Posts Tagged ‘twisted-sister’

Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider Roasted by Zakk Wylde, Scott Ian, Lita Ford + More

Rogers & Cowan Twisted Sister ‘s Dee Snider was subject to a little skewering Thursday night (Jan. 24), but it was all for a good cause as the Revolver / Guitar World Rock & Roll Roast raised funds for the MusiCares organization. Snider sat upon his throne throughout the evening as a dais of rockers, comedians and actors each took their shots at the singer. Snider’s ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ pal Penn Jillette hosted the evening, which featured last year’s roastee Zakk Wylde , as well as Anthrax ‘s Scott Ian , Lita Ford , ‘That Metal Show’ co-hosts Eddie Trunk and Jim Florentine, Snider’s son Shane, and comedians Jim Norton and Craig Gass. Plus, actor Mark Metcalf was on hand to provide his salute, delivering his “Whaddya want to do with your life?” speech before introducing Snider and the panel. In addition, Alice Cooper , Lorenzo Lamas, Sebastian Bach , Donald Trump, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Steel Panther , Brande Roderick, Chris Jericho and Gene Simmons all sent in video tributes. Jillette opened the night citing the “motley crew” that made up the dais, before apologizing to Snider for mentioning “a real rock and roll band.” Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian had perhaps the line of the night, telling the audience, “Twisted Sister tribute bands don’t exist because no one wants to play the same two songs over and over.” Gass also provided a zinger, stating, “Somewhere in America, there’s a county fair with an empty stage.” Alice Cooper, appearing via a video tribute, took his own jab at Snider, congratulating him on his “regionally successful music career,” while Lita Ford showed her concern for Snider telling him she hoped that menopause hadn’t affected his singing voice. The Twisted Sister frontman wasn’t the only target however, as Zakk Wylde told the singer’s son Shane he was worried about his future, adding, “Those are some big gay shoes to fill.” Florentine singled out another rocker, explaining “I thought Scott Ian came to my house, but it was a garden gnome.” And Norton offered up a dig at Ford, stating, “You can tell Lita is a Ford because no one has wanted to get inside her since the early ’80s.” Snider, however, had some revenge at the end of the night, targeting Jim Norton with one of his best barbs. The rocker joked, “Jim Norton’s career is going so poorly, he’s opening for my son, Shane.” [button href=”http://loudwire.com/bret-michaels-and-dee-snider-return-for-all-star-celebrity-apprentice/” title=”Next: Dee Snider to Return for ‘Celebrity Apprentice'” align=”center”]

Daily Reload: Lostprophets, Soundgarden + More

Simone Joyner, Getty Images – Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins has been arrested on charges of some very heinous crimes. [ Loudwire ] – Dave Grohl has taken a shine to this directing thing, as he’s stepped behind the lens to film Soundgarden ‘s ‘By Crooked Steps’ clip. [ Loudwire ] – Flyleaf and Drowning Pool , both showing off new singers, will team up for a North American trek next year. [ Loudwire ] – Deuce provides a little cheer with new digital holiday cards. [ Loudwire ] – Twisted Sister ‘s Dee Snider will be roasted by the likes of Zakk Wylde and Scott Ian at the 2nd Annual ‘Rock & Roll Roast.’ [ Loudwire ] – Foster the People ‘s ‘Pumped Up Kicks’ has been pulled from rotation by a Los Angeles station in the wake of the Newtown, Conn. tragedy. [ Diffuser.fm ] – Former Ween member Aaron Freeman has apparently announced plans to undergo a sex change. [ Diffuser.fm ] – Bruce Springsteen , the Who and the Rolling Stones head up the new ’12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief’ benefit compilation. [ Ultimate Classic Rock ] – Ted Nugent ‘s ‘Gun Country’ special will not be turned into a series for Discovery Channel. [ Ultimate Classic Rock ]

Dee Snider to Be Roasted by Zakk Wylde, Scott Ian + More at 2nd Annual ‘Rock & Roll Roast’

Ethan Miller (3), Getty Images Outspoken Twisted Sister vocalist Dee Snider will have the tables turned on him on Jan. 24 when he becomes the subject of the 2nd Annual ‘Rock & Roll Roast’ taking place in Anaheim, Calif. The musician will be lovingly skewered by peers such as Zakk Wylde , Anthrax ‘s Scott Ian and Lita Ford , as well as several comedians and celebrities. Penn Jillette, a veteran of ‘ Celebrity Apprentice ‘ alongside Snider and half of the comedy-magic duo Penn & Teller, will serve as the roastmaster for the evening. In addition, Snider will endure a few barbs from WWE wrestler Mick Foley, ‘That Metal Show’ hosts Eddie Trunk and Jim Florentine and comedians Jim Norton and Craig Gass. Wylde, who will be part of the dais for this event, was the subject of last year’s roast and in effect, will get to deliver some comedic payback to some of the returning roasters. Snider is also keen on the idea of payback, stating about the upcoming roast, “Roasters remember: P.A.M.F. Payback’s A Mutha f—er!” The event will be taped and will air on AXS TV at midnight ET / 9PM PT Jan. 24. A portion of the proceeds from the ‘Rock & Roll Roast’ will benefit the MusiCares organization, which aids in the financial assistance and addiction recovery programs of musicians in need. In addition to jabs about “lapel pins on uniforms” and “electric twangers,” as referenced in Twisted Sister’s most popular videos, the dais will have lots of material to harp on. Snider released his ‘Shut Up and Give Me the Mic’ autobiography in early 2012. He’s also appeared on such reality shows as ‘Gone Country,’ ‘Rock the Cradle’ and ‘Growing Up Twisted’ on top of his past and upcoming ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ appearances. And he also released an album of show tunes called ‘Dee Does Broadway.’ [button href=”http://loudwire.com/twisted-sister-jay-jay-french-trademark-law-doesnt-offer-choice-what-to-defend/” title=”Next: Twisted Sister’s Jay Jay French Discusses Defending the Band’s Trademark” align=”center”]

Daily Reload: Stone Sour + Papa Roach, Loudwire Music Awards + More

Mary Ouellette, SheWillShootYou.com (2) – North America, it’s your turn! Stone Sour and Papa Roach are bringing their co-headlining tour stateside in 2013. [ Loudwire ] – The 2012 Loudwire Music Awards voting continues with the addition of several newly revealed categories. [ Loudwire ] – Guitarist Brian ‘Head’ Welch says the timing is right to reunite with Korn for some upcoming gigs. [ Loudwire ] – Metallica tease their ‘Quebec Magnetic’ DVD with the new ‘Master of Puppets’ performance video. [ Loudwire ] – Mastodon are writing music for next summer’s ‘Monsters Inc.’ prequel, ‘Monsters University.’ [ Loudwire ] – The dates for Mountain Jam 2013 have been revealed. Check out a list of the Top 10 Mountain Jam performances. [ Diffuser.fm ] – The Rolling Stones ‘ Mick Jagger and Keith Richards discuss their complicated relationship. [ Ultimate Classic Rock ] – Fleetwood Mac intend on releasing three songs before their 2013 tour. [ Ultimate Classic Rock ] – Twisted Sister have revealed plans for a Hurricane Sandy benefit show. [ Rock Music Report ]

Twisted Sister’s Jay Jay French Says Trademark Law Doesn’t Offer Choice on What to Defend

Ethan Miller, Getty Images Twisted Sister made headlines last month with talk that they were planning to take legal action against the owner of a Minneapolis food truck over usage of their band name, but guitarist and a manager Jay Jay French says there really wasn’t much of a choice in taking action. The band sent a cease-and-desist letter to the owner of the Twisted Sister House of Hunger food truck, and owner Wesley Kaake told local station WCCO-TV that in researching the matter, he discovered that there were at least six other businesses who also received similar letters from the band. In response to the backlash, French told Blabbermouth , “I get how stories like these appear like David vs. Goliath. I also get how easy it is to take cheap shots at my band because of our former image and the ’80s-era iconography. [But] the fact of the matter is that trademark law doesn’t give me a choice on who and what to defend. The law is very clear: either defend your trademark or lose rights to it.” The guitarist says over the years he’s had to take action against major companies like Six Flags, Urban Decay, and Harley-Davidson as well as some of the “mom and pop companies.” He adds, “The defense is almost always the same. They first claim that they never heard of the band and then they say that no one would confuse the two anyway. I have won every case. The unique juxtaposition of the words ‘Twisted’ and ‘Sister’ have never ever appeared in print prior to my band’s use of it. This was established in the Six Flags case.” French concludes, “The name is so unique, like Led Zeppelin, that any use would confuse the marketplace as either the product or service is owned or endorsed by us. Also, if I let one go, that just emboldens someone else with the rationale that ‘you didn’t bother them, so why go after me.’ I have heard this many times before.” The guitarist also states that he’s not opposed to the food truck using the name for their business so long as they legally license it from the band. He adds, “One hundred percent of the licensing money will go to the OUIF (Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Foundation.” [button href=”http://loudwire.com/twisted-sister-pee-wees-big-adventure-cameo/” title=”Next: Twisted Sister – Musician Movie Cameos” align=”center”]

Sister Sin Singer Liv Jagrell Talks New Album ‘Now and Forever,’ Swedish Music Scene + More

Victory Records Swedish metal band Sister Sin are gearing up for the release of their new album ‘Now and Forever.’ The band is also set to invade the United States by supporting Doro on a string of dates next year. When we recently had the opportunity to chat with Sister Sin singer Liv Jagrell, she spoke candidly about the new album ‘Now and Forever’ ( available here ) and how the band has fought tooth and nail to make it in the music business for almost a decade. In addition, Jagrell dished on women in metal today, as well as why she thinks so much good music keeps coming out of Sweden. Check out our exclusive interview with Liv Jagrell of Sister Sin below: What does the album title ‘Now and Forever’ mean to you? The title ‘Now and Forever’ is kind of a statement for us as a band. As a band and as individuals we have been through quite a lot of things, a lot of troubles and things that might break up bands but we’re so dedicated to this band. So that’s the title – we are here now and hopefully forever. We won’t give up even if something goes wrong – it’s tough to be in the music business today. Sister Sin have been a strong unit for a decade, for you what keeps the band going, secret to your longevity? Yes it’s been almost a decade at least for me and Dave [Sunberg] the drummer because we started the band from the beginning and yeah it’s kind of a decade now – that’s a long time. It’s really hard today with the business, there’s so many bands, so much competition out there, no money whatsoever and all the things with downloads – I mean it could be could but also bad, depending on how you look at it. When I started to play music at 15, the music business and scene was totally different and you could actually make money from it. When I was 15, I just decided, “I’m going to play music my whole life and I’m going to be a rock star” — that kind of attitude. So I spent all 15 years to convince myself that that’s the only thing I will ever, ever do so that’s why I can’t give up because I programmed my brain to believe that I will do this forever. I think that’s why we don’t give up and why sometimes other bands do – they find other opportunities and other things they love too, they have something else you actually can do and you’ll probably do that because that will make you money and a better living. If you just prepare your whole life to be in the music business and tell yourself “This is what I’m going to do, I’m not going to do anything else” it’s kind of foolish and childish but in that way you just can’t give up. People of course give up and I’m not saying I’m not going to do it years from now but right now I still feel like I have to fight for that dream that I had as a teenager. Obviously we all have gained a lot and experienced so much but we’re still a little bit far away that whole kind of – living with the music or for the music thing – close but still far away. [Laughs] I think that’s what drives us. What have you learned being in a band for almost 10 years that you didn’t know at the start of the journey? I’ve learned very much. [Laughs] I’ve learned that I love to be on tour and I love to be onstage and I only feel that I am myself. I’m one hundred percent Liv when I’m onstage. I feel that’s the only time I’m just me. I’ve also learned that I thought it would be ten times easier and I thought it would be not as hard as it is. Of course I want people to fight and live for their dream but they have to understand that the dream comes with a lot of sacrifice and I don’t think people understand really how much being in a band, how much sacrifice comes with being in a band. If you can do the sacrifice then you should be in a band because when you’re onstage, when you tour, when you record your songs it’s the best thing in the world, absolutely the best feeling in the world. What is your opinion on the way women in heavy metal are viewed today? Today is very much better than when I started, I’m very happy that I can see the progress. There are more women, more girls feel that they can take a spot in the metal scene – I didn’t really feel that when I started. There was this all girl Swedish band called Strange Stockholm and when I saw them I was like “If they can do it, I can do it too.” Before that I had Courtney Love but that’s not metal but I thought Courtney Love was really cool – she played the guitar and she was just a very outstanding person. Strange Stockholm was metal and it was an awakening that I could do this if I really want to – so for me that was the big thing when I discovered them and after that I just tried to push my way into the metal scene. I think it’s easier today, I hope it’s easier today – in Stockholm today we have a lot of female-fronted bands or all girl bands. I hope the girls today feel like they have people to look up to and I hope I can be one of them. I discovered Doro later, maybe 22 so when I was 15 I didn’t know much girls in metal. You did a cover of a Motorhead tune, what is another band you would like to cover that you haven’t yet. There are so many, I so love Twisted Sister. I really wanted to cover a Twisted Sister song but not their most known songs maybe some of the least known but a Twisted Sister song that would be really fun to do. Sometimes it’s better to think outside a little bit and not choose the very normal suggestion, people tell us all the time “You should do a Motley Crue cover or you should do a Judas Priest” but that’s kind of too easy. Sometimes it’s fun to find those diamonds somewhere in a song that people don’t know so much with a band – maybe that’s not even metal but you can make it your own. Many talented bands have come out of your home country of Sweden like In Flames, Opeth, Arch Enemy just to name a few. What do you think it is about all of this music coming out of Sweden that has such a broad appeal to people internationally? I think it could be two things, the first is that Sweden has always been a very good country when it comes to music – from when we’re a child we have opportunites to get into music school for free or for a very small fee at least when I grew up, I know it’s kind of changing now because we have another political power right now. When I grew up they would try to get kids into artistic things like music or theater stuff like that, it was that or sports. So you either get good at sports or music or art and drama so that’s why I think many people are very good musicians from Sweden because we learn from a very early age to do all of these kinds of things. The other thing is that Sweden is very cold, you can’t just be on the beach the whole day and surf or do many things outside, other than a couple of months, in December you have to be inside because it’s too cold here. So again if you want to do something at home – you go and play music or you go and do sports so I think that could be a reason why a lot of people in Sweden are dedicated and they have this kind of music coming out. There’s nothing else to do here, people tend to be drawn to being together and playing music. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/sister-sin-unleash-video-for-end-of-the-line/” title=”Check Out Sister Sin’s Video for ‘End of the Line'” align=”center”]

Slipknot’s Corey Taylor, Testament’s Alex Skolnick + More Invade New York Comic Con

Liz Ramanand, Loudwire Comic Con attracts all walks of life, and this year some metal luminaries made appearances at the Jacob Javitz Center in New York City over the weekend. Slipknot / Stone Sour frontman Corey Taylor pulled up a chair at the Dark Horse Comics booth to greet fans to spread the word about his comic book series ‘House of Gold & Bones.’ Twisted Sister  frontman and horror enthusiast Dee Snider was also there for a signing, as well as Iced Earth  axe-man  Jon Schaffer and  Testament  guitarist Alex Skolnick , who played some serious riffs at the Metal Sucks booth. Metallica  guitarist  Kirk Hammett  also made a special appearance at this year’s convention in order to promote his forthcoming book ‘Too Much Horror Business – The Kirk Hammett Collection.’ We were there to catch Taylor, Skolnick and Schaffer in action. Check out our photos below, as well as video of Skolnick shredding on guitar: Check Out Photos of the Metal Invasion at Comic Con 2012: Liz Ramanand, Loudwire Liz Ramanand, Loudwire Liz Ramanand, Loudwire Liz Ramanand, Loudwire Liz Ramanand, Loudwire Liz Ramanand, Loudwire Watch Alex Skolnick play guitar at Comic Con 2012