You Wanted the Best...Number Eight

Our top ten glam band countdown continues. Here’s what we’ve got so far:

10) Badlands 09) Winger

In the eighth spot…Twisted Sister.

One glance at lead singer Dee Snider with his long blond hair and crazy make-up and you know Twisted Sister is a glam band. Despite the make-up and hairspray, the New York based quintet has a much harder edge than many of their Sunset Strip counterparts.

Besides some radio friendly hits – especially “We’re Not Gonna Take It” – the band produced more traditional Metal sounding tunes, all while having a good time. While Dee Snider demands his audience “Burn In Hell” guitarists Eddie Ojeda and Jay Jay French bop around on stage like skipping through a field of poppies.

Twisted Sister formed during the mid-seventies but enjoyed their biggest commercial success with 1984’s Stay Hungry. Their unique take on Metal influenced a slew of musicians that would swarm the Sunset Strip just a few short years later. The band made shock rock melodic and catchy.

Twisted Sister continued to tour and record throughout the eighties and Dee Snider even took on lawmakers during the PMRC hearings. Now, Snider hosts his own syndicated radio show The House of Hair. The band also headlined Rocklahoma 2007 and gave the best performance of the entire weekend. It seems Dee likes to insult his fans. Slapstick comedy adds an extra dimension to a rock show and Twisted Sister is just the band to provide the delicate mix of over-the-top antics and awesome guitar licks.

Here’s Twisted Sister performing “Burn In Hell” at Wacken Open Air in 2003. Warning: this performance will kick your ass. On a personal note, I have big plans of learning the bass riff to this song.

Don't agree with my choice? Come back tomorrow and see who lands at number seven on the ten best glam bands of all time list.

Comments

[Rob Rockitt]

Can't fault this choice at all. Twisted Sister may always be the band of my generation, but you can not deny the impact that they have had on this music.

I wish they would do something outside of the Xmas season, and record some new tunes.

[BillyKiss]

Rob I totally agree with you!!! The only thing I would question is Allyson's ranking of 8 I would have had them in my top 5.

[Christian Graus]

Yes, I love Twisted Sister, and I love 'Burn in hell'. My favourite song tho is Shoot em down, especially the line 'he a master baiter'

[papa_rocker]

The twisted xmas tour kicked my ass last year, just like Tracii Guns did last night.

[dr. loveless]

a truely awesome band! dee was a wonderful frontman and better than any special effect!

[Chey]

great choice!

[aXe mAn]

Great choice...they deserve to be their.

[warbaz]

twisted sister never did it for me there music is ugly and tacky like the way they dress they are not the cool kind of glam like the crue or faster pussycat. LA glam rock rules becuz the style and music still holds up today [punk,classic,metal,rock n roll] it is more a lifestyle not a costume.

[Rhodeislandrock, Heavy Metal Addiction]

I thought TS would be higher but their success was limited to Stay Hungry. It seems to me that most people today hold TS in higher regard then they were. They blazed the trail but burnt out on the way.

Under The Blade & You Can't Stop Rock'N Roll are classic albums but overlooked.....

Stay Hungry is the classic '80s success.....

Come Out & Play & Love Is For Suckers are below average compared to the first three.....

Good inclusion here and the placement was probably right, I figured they would get more credit for the memories.

Steve
Heavy Metal Addiction
http://hardrockheavymetal.wordpress.com

[Tyk]

Stay Hungry really is a classic from start to finish. And you couldn't get much more glam than these guys.