
Dee Snider on “Gone Country,” Election, Benefit Concert, Rocklahoma and More Last week marked the debut of CMT’s Gone Country, a reality show featuring Bobby Brown, Dee Snider, Sisqo, Carnie Wilson and many other C-listers living together and learning to become country singers. Snider—who now divides his time between a reformed Twisted Sister and radio show on Sirius Radio—got on the phone to talk about Gone Country and a tribute concert he’s planning for the victims of the 2003 Great White fire that killed 100 fans and left many others injured for life. The concert is booked for February 25th at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island and will feature Twisted Sister sharing the stage with Jewel, Boston’s Tom Scholz, Tesla, Staind’s Aaron Lewis, Kellie Pickler and many others. For more info click here. Dee’s a bit of a talker and after an hour on the phone we figured it was best to present his words intact with as little editing as possible. Follow the jump to read Dee’s thoughts on the presidential election, Britney, American Idol, the future of Twisted Sister and his failed attempts to book Aerosmith for the tribute concert. On the presidential election: “This is a wide open field right now, but its gonna shake itself out. I’ve been a McCain supporter since the last election, and when he pulled out I was screaming for him to not support George Bush – but he’s a political animal, and you need a political animal. I’m not a Republican, I’m a neutral. I voted for Clinton. I voted for Perot. I vote for the person who I think is right for the job. Everyone thought McCain was a lost cause. I think as the field thins out he will be the man who’s left standing. On the other side of the fence you’ve got Barack, and you’ve got Hilary. Quite honestly I don’t think that on the day of the election – whether its Barack or Hilary – that Americans in general, in my opinion, will not be able to push the button for an African-American, or a woman. They are creatures of habit, they will talk about it, they’ll say change and they will say
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Published: 2008-02-07 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, Dee Snider
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Dee Snider's "Van Helsing's Curse" At The Hard Rock Hotel & CasinoLAS VEGAS - OCTOBER 21: Drummer Joe Franco performs as part of Twisted Sister singer Dee Snider and his wife Suzette's wedding vow renewal ceremony following a performance of Snider's "Van Helsing's Curse," an 18-piece gothic rock opera, at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino October 21, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Sniders renewed their vows in honor of their 25th wedding anniversary, which is October 23. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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Published: 2006-10-22 Provider: ViewImages Keywords: Waist Up, Performance, New Life, USA, Nevada, Las Vegas, Gothic Style, Opera, Following, Ceremony, Wedding, Singer, Dee Snider, Arts Culture and Entertainment, Wife, , Joe Franco
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Dee Snider's "Van Helsing's Curse" At The Hard Rock Hotel & CasinoLAS VEGAS - OCTOBER 21: Guitarist Denny Colt performs as part of Twisted Sister singer Dee Snider and his wife Suzette's wedding vow renewal ceremony following a performance of Snider's "Van Helsing's Curse," an 18-piece gothic rock opera, at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino October 21, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Sniders renewed their vows in honor of their 25th wedding anniversary, which is October 23. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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Published: 2006-10-22 Provider: ViewImages Keywords: Waist Up, Performance, New Life, USA, Nevada, Las Vegas, Gothic Style, Opera, Following, Ceremony, Wedding, Singer, Guitarist, Dee Snider, Arts Culture and Entertainment, Wife, , Denny Colt
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Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Halloween Press ConferenceLAS VEGAS - SEPTEMBER 20: A hearse carrying Twisted Sister singer Dee Snider arrives at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino September 20, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Snider announced that in celebration of Halloween, he is bringing Van Helsing's Curse, an 18-piece gothic rock opera he wrote and narrates live, to the Hard Rock on October 20 and 21. Snider and his wife Suzette will also renew their marriage vows on stage during the second show in honor of their 25th wedding anniversary which is October 23. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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Published: 2006-09-21 Provider: ViewImages Keywords: Full Length, Arrival, USA, Nevada, Las Vegas, Carrying, Singer, Hearse, Arts Culture and Entertainment, Dee Snider,
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Twisted Sister In Concert At The Hard RockLAS VEGAS - SEPTEMBER 02: Twisted Sister singer Twisted Sister Dee Snider (L) and bassist Mark Mendoza perform at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino September 2, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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Published: 2006-09-03 Provider: ViewImages Keywords: Waist Up, Performance, USA, Nevada, Las Vegas, Mendoza, Sister, Popular Music Concert, Casino, Playing, Singer, Music, Twisted, Arts Culture and Entertainment, Hard Rock Hotel, Dee, Snider, 71769543, Mark Mendoza, Dee Snider, , Mark Mendoza;Dee Snider
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VH1 Rock & Roll SederNEW YORK - MARCH 28: Musicians Leslie West of Mountain (L) and Dee Snider of Twisted Sister talk during a taping for the VH1 Classic special "Matzoh And Metal: A Very Classic Passover" at the VH1 Classic Studios March 28, 2005 in New York City. (Photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images)
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Published: 2005-03-28 Provider: ViewImages Keywords: Waist Up, USA, New York City, Two People, Holiday, Talking, Easter, Passover, Mountain, Religion, Judaism, Television Studio, Arts Culture and Entertainment, Celebrities, Dee Snider, , Dee Snider;Leslie West
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VH1 Rock & Roll SederNEW YORK - MARCH 28: Musicians J.J. French (L-R) and Dee Snider of Twisted Sister talk with Scott Ian of Anthrax during a taping for the VH1 Classic special "Matzoh And Metal: A Very Classic Passover" at the VH1 Classic Studios March 28, 2005 in New York City. (Photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images)
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Published: 2005-03-28 Provider: ViewImages Keywords: Waist Up, USA, New York City, Three People, Holiday, Musician, Talking, Easter, Passover, French Culture, Religion, Judaism, Television Studio, Anthrax, Arts Culture and Entertainment, Celebrities, Scott Ian, Dee Snider, , Dee Snider;Scott Ian;J.J. French
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VH1 Rock & Roll SederNEW YORK - MARCH 28: Musicians J.J. French (2nd-L) and Dee Snider (R) of Twisted Sister talk with Scott Ian of Anthrax (L) and Leslie West of Mountain during a taping for the VH1 Classic special "Matzoh And Metal: A Very Classic Passover" at the VH1 Classic Studios March 28, 2005 in New York City. (Photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images)
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Published: 2005-03-28 Provider: ViewImages Keywords: Waist Up, USA, New York City, Three People, Holiday, Musician, Talking, Easter, Passover, French Culture, Mountain, Religion, Judaism, Television Studio, Anthrax, Blocked Terms, Arts Culture and Entertainment, Celebrities, Scott Ian, Dee Snider, , Dee Snider;Scott Ian;J.J. French;Leslie West
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VH1 Rock & Roll SederNEW YORK - MARCH 28: Musicians Dee Snider of Twisted Sister (L) and Scott Ian of Anthrax laugh during a taping for the VH1 Classic special "Matzoh And Metal: A Very Classic Passover" at the VH1 Classic Studios March 28, 2005 in New York City. (Photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images)
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Published: 2005-03-28 Provider: ViewImages Keywords: Waist Up, USA, New York City, Two People, Holiday, Musician, Laughing, Easter, Passover, Religion, Judaism, Television Studio, Anthrax, Arts Culture and Entertainment, Celebrities, Scott Ian, Dee Snider, , Dee Snider;Scott Ian
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Twisted Sister UniteNEW YORK - APRIL 29: Twisted Sister lead vocalist Dee Snider (C) announces the band's official reunion and tour plans, including United Service Organizations (USO) shows in South Korea, during a press conference at the Intrepid Sea-Air Space Museum April 29, 2003 in the Manhattan neighborhood of New York City. (Photo by Adam Rountree/Getty Images)
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Published: 2003-04-29 Provider: ViewImages Keywords: South Korea, USA, New York City, Manhattan, Band, Business, Sunglasses, Suburb, Sister, Metal, French Culture, Plan, Singer, Twisted, Blocked Terms, Jay, Family Reunion, USS Intrepid, Dee Snider, Arts Culture and Entertainment,
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Hard Rock Vault Grand OpeningORLANDO - JANUARY 16: Musician Dee Snider arrives at the Hard Rock Vault grand opening January 16, 2003 in Orlando, Florida. The Vault is a 17,000 square foot interactive memorabilia attraction. (Photo by Matt Stroshane/Getty Images)
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Published: 2003-01-17 Provider: ViewImages Keywords: Majestic, Arrival, USA, Florida, Orlando, Musician, Sister, Twisted, Arts Culture and Entertainment, Celebrities, Dee Snider,
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Celebs at MTV''s 20th Anniversary Party392737 35: Dee Snider from Twisted Sister arrives at the "MTV 20: Live and Almost Legal" party August 1, 2001 at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City to celebrate MTV''s twentieth anniversary. (Photo George De Sota/Getty Images)
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Published: 2002-11-11 Provider: ViewImages Keywords: Celebration, Arrival, USA, New York City, Hammerstein Ballroom, Party, Anniversary, MTV, Arts Culture and Entertainment, Celebrities, Dee Snider,
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Dee Snider's "Van Helsing's Curse" At The Hard Rock Hotel & CasinoLAS VEGAS - OCTOBER 21: Cheyenne Snider and her brothers (L-R), Cody Snider, Jesse Blaze Snider, lead singer of rock band Baptized By Fire, and Shane Snider, all children of Twisted Sister singer Dee Snider and his wife Suzette, pose after their parents' wedding vow renewal ceremony following a performance of Dee Snider's "Van Helsing's Curse," an 18-piece gothic rock opera, at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino October 21, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Sniders renewed their vows in honor of their 25th wedding anniversary, which is October 23. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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Published: 2006-10-22 Provider: ViewImages Keywords: Child, Looking At Camera, Full Length, Performance, New Life, USA, Nevada, Las Vegas, Band, Gothic Style, Opera, Following, Ceremony, Wedding, Brother, Singer, Portrait, Posing, Dee Snider, Arts Culture and Entertainment, Wife, , Cheyenne Snider;Cody Snider;Jesse Blaze Snider;Shane Snider
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Dee Snider's "Van Helsing's Curse" At The Hard Rock Hotel & CasinoLAS VEGAS - OCTOBER 21: Patty Storey (L) and her fiance Jesse Blaze Snider, lead singer of rock band Baptized By Fire, and son of Twisted Sister singer Dee Snider and his wife Suzette, walk through the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino after his parents' wedding vow renewal ceremony following a performance of Dee Snider's "Van Helsing's Curse," an 18-piece gothic rock opera, October 21, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Sniders renewed their vows in honor of their 25th wedding anniversary, which is October 23. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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Published: 2006-10-22 Provider: ViewImages Keywords: Waist Up, Performance, New Life, USA, Nevada, Las Vegas, Band, Gothic Style, Opera, Walking, Following, Ceremony, Engagement, Wedding, Son, Singer, Dee Snider, Arts Culture and Entertainment, Wife, , Patty Storey;Jesse Blaze Snider
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Dee Snider's "Van Helsing's Curse" At The Hard Rock Hotel & CasinoLAS VEGAS - OCTOBER 21: Twisted Sister singer Dee Snider (L) and guitarist Zak Soulam perform as part of Snider and his wife Suzette's wedding vow renewal ceremony following a performance of Snider's "Van Helsing's Curse," an 18-piece gothic rock opera, at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino October 21, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Sniders renewed their vows in honor of their 25th wedding anniversary, which is October 23. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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Published: 2006-10-22 Provider: ViewImages Keywords: Waist Up, Performance, New Life, USA, Nevada, Las Vegas, Gothic Style, Opera, Following, Ceremony, Wedding, Sister, Singer, Twisted, Guitarist, Arts Culture and Entertainment, Wife, Dee Snider, , Dee Snider;Zak Soulam
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Dee Snider's "Van Helsing's Curse" At The Hard Rock Hotel & CasinoLAS VEGAS - OCTOBER 21: (L-R) Jesse Blaze Snider, lead singer of rock band Baptized By Fire, and his brothers Cody Snider (C) and Shane Snider, all sons of Twisted Sister singer Dee Snider and his wife Suzette, pose after their parents' wedding vow renewal ceremony following a performance of Dee Snider's "Van Helsing's Curse," an 18-piece gothic rock opera, at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino October 21, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Sniders renewed their vows in honor of their 25th wedding anniversary, which is October 23. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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Published: 2006-10-22 Provider: ViewImages Keywords: Waist Up, Performance, New Life, USA, Nevada, Las Vegas, Band, Gothic Style, Opera, Following, Ceremony, Wedding, Son, Brother, Singer, Posing, Dee Snider, Arts Culture and Entertainment, Wife, , Jesse Blaze Snider;Cody Snider;Shane Snider
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