World's Best Live Band? Twisted Sister Make Convincing Argument

Photo credit: Tim Tronckoe

On their new DVD/CD, “Metal Meltdown,” Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider boasts that his band is hands-down the best live act the world over. Then he and his bandmates back up his words.

The tribute concert to late drummer A.J. Pero filmed in May 2015 in Las Vegas is out now and shines a spotlight on the 40-plus year veterans ability to work an audience into a frenzy with their classic songs and Snider’s seemingly boundless energy. Pero, the band’s longtime drummer, died in March 2015 of a heart attack at age 55.

Twisted Sister, which also features guitarists Jay Jay French and Eddie Ojeda, bassist Mark “The Animal” Mendoza and guest drummer Mike Portnoy (ex-Dream Theater), shines on early gems like “I Am, “I’m Me” and “Shoot ‘Em Down,” as well as all-time classics “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and “I Wanna Rock,” all of which sound as vital on the Sin City stage as they did upon their original release. Then there are fiery renditions of latter-era pieces like the underrated “The Fire Still Burns” as well as “The Price,” “Burn In Hell” and “You Can’t Stop Rock ‘N’ Roll.” It’s a thoroughly enjoyable and stellar setlist and performance..

A Pero drum solo played through the speakers with accompanying video footage is an especially poignant moment. The DVD also includes an entertaining, informative and very well done documentary.

The only negative: This is one of Twisted Sister’s final concerts. The band is calling it a career at the end of this year, and they will certainly be missed. Their last Tri-State Area performance is slated for Saturday, Oct. 1, as part of the second annual Rock Carnival at FirstEnergy Park in Lakewood.

We recently spoke with bassist Mark “The Animal” Mendoza.

How was playing your first show without A.J. Pero and with Mike Portnoy?

A little history on that. A.J. replaced Mike Portnoy in Adrenaline Mob and they were good friends. A.J. had said that if something ever happened to him and he couldn’t make a show to get Mike Portnoy to replace him. It's ironic. Mike said he would do exactly what A.J. did live, note for note, and he did. Mike is a tremendous drummer and a great guy.

Having video footage of AJ playing a drum solo was an especially poignant moment.

We were thinking about something special to do. It went over so well. It was an emotional moment. Every gig is memorable for me. I love playing. I look at what I do as getting paid to travel and playing the shows for free.

“Metal Meltdown” also includes a very informative documentary on the band. A lot of people think you were an overnight success after the video for “We’re Not Gonna Take It” took off in 1984. But you had been clawing your way up the ladder in the clubs for a decade before that.

Nobody gave us anything, nobody helped us. We fought and crawled up every hill and busted through every door to make the band successful. Even now we're the best team. We win the Super Bowl every year. We have the best quarterback in Dee Snider and the best linemen in the rest of the band. When we play those big monster festivals that’s what it’s all about.

You came to Twisted Sister in 1978 from New York punks The Dictators

I saw Twisted Sister before I was even in The Dictators. I was still in high school, late 73 or 74. I was blown away. They had a ferocious stage show. I worked for the band as a tech. In early November 1978 I was laying down in my bed after working all night and at 7 in the morning my phone rings. It’s Jay Jay asking if I want to play bass in Twisted Sister. I said yes and he said, ‘ok, good, I’ll talk to you later,’ and hung up the phone. I’m going, ‘wait a minute, what just happened.’

Twisted broke up in the late 1980s with a lot of bad blood and reunited for the 9/11 benefit New York Steel. Prior to that did you ever think the band would play together again?

No way. I never had any inkling. I wanted nothing to do with Twisted Sister. The only one I spoke to was Jay Jay. When he approached me about the benefit and helping the families of the people who died I thought, it’s bigger than me not wanting to play with Twisted Sister. It was a great night, but even after that show I didn’t say goodnight. It was more like, have a nice life. Then we played for the troops in 2003 and it started to gel.

The band is calling it a day after this year and your last tristate area show is Oct. 1 at the Rock Carnival in Lakewood (carnival runs Sept. 30 through Oct. 2). What are your feelings leading up to your final shows?

It’s the 40th anniversary of the core lineup forming (Snider, French, Ojeda). We're absolutely at the top of our game. The other three guys have had enough but this is in my blood. When we had a meeting and they said who wants to retire I didn’t raise my hand, but I get it. We do have a catalog of audio and video that we intend to release for years.

What are your post-Twisted Sister plans?

I will continue to play in other bands. I will have my own band that will be called Animal Tactics. I live for playing and I’ll never stop.

twistedsister.com

therockcarnival.com