Shut Up and Give Me the Mic

June 18, 2012
Twisted Sister front man Snider tells the story of his band's rise to international superstardom, their fast crash to bankrupt obscurity, and beyond in this honest and entertaining memoir. He begins with his childhood decision to "be a Beatle," recounting a slew of high school bands that would lead to his joining the already established Twisted Sister in 1976. Though Snider and company regularly attracted crowds of over 1,000 fans on a nightly basis in Long Island clubs, a record deal materialized only after exposure in England. The release of their enormously popular 1984 album, Stay Hungry, featuring the classic hit "We're Not Gonna Take It," marked their apex, and while Twisted Sister was a huge success, life at homeâwhere Snider's wife and kids awaitedâcontinued apace, and Snider candidly details his struggle with megalomania. But just a year later, the band released Come Out and Play, and everything began to fall apart. Snider describes with great devotion and gratitude his wife's role in crafting the band's image, and he provides insight into his songwriting process, Twisted Sister's iconic music videos, and the many flaws of the music industry. Also included is the complete transcript of Snider's 1985 speech before a Senate hearing regarding profanity in music (spearheaded by Tipper Gore, wife of Al), wherein the heavy-metal rocker reveals his Christian upbringing and lifelong abstinence from drink and drugs.