CONCERT REVIEW: W.A.S.P. – South of Salem Live at KK’s Steel Mill


With a queue that looks like it possibly stretches into a different time zone, anyone who thought LA legends W.A.S.P. would struggle to attract decent-sized crowds these days is very much mistaken. With a tour postponed due to the Covid pandemic three years ago, Blackie Lawless and co land on English shores once again, the natives turning out in full force to celebrate. And where better in the West Midlands to play than KK’s Steel Mill, the venue owned by former Judas Priest axeman KK Downing?

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ALBUM REVIEW: Liv Sin – KaliYuga


 

Sweden’s Liv Jagrell has proven she is a fitting heavy metal ambassador for this or any time, honoring both the rich history of the genre, or more modern styles with her raspy, enthusiastic ease. Be it Sister Sin‘s perfectly delivered heavy gutter glam n’ roll or the cruncified blend of styles in the Liv Sin band, she fully commits to the belief that metal is a valid way of life and the really silly ones are those who doubt and thus miss out.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Dee Snider – Leave A Scar


Dee Snider is sixty-six years old.
Sixty-six.

What the hell happened there? When I was a teenager, sexagenarians looked and acted like sexagenarians, damn it. Politicians, gardeners, doctors, Victor Kiam (Google him, kids). The lady down the road who only ever seemed to buy tea bags and cat food, and that embarrassing uncle who used to try and Moonwalk at every family party.

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Watch Dee Snider Perform a Concert During Cobra Kai Season 3


After Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take” became part of the classic training montage scene in Cobra Kai Season 2, Dee Snider showed up for more during Season 3, which debuted on New Years’ Day. The entire season features rock and heavy metal music on the soundtrack from Motley Crue, Journey, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, other 1980s classics, and more. At a concert featuring Dee’s solo band, protagonist William Zabka’s Johnny Lawrence character even remarks “That’s Dee Snider, the most badass rocker ever!” Watch Dee perform “The Kids Are Back” and “I Wanna Rock.”Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Ellefson – No Cover


Cover songs can be tricky. A balancing act that often results in calamity. Lean too far one way and be accused of musical blasphemy; keep things too safe and be reliably informed you shouldn’t have bothered in the first place. So with that in mind, surely an album consisting entirely of cover versions is just asking for trouble, isn’t it?Continue reading


Thirty-Five Years Ago Dee Snider Defended Heavy Metal Against Censorship


The 1980s were a curious time for music. It was one of the most creative and cool times ever for all kinds of music from Rock, Heavy metal, Pop, Hip-Hop, and Dance Music. Art and music is an expression of society and what people are feeling, and rarely just artists pushing their opinions on fans. But forces were aligning against personal freedom, especially in the United States Government and the Parents Music Resource Center (The P.M.R.C.) led by Tipper Gore, wife of Senator and later Vice President Al Gore; Susan Baker, wife of Treasury Secretary James Baker; Pam Howar, wife of Washington realtor Raymond Howar; and Sally Nevius, wife of former Washington City Council Chairman John Nevius.  

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REVIEW: Dee Snider – For The Love Of Metal Live!


If you were listening to metal in the 1980s, it’s pretty much a given that you will have heard of Dee Snider. Already widely known as the flamboyant frontman of Twisted Sister, Snider was thrust further into the spotlight in 1985 when he famously spoke before Congress against censorship in music and the infamous PMRC (Parents Music Resource Center).

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A Fan-Made Donald Trump Ad Using Linkin Park’s Classic “In The End” Has Been Banned from Twitter


A fan-made video ad Tweeted by and promoting President Donald Trump was posted to Twitter on Saturday (July 18) was removed from the social media platform due to a claim by the copyright owner, Linkin Park. The video used LP’s all-time classic hit single “In The End”. The video comes on the near three-year anniversary of the death of frontman Chester BenningtonThe two-minute, fan-made clip revolved around quotes from Trump’s 2017 inaugural address, including his vow to start “transferring power from Washington, D.C., and giving it back to you, the people.” The video painted presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden negatively. Within hours, Twitter pulled the video from Trump’s feed and replaced it with a message that reads, “This media has been disabled in response to a report by the copyright owner.”

UPDATE: Linkin Park officially filed a cease and desist order over the song’s use.

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Mike Portnoy, Dee Snider, Chris Jericho, Ray Luzier, John Moyer, and More to Raise Money for The David Z Foundation Livestream Tonight


Stars from across Rock and Metal will join together on a livestream to raise money tonight on the David Z Foundation Livestream. David Z (David Zablidowsky) was the brilliant metal and progressive rock musician best known for his work in bands such as Adrenaline Mob, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and ZO2, died three years ago on July 17th, 2017 when a tractor-trailer collided with Adrenaline Mob’s tour bus. Check out the updated poster from Mike Portnoy’s tweet below. You can donate at the GoFundM link below and watch the live stream including artists ranging from Mike Portnoy, Dee Snider, Chris Jericho, Ray Luzier (Korn), John Moyer (Disturbed) Rikki Rockett, Don Dokken, Richie Kotzen, Billy Sheehan, Jeff Scott Soto, Carmine Appice, Eddie Trunk, Marco Mendoza, Joel Hoekstra, Tiffany, John Pooper, Alex Skolnik, Charlie Benante, Dug Pinnick, Ra Diaz and more! Continue reading


PODCAST: Episode 109: Dee Snider on His “Rebirth”, Freedom, and Future Projects


Ghost Cult Chief Editor Keefy was honored to interview Heavy Metal legend Dee Snider for our podcast. We chatted about his upcoming DVD/concert album For The Love of Metal Live, due out soon from Napalm Records. Dee chatted about the “rebirth of his career” with his solo album inspired by Jamey Jasta (Hatebreed), his family, touring the world, his new band, how he keeps his voice in shape, lessons he has learned from the music business, anecdotes about Twisted Sister, his Broadway covers album, reflections on protecting Metal Music’s right to Freedom of Speech from the PMRC 35 years ago this year, and his plans for his next project. Order Dee’s new live album and other music here, and check out our chat! Continue reading