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DEE SNIDER - DeeVision [DVD] |
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Posted: 2/8/05Reviewed by: Dirt Category: Heavy Metal Released: 9/17/02 Label URL: www.musicvideodistributors.com Artist URL: www.deesnider.com | |
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Whenever I write about Twisted Sister or Dee Snider, I credit them with my becoming a metal-head. It was the purchase of Stay Hungry that changed me forever. The attitude, the image, it was everything I needed at that point in my life. More importantly, Twisted Sister indirectly introduced me to the friends that I still have today (two of which, write for Metal Dreams). Metal was our common bond – well…that and a lot of beer and bad behavior.
DeeVision was originally released independently and sold at Dee Snider’s S.M.F. shows in 1997. For the unaware, the S.M.F.’s were a project that Dee created after the fall of Widowmaker and Desperado (the two bands that followed Twisted Sister). This project was a vehicle for Dee to hit the club circuit and perform an all Twisted Sister set. Besides Dee, the band featured a variety of relatively unknown support players. As far as I know, the version of the S.M.F.’s seen on DeeVision was the final lineup that he used before reforming with Twisted Sister.
DeeVision captures Dee performing at a crappy Long Island club, so the setting certainly isn’t the best place to have filmed a show. In fact, the stage backdrop is too low so you can see the cameras and other equipment, which is a bit distracting. Plus, the stage is tight, so the camera angles aren’t always clean and are sometimes obscured by mic-stands and the like. That aside, Dee and band come off as a well-oiled machine, tearin’ through nineteen Twisted classics such as “The Kids Are Back,” “Destroyer,” “Shoot ‘Em Down,” “Under The Blade,” the MTV staples “I Wanna Rock” and “We’re Not Gonna Take It,” and even some rarities from Come Out and Play and Love Is For Suckers. The highlight is when Dee completely forgets the lines to “We’re Not Gonna Take It.” Only, Dee could turn something embarrassing like that into a highlight. A revealing interview with Dee is spliced in-between the concert, which works really well. Dee is an intelligent and well-spoken guy, and is always interesting to listen to. Additionally, Sebastian Bach, A.J. Pero, Jay Jay French, Ronnie James Dio, and a host of other musicians comment on Dee’s legacy. Jay Jay French comes off very stiff and serious, though.
The Bloody Truth: Dee Snider is a hyperactive performer that is on from the opening note until the closing one. This performance finds him as sharp as he always was, even though the setting leaves something to be desired. Between his engaging stage presence, his motormouth stage commentaries, and his powerful vocal delivery, he’s one of the best live performers in existence. DeeVision is a must-have for anyone into Twisted Sister or 80s metal.
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