Twisted Sister: From the Bars to the Stars

A five-disc set from veteran metal band Twisted Sister may seem like overkill, but fans will probably feel otherwise as they watch this riot of thick riffs, big hair, snug spandex, and bright greasepaint. The Long Island rockers kick off with a 1982 show before a hometown crowd, mounted just two days before they flew to England to record their first album, Under the Blade—although, as singer Dee Snider states, they'd already been playing the club circuit for six years. Band members A.J. Pero (drums), Mark Mendoza (bass), Eddie Ojeda (guitar), and Jay Jay French (guitar) crank out the raucous rhythms, while Snider struts, screams, and praises hard-working men and women, combining original hits like “We're Not Gonna Take It,” “I Wanna Rock,” and “Destroyer” with covers such as “Leader of the Pack” and a speed-metal rendition of “It's Only Rock 'n' Roll (But I Like It).” Other shows include a Reading set from the same year (with Lemmy Kilmister and “Fast” Eddie Clarke from Motörhead joining in), the NY Steel benefit from 2001 (their first Big Apple concert in 13 years), a Wacken gig from 2003, and a Christmas set from 2009, in Las Vegas. By the 2000s, the boys had toned down their look, but the songs—many performed repetitively in this collection—remained much the same. DVD extras include interviews with the band. Presented in Dolby Digital stereo (with the Wacken segment also featuring a Dolby Digital 5.1 track), this is a strong optional purchase. (K. Fennessy)