it. The last Twisted Sister album, and it’s not necessarily a bad album to go out on. Released on the 13th of August, 1987, Love is for Suckers was actually supposed to be a solo project for Dee Snider. In 1986 he began this project reportedly approaching future Iron Maiden guitarist Janick Gers, but this didn’t end up happening. Instead, there was programmed drum, and featured several session musicians such as Reb Beach on guitar and Kip Winger (just before they formed Winger) and Steve Whiteman of Kix. Atlantic Records refused to release it unless it was under the Twisted Sister name, and that’s how the 5th record under the band’s wing came to be. In a huge change, the band members removed the makeup that they had been wearing since their early days. The music video for the lead single "Hot Love", featuring the band members without their makeup, had some moderate success on MTV. Commercially, Love is for Suckers was a complete failure and many of the band's metal fans were disappointed with the more Pop/Hair Metal sound (More on that in a bit). It’s ironic that the record was considered a disappointment, as Dee Snider said in 2009 in an interview with Ruben Mosqueda:
“There's some great stuff on there man! The thing is, that was supposed to be my first solo album. The thing was the record company and management pressured me into making it a Twisted Sister record. There's some stuff that was in the Twisted Sister vein but it was supposed to be a solo record, that album was meant to give the band the break we needed. I felt that by releasing a solo album I could put that out there, get it out my system, and then after a short break we could regroup and work on a new album. The recording, the promotion and touring of Love Is for Suckers went on to kill the band. Management and the record company in their infinite wisdom know best. Oh let's put five guys who can't stand each other in a studio for three months!”
Best Track? Wake Up (The Sleeping Giant) is the best example of a protest song if there ever was one! Written in direct response to the PMRC’s actions from a few years prior, you can just feel the anger coming from Dee Snider’s voice, and the absolute disdain the rest of the band is showing through their instrumentation. Even the lyrics are venomous, as all of the words are coated in a “Fuck you, we’re stronger & we outnumber you” mentality. This is all ironic, given how intelligent & well-spoken Dee was during the hearings, but it’s still great to hear the band perfectly articulate how so many bands, metalheads, and even music listeners in general were feeling. Great way to start the album, btw!
Wake Up (The Sleeping Giant)
Worst Track? Much like Come Out and Play, there isn’t anything bad per se. The only thing that’s an issue is just how hard the band is trying to be like 80 to 90% of the Hair Metal bands in the late 80s. It comes across as incredibly forced in terms of vibe & feeling, which is a crying shame since all of the albums before this felt natural when it came to it’s atmosphere. Even Come Out and Play felt more natural in this regard, and that record felt forced in a completely different way.
Love is for Suckers. Much like the album before it, it’s not a horrendous release. However, with the forced Hair Metal vibes shoved in, and the band seemingly in turmoil before & after it was released, makes it the least memorable out of Twisted Sister’s discography. Still, if for whatever reason you’re curious about the music on here, it’s not a boring sit through by any measure. And so, with that marks the en.......wait, we’re actually not done everybody! Love is for Suckers may have been their last album of the 1980s, it wasn't necessarily the end of their adventure, as the early 2000s would get just a little......twisted. Next album!
Still Hungry (2004)
With the release of Love is for Suckers, that was basically the end of Twisted Sister. The band would breakup after just 2 months of the record’s release, and the members would go on to pursue solo projects & other things that suited their fancy. However, ironic & tragic fate would somehow bring these gentlemen back together. More specifically, the benefit concert for the NYPD and FDNY Widows and Orphans Fund in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in November of that year. Over $100,000 was raised for the charity, and Twisted Sister was one of the groups that played. The reaction to their first concert in 14 years was overwhelmingly positive, and the demand for more live dates was so immediate, that the band took the first steps toward returning to the stage. After a few years of releasing compilations, featuring their music in video games, and even reuniting again for the Sweden Rock Festival in June 2003, they went into the recording studio in March of 04, and on the 19th of October of that year, Still Hungry was released.
Reportedly, the band wasn’t happy with the original production of Stay Hungry, so this time they produced it themselves, and included seven bonus tracks (Some of which weren’t release on the original record). This album is......a step backwards from the original. Let me state that Still Hungry is bad, cause it’s not. I’ll be stating it again in a bit, but I don’t think the music is bad. It’s great to hear these classic songs with more modern recording & production behind them, and for anyone that’s never listened to the original album this isn’t a bad place to start getting into the band. However, it’s simultaneously pointless to listen to Stay Hungry when, in my opinion, a superior version was released 20 years prior. Alex Henderson of AllMusic suggested that casual listeners "start out with Stay Hungry, not Still Hungry", but he also added:
“for collectors and hardcore fans, Still Hungry paints an enjoyable, interesting picture of the sound that Snider and friends originally had in mind for their most famous album.”
Best Track? Rock 'N' Roll Saviours tickles my fancy in just the right way. One of the 7 bonus tracks on this record, this songs sounds like something you’d actually hear from the 80s, which isn’t a surprise as it was actually a song from their club days. Only now, you have far more modern (For 2004 anyway) recording & production in addition to more experienced band members. Dee’s vocals still sound as good as they did in the 80s, AJ Pero still knows his way around a drumset, JJ French & Eddie "Fingers" Ojeda still hold a crowd with their guitar work, and Mark "The Animal" Mendoza is an eternal force to be reckoned with when it comes to the bass. Out of all the bonus tracks.....this is one you shouldn’t skip.
Rock 'N' Roll Saviours
Worst Track? The redo of We’re Not Gonna Take It has to be one of the biggest slaps to the face I’ve ever felt! It goes through all of the motions of the original, but everything just comes across as off. Dee’s vocal work sounds fine, as does the instrumentation, but something just comes across as out of place. Like something with the sound seems to have shifted a little, and not exactly in a good way.
We’re Not Gonna Take It
Perhaps the biggest issue with Still Hungry has to be that.....it really wasn’t needed. Most of the music on her isn’t bad, and in some cases it’s actually excellent to hear a few of these made with more modern recording & production behind them. However, I’ve already listened to these songs before on Stay Hungry. Listening to them again here, while not bad (And even fun to a certain extent), feels rather redundant considering that fans have already heard these songs 20 years prior.
Still Hungry. Not a bad album by any means, but it’s one that only the most hardcore of the band’s fans, or people who are new to Twisted Sister, should go for. Recommended, but cautiously recommended. Next album!
A Twisted Christmas (2006)
After the fun but flawed release of Still Hungry, it seemed as if their return was just a nostalgia grab. However, there was the odd sound of sleigh bells echoing in the sky, and snow seemed to be coming out of nowhere. Come October of 2006, and the disciples of Twisted Sister would discover the source behind this early Holiday magic! Released on the 17th of that month, A Twisted Christmas was the cause of this Holiday cheer, but it’s origins are rather....twisted.
According to Dee Snider himself from their Christmas show in Vegas, 4 years prior they begun a reunion tour due to renewed interest in the band from the public. After one of these shows, he went up to J.J. French and suggested to him about doing a Christmas record in addition to the one coming in 2004. He liked the idea, and in 2006 they released their rather strange baby to the public for all to listen to. As for the Las Vegas show itself, Dee goes on to say that the idea came from when he & his family went to Radio City Music Hall for their holiday extravaganza spectacular. They watched the whole show, and at the end he turns to his kids and asks “Watcha think of that?”. His oldest child turned to him and very bluntly says “Father (A joke from Dee), that show made me hate Christmas”. From there, you can guess the rest.
Best Track? Oh Come All Ye Faithful is one of the most baffling combinations I’ve ever heard in music. On the one hand, we have the spiritual successor to We’re Not Going To Take It. From the guitar to the drums and to the singing, the band are bringing back the 80s hard. On the other hand, we have the lyrics to one of the most Christian of holiday tunes. Upon the surface it looks as if this wouldn’t work, but somehow Twisted Sister make it work. You’ll be rocking around the Christmas tree & giving thanks to Jesus at the same time as this song plays!
Oh Come All Ye Faithful
Worst Track? Like I said in my review a few years ago, A Twisted Christmas’s only major fault is that it’s a one-trick pony. It’s a Christmas album, and you can’t really listen to it outside of the season. As great as it is, the holiday trappings would just make things weird if you listened to in any month other than December. There’s an album I’ll be talking about towards the end of the month that suffers from a similar situation, but I won’t get into it here.
A Twisted Christmas. Definitely a record firmly rooted in Christmas cheer, but still twisted all the same. If you’re looking for a collection of holiday music that’s off the beaten path......then you’re easily find it here. Recommended for everybody that’s twisted around the most wonderful time of the year!
And that was my look at the career of the classic Twisted Sister. A tragically small career, but one in which they left an undeniable impression upon those that listened to them. Whether past or present, the ways of this 80s cult classic shall never be forgotten by it’s followers! Well everybody, I got a bit more happy for this month, so join me next week for a look at some booty.....and I don’t mean gold. See you then!
***
If you want a more clear look at the band, check out the link below:
Twisted Sister (Wikipedia)
