What do you want to do with your life? I wanna ROCK!
The iconic lead singer of Twisted Sister, Dee Snider, recently took the stage for a panel at Missouri Comic Con, and for any fan of 80s metal, this was a “must-see” event. You never quite know what’s going to come out of Dee’s mouth, and he certainly didn’t disappoint.
“I Am Not Dying!”
Dee kicked things off by clearing the air with a blunt declaration: “I am not dying!” Following the recent announcement that he was stepping down as the frontman of Twisted Sister, rumors regarding his health began to spiral. While Dee confirmed he isn’t at death’s door, he was candid about the physical toll of a legendary rock career. At 71 years old, he deals with severe, chronic pain in his shoulders, neck, arms, and legs.
“If you cannot raise your rock horns above your shoulder, you probably shouldn’t go out on tour,” Snider joked.
For Dee, it comes down to a matter of pride and legacy. He refused the idea of standing still or lip-syncing to a backing track. He reminisced about touring a decade ago in size 29 leather pants, jumping across the stage with boundless energy.
“I no longer wear size 29 pants, and I cannot jump around that same way,” he admitted. “When a reunion show is good, it makes you feel young again. When it’s bad, it reminds you how old you got. I don’t want to be the guy that lets people down. Why would I want the last memories of me on stage not being Dee Fing Snider?*”
Passing the Torch
When asked about the rumors of Sebastian Bach (formerly of Skid Row) stepping in, Dee gave his full blessing. “I know Sebastian and am friends with him. He is a huge fan of Twisted Sister; he knows all the songs and can really belt them out. I fully support and endorse Sebastian taking over.”
The “Caffeine Intervention”
Throughout the panel, Dee gripped a cup of coffee—a fitting accessory for a man who famously avoided the “sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll” lifestyle. He shared a hilarious story from the early days of Twisted Sister: while the rest of the band was immersed in drugs and alcohol, they actually staged an intervention for him.
“I was drinking three full pots of coffee a day,” Dee laughed. “I said, ‘What is this, an intervention?’ and they said, ‘Yes, it is.’ How funny is it that in a band full of drugs and alcohol, they had to sit me down for being too hyper on caffeine? I had to cut back, but I still love my coffee.”
Strange Pairings and Heavy Metal Mentors
Dee touched on some of the more “interesting” moments of his career, including:
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The Oddest Tour Pairing: Early on, Twisted Sister was booked to open for Tommy James and the Shondells. “I don’t think they knew what style of music we played,” Dee chuckled. “It didn’t bother our fans, but I’m sure it bothered theirs!”
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The House of Hair: When auditioning for his famous radio show, Dee beat out other rockers by leaning into his “rock star” voice and energy while others tried to play it cool with a standard DJ persona.
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The Legend of Lemmy: After being rejected by every major label, Twisted Sister found a guardian angel in Lemmy Kilmister of Motörhead. Lemmy took the band under his wing and helped them catch their big break. Their bond remained so strong that after Lemmy’s passing, Dee received a surprise in the mail: a silver bullet containing Lemmy’s ashes.
Legacy and Censorship
When Dee asked an AI what he would be remembered for, it gave him two things: Fighting censorship and “We’re Not Gonna Take It.”
Dee spoke passionately about the anthem, noting that the lyrics were intentionally vague so that anyone, anywhere, could use it to protest whatever they were “not going to take.” He also touched on his famous 1985 appearance before Congress to fight the PMRC, where he used hard facts to dismantle the fear-mongering surrounding lyrical censorship.
Life After the Stage
Though his touring days may be winding down, Dee isn’t slowing down. His career has spanned reality TV and film—most notably his role as Captain Howdy in Strangeland (the first R-rated film cited for scenes of torture). These days, he stays busy behind the camera, writing screenplays and directing.
Final Thoughts
Sitting in on a panel with a living legend was an unforgettable experience. Thank you to Missouri Comic Con for thinking outside the box and bringing a rock icon to Springfield. And a huge thank you to Mr. Dee Snider for the stories, the honesty, and the decades of rock!
Stay Geeky!
