Dee Snider always finds a way to rock. In the '80s his group Twisted Sister made unforgettable videos for "We're Not Gonna Take It" and "I Wanna Rock" that fought the system. From the long blonde hair to the heavy eye shadow his heavy metal drag look made him a standout amongst the other bands in the day.
Since 1997, he has ran a radio show called House of Hair that plays on 220 stations in North America.
He's tackled reality TV with Celebrity Apprentice and Celebrity Wife Swap.
No stranger to a musical since starring in Rock of Ages, Snider has created a new holiday spectacle called Dee Snider's Rock and Roll Christmas Tale. The show is full of classic songs where this rocker not only wrote the story but also plays the narrator. The story follows an '80s hair band called Däisy Cütter trying to make it big in the world of music.
Snider discussed this new project over coffee in downtown Chicago before the musical opened.
Windy City Times: First off, Dee stands for your name Daniel, right?
Dee Snider: My first name is Daniel but my middle name is Dee.
WCT: Your Rock & Roll Christmas Tale is [holding its world premiere] here. Why pick Chicago [instead of] New York?
Dee Snider: You can't be such an upstart as to start in New York. You always have to start out of town. The Broadway community will literally murder you if you have the audacity to try to launch a show in New York City, unless it is off-Broadway. We considered doing off-Broadway but my lead producer, John Yonover, is from Chicago and has a love affair with this town for a good reason. So many great shows have started here with Broadway In Chicago. My friend Cyndi Lauper started her show here so if it is good enough for her then its good enough for me.
This is a good place to test things before New York, which isn't our final destination by the way. When the show does well here, yes we do intend to go to Broadway but we want to have the show here again next year with a different rock star doing my part. Conceptually it will be Alice Cooper's Rock & Roll Christmas Tale in Phoenix, Bob Seger's Christmas Tale in Detroit, and Vince Neil's Christmas Tale in Las Vegas. Get the local rock star to take the plum role of the narrator and have his name at the top of the marquee. I did write it so I will be the one to launch it.
WCT: Tell readers about the basic plot.
Dee Snider: It is very simple. It's the story of a struggling rock band who sell their souls to the devil but have a magical Christmas instead. It is a story as old as time itself!
It's cool and rocks but very much a family show for ages 7 to 70. I will be bringing my grandkids and I have three of them. I had that in mind as I created it. I wanted a show that would be entertaining and that I could share with my children and grandchildren.
It's edgy with an exorcism but you walk out feeling Christmas-y!
WCT: You worked with Giuliana Rancic on the project.
Dee Snider: Yes, we did "Silent Night" as a single last year. It will be rereleased this year. She is great. Her husband Bill is an Apprentice alumni also so we are like a little family.
She auditioned for the show and came out and killed it. We talked to her about playing the lead role of Suzette but she is very busy. She will be dropping by the show at some point.
WCT: I saw there is a special meet-and-greet package that people can buy.
Dee Snider: Yes, I am calling it The Dee Snider Experience. When I was in Rock of Ages I was at the stage door every single night, signing and meeting people. I like to pull back the curtain and show the great and powerful Oz.
WCT: You have always been very approachable as a celebrity, from what I have seen.
Dee Snider: I will be real honest. I went through my asshole phase before I became really famous. My band was regionally famous in the New York area. We played to thousands of people five nights a week. This was in the '70s. We were together 10 years before people even knew we existed. There's a documentary coming out called We Are Twisted Fucking Sister about those years that it took to get the world to notice us. I was a real asshole back then.
WCT: So you got it out of your system?
Dee Snider: I did. One of the big game-changers was meeting Billy Joel. I was at a party with him. He was so approachable and down-to-earth. I wanted to be like him and not be so arrogant. I wanted people to say that I'm nice like Billy Joel. I never told him how that affected me. It changed my approach to the star I wanted to be.
WCT: Did you think about making a Halloween show instead of a Christmas show?
Dee Snider: I did an ill-fated Halloween project called Van Helsing's Curse. We made a concept album inspired by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. It was taking classical music and mixing it with rock songs in a speedball of creepiness. I narrated the story and the reviews were astounding. It was so expensive that it just didn't catch on. I have a real passion for Halloween. Those are my two favorite holidays.
I did that movie Strangeland with a big cult following and it was the first of the torture genre. I am definitely connected to the Halloween community. My daughter was born on Halloween. She's a creepy little girl in a wonderful way and the Wednesday Addams of our family!
WCT: Did you have a favorite Christmas song you had to get in this musical?
Dee Snider: When Twisted Sister did a Twisted Christmas record, one I loved was "Silver Bells" and that is in the show. It works so well as an AC/DC-type rock song.
WCT: Where is the rest of Twisted Sister?
Dee Snider: We are still together but not as active as we were. We usually do about a dozen shows a year. We mainly do summer festivals and not full blown touring. It's fun and reminds me of when I first started out. It's like playing the school dance all over again. Since we don't tour, when we get together we are happy to see each other. It makes it very special when we hang out together. Fortunately, I have kept myself together physically so I can still entertain people and they won't be disappointed. My greatest fear is to get onstage and see a look of disappointment in somebody's eyes if I was a shadow of what I once was. I'm ripped but I'm from the '60s and gravity will win eventually!
WCT: Would you ever cut your hair off?
Dee Snider: Yeah; when I did Strangeland I dyed my hair red. I couldn't get it out because of the bleached hair. It was frazzled. The kids at my children's school called me "yarn head." We had to start over so we chopped it. It was strangely liberating.
WCT: You don't wear the makeup these days?
Dee Snider: No; we did it up until five or six years ago. One time I was helicoptered in to a show of 75,000 people in Holland with Kiss, Def Leppard, and Whitesnake. We had no time to change or get dressed up. The newspapers were stunned that we were that great of a rock band. The makeup and costumes hid the fact that we are a great live band. It was time to take it off and be a little more age appropriate. At this age I should put lipstick on my teeth so I look like my aunt!
WCT: Your fellow Celebrity Apprentice Lisa Lampanelli wants to do a Broadway show also.
Dee Snider: She's a doll.
WCT: I just spoke to Lou Ferrigno.
Dee Snider: He's a dick. He tried to start some stuff in the boardroom on the show that wasn't true. It was taken out and Mr. Trump had to start the scene over.
WCT: Did you ever think about making a reality show, like Ozzy Osbourne?
Dee Snider: We had one season on E! called Growing Up Twisted. It didn't get picked up for a follow-up season. I think my family is a little too healthy for reality TV. I'm not a controversy generator. I'm level headed and cool. I'm good for a few episodes but then it is time to get Gary Busey back!
WCT: You seem very liberal.
Dee Snider: I am the most confused as far as public perception. I am pro amendments. I fight [against] censorship and [for] the Second Amendment as well. I try to do what is right and judge each situation individually on party lines. I am both hailed and reviled by the conservatives and the liberals.
When Paul Ryan wanted to use "We're Not Gonna Take It" and since he is so anti-choice, I did not endorse him using my songs. The first line of my song is "we have the right to choose." What was he thinking? The only thing I agree with him on is using the P90X.
WCT: What is your stance on gay rights?
Dee Snider: I am super pro-gay rights. Look—I did drag for many years and my wife taught me how to wear the right shade of lipstick. This company that does a high-end nail polish wants to do "I Wanna Rock" pink to celebrate my 30 years of wearing pink nail polish.
I'm heterosexual, but I fight for the rights for people to express themselves and be who they want to be.
Express yourself at Dee Snider's Rock & Roll Christmas Tale running now through Jan. 4 at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut St. Visit BroadwayInChicago.com for tickets and showtimes today.
Keep up with the rocker at www.deesnider.com .
