Dee Snider's Roast live tonight!!

So it's that time of year for another "Rock & Roll Roast", and this time's victim is none other than Long Islander, Dee Snider.  The roast takes place TONIGHT at the Grove in Anaheim, California.

The Twisted Sister frontman, and this year's venerable Roast honoree, was recently named one of the 100 greatest living rock stars by Revolver magazine.   .......I would like to add that he might only be in the top 100 living rock legends, but he is definitely in the top 3 for living rock legend with the best hair.

The event, which is sponsored by Epiphone and Monster Energy Drink, is one of the highlights of the 2013 Winter NAMM weekend.  However, unlike the NAMM Show, the Roast is open to the public, and it will air live on AXS TV at 9 p.m. PST (Midnight for us folks in NY, and those other states that surround NY).

Roastmaster Penn Jillette and other luminaries such as last year’s Roast honoree Zakk Wylde, Anthrax’s Scott Ian, Lita Ford, WWE legend Mick Foley (also a Long Islander!) and That Metal Show host Eddie Trunk, plus comedy and roast veterans Jim Norton, Craig Gass, Jim Florentine and others will take aim at the singer and reality-TV icon, best known for his outspoken personality, golden locks and appearances on The Celebrity Apprentice.  Jose Mangin (of Sirius/XM and Headbanger’s Ball fame) will be on hand to serve as the evening’s DJ.

Says Snider: "Roasters, remember: P.A.M.F. Payback’s A Mutha F**ker!”

Says Rock & Roll Roast Executive Producer Josh Bernstein: “They say you only roast the ones you love, but with Dee Snider, we’ll be making an exception.”

A portion of the proceeds will benefit MusiCares, a nonprofit organization of The Recording Academy that provides emergency financial assistance and addiction recovery resources to music people in need.

12 Metal Days of Christmas (day 12)

Beginning as of this second, I present to you the 12 Metal Days of Christmas. In 12 days it will be Christmas, and each day you will get a lovely Christmas song to get you just a bit more into the holiday spirit. By Christmas day you'll have a full dozen songs to rock out to, which is roughly the length of your average album. So, I am basically giving you all a full length album. You're welcome.

Today I present Day 12: Twisted Sister's "Heavy Metal Christmas"

NY Area Concert Listings

****Updated at night to include: Long Island shows.   This includes an AWESOME show on December 16th featuring Twisted Sister doing one of their kickass/hilarious Christmas sets, and will be hosted by Andrew WK (love him).  Also, the opener is Adrenaline Mob.  If they don't sound familiar to you, then let me fill you in - MIKE PORTNOY is a member.  Oh and did I mention Yankee Bernie Williams will be there?   KICK ASS!

Otherwise, I would say the best added show would be Soulfly on March 14th. (And I am not gonna lie, that Kix show in April makes me pretty excited).

DECEMBER

-12/1 - The Birthday Massacre w/ William Control and Aesthetic Perfection @ The Gramercy (Manhattan)
-12/1 - High On Fire w/ Goatwhore, Primate and Lo-Pan @ Music Hall Of Williamsburg (Brooklyn)
-12/3 - Neil Young & Crazy Horse @ The Barclays Center (Brooklyn)
-12/5 - The Who @ Madison Square Garden (Manhattan)
-12/5 - The Faint (performing Dance Macabre in full) @ Terminal 5 (Manhattan)
-12/6 - The Who @ The Prudential Center (Newark, NJ)
-12/6 - Sonata Artica @ The Gramercy (Manhattan)
-12/7 - D.R.I. w/ Mucky Pup, No Redeeming Social Value, Undivided and Blackout Shoppers @  The Studio at Webster Hall (Manhattan)
-12/7 Warrior Soul and Spread Eagle @ St. Vitus (Greenpoint, Brooklyn)
-12/11 - VON (part of the Blackened Music Series) @ St. Vitus (Greenpoint, Brooklyn)
-12/12/12 - "Concert For Sandy Relief" w/ Bon Jovi, Eddie Vedder, Bruce Springsteen, Dave Grohl, Roger Waters, The Who and more @ Madison Square Garden (Manhattan)
-12/12 - The Rolling Stones @ The Prudential Theater (Newerk, NJ)
-12/14 - The Killers @ Madison Square Garden (Manhattan)
-12/14 - Aaron Lewish (yea, that guy from Staind) @ Irving Plaza (Manhattan)
-12/14 - Monster Magnet @ Music Hall Of Williamsburg (Brooklyn)
-12/14 - Dethklok w/ All That Remains, Machine Head, and Black Dahlia Murder (orignally 11/3- got rescheduled) @ Roseland Ballroom (Manhattan)
-12/14 - (early show) Star Killer w/ Jenn City, Emily Powers of Eva and Her Virgins (Acoustic Set) @ The Mercury Lounge (Manhattan)
-12/14 - (late show) Star Killer w/ Panzie @ The Mercury Lounge (Manhattan)
-12/15 - Trans-Siberian Orchestra (NOTE: 2 shows- one at 3:00pm, the second at 8:00pm) @ Nassau Coliseum (Long Island)
-12/15 - Motionless In White w/ along Chelsea Grin, Stick To Your Guns, Crown the Empire, and Upon This Dawning @ Irving Plaza (Manhattan)
-12/15 - Rolling Stones @ @ The Prudential Theater (Newerk, NJ)
-12/16 Twisted Sister (Christmas set!) w/ Adrenaline Mob.  Hosted by Andrew WK w/ appearance by Bernie Williams @ The Emporium (Patchougue, Long Island)
-12/16 - The Mifits w/ Attack, Japanther & Heart of the Matter @ Highland Ballroom (Manhattan)
-12/16 - Killswitch Engage w/ Shadows Fall and Acaro @ Music Hall Of Williamsburg (Brooklyn)
-12/16 - Into Another @ Bowery Ballroom (Manhattan, NYC)
-12/16 - This Is Hell w/ Thy Will Be Done, 1776, My Kingdom, and I Dreamt The Sea @ Ollies Point (Amityville, Long Island)
-12/20 - Eluveitie and Wintersun w/ Varg @ The Gramercy (Manhattan)
-12/20 - The Slackers w/ The Hard Times, The Ready Henchmen, The Pandemic and Survey Says @ Ollies Point (Amityville, Long Island)
-12/21 - Black Anvil, EVOKEN, Teloch Vovin, Penetration, Leech @ St. Vitus (Greenpoint, Brooklyn)
-12/22 - Trans-Siberian Orchestra (NOTE: 2 shows- one at 3:00pm, the second at 8:00pm) @ The Prudential Center (Newark, NJ)
-12/07 - He Is Lengend w/ The Offer, Call Them Liars, Shepards, Nobody Takes Vegas, and Wargrave @ Ollies Point (Amityville, Long Island)
-12/29 - Jane's Addiction @ Terminal 5 (Manhattan)
-12/29 - Halestorm @ The Wellmont Theater (Montclair, NJ)
-12/30 - Cro-Mags w/ Sheer Terror, Rude Awakening, Brain Slug and Born Annoying @ Highland Ballroom (Manhattan)
-12/30 - Andrew WK w/ Big D and the Kids Table, Exes Of Evil, The Convictions, Three Legged Fox, The Blazing Beaverducks, Gangway, and Listen Close (Christmas show!) @ Ollies Point (Amityville, Long Island)
-12/31 - Paul Di'Anno w/Panzie, Fear The Dawn, and Terror Garden @ Ollies Point (Amityville, Long Island)
-12/30 - Dark Star Orchestra @ The Paramount (Huntington, Long Island)
-12/31 - Dark Star Orchestra @ The Paramount (Huntington, Long Island)
-12/31 - Voltaire (NYE Party show with open bar, champaigne toast, and free buffet)  (the inner Hot Topic-wearing goth in me wants to go!) @ Club Revolution (Amityville, Long Island)

- Welcome to 2013 -

JANUARY

-1/2 - Mondo Generator w/ Saviours, and Wino @ St. Vitus (Greenpoint, Brooklyn)
-1/4 - The Dirty Pearls w/ Brothers NYC, The Nuclears, and DJ Ian El Dorado @ The Bowery Ballroom (Manhattan)
-1/5 - Dysrhythmia w/ Wreck and Reference, Soren, and Planning For Burial @ St. Vitus (Greenpoint, Brooklyn)
-1/6 - Paul Di'Anno w/ Saviour and What The Hell @ BB Kings (Manhattan)
-1/8 - Johnny Winter w/ Jamie McLean Band @ BB Kings (Manhattan)
-1/11 - Morrissey @ Brooklyn Academy Of Music (Brooklyn)
-1/13 - The David Johansen Band w/ The Last Bison, Los Texmaniacs, and Eliana Burki @ Highland Ballroom (Manhattan)
-1/15 - Lynard Skynard @ The Beacon Theatre (Manhattan)
-1/15 - Johnny Winter w/ Jamie McLean Band @ BB Kings (Manhattan)
-1/15 - Underoath w/ mewithoutYou, As Cities Burn, and Letlive @ Irving Plaza (Manhattan)
-1/17 - Underoath w/ mewithoutYou, As Cities Burn, and Letlive @ Irving Plaza (Manhattan)
-1/18 -Air Sex World Champions (Yes, its exactly what it sounds like) @ BB Kings (Manhattan)
-1/18 - Hollywood Undead @ The Gramercy Theater (Manhattan)
-1/19 - The Smithereens @ BB Kings (Manhattan)
-1/22 - Johnny Winter w/ Jamie McLean Band @ BB Kings (Manhattan)
-1/22 - Soundgarden @ Hammerstein Ballroom (Manhattan)
-1/23 - Soundgarden @ Hammerstein Ballroom (Manhattan)
-1/25 - NONE MORE FUNNY show - Jim Breur Live Taping @ The Gramercy Theater (Manhattan)
-1/25 - Black Veil Brides w/ William Control @ Best Buy Theater (Manhattan)
-1/28 - Johnny Winter w/ Jamie McLean Band @ BB Kings (Manhattan)
-1/30 - The Used w/ We Came As Romans, Crown The Empire, and Mindflow @ Best Buy Theater (Manhattan)
-1/31 - For Today w/ Memphis May Fire @ Irving Plaza (Manhattan)
-1/31 - Gin Blossoms (why am I posting this?) @ BB Kings (Manhattan)
-1/31 - Eye Empire @ Ollies Point (Amityville, Long Island)

FEBUARY

-2/2 - Kansas @ The Paramount (Huntington, Long Island)
-2/4 - Dora w/ Sister Sin @ BB Kings (Manhattan)
-2/6 -Turisas w/ Firewind and Stolen Babies @ The Gramercy (Manhattan)
-2/6 - Uli Jon Roth @ Stage 48 (Manhattan)
-2/7 - Blackberry Smoke w/ Drake White @ Irving Plaza (Manhattan)
-2/8 - Gojira w/ Devin Townsend , The Atlas Moth , Devin Townsend Project @ Irving Plaza (Manhattan)
-2/11 - Emmure and Whitechapel w/ Unearth, Obey The Brave, and The Plot In You @ Irving Plaza (Manhattan)
-2/12 - Dead Kennedys @ The Gramercy (Manhattan)
-2/14 - Testament (this is a wonderful Valentines Day gift to me *hint hint*) w/ Flotsam & Jetsam, and 4Arm @ Best Buy Theater (Manhattan)
-2/15 - Testament and Overkill w/ Flotsam & Jetsam, and 4arm @ The Paramount (Huntington, Long Island)
-2/17 - Hatebreed, Shadows Fall, Dying Fetus, and the Contortionist @ Ollies Point (Amityville, Long Island)
-2/22 - Emilie Autumn @ The Gramercy (Manhattan)
-2/22 - Dope w/ The May 4th Massacre, Starke, Kore Rozzik, and Xombiew @ The Studio at Webster Hall (Manhattan)
-2/22 - Enslaved w/ Pallbearer, and Ancient VVisdom @ The Bowery Ballroom (Manhattan)
-2/23 - Lil Monsters Heavy Metal Disco w. Lady Starlight & The Dirty Pearls @ The Gramercy Theater (Manhattan)

MARCH

-3/14 - Soulfly w/ Incite and Lady Kong @ The Gramercy Theater (Manhattan)
-3/10 - Nile @ BB Kings (Manhattan)
-3/10 - Queensryche w/ Magus Beast and What The Hell @ The Emporium (Patchougue, Long Island)
-3/15 - Soilwork w/ Blackguard , Jeff Loomis , The Browning , Wretched @ The Gramercy (Manhattan)
-3/16 - Coheed & Cambria @ Radio City Music Hall (Manhattan)
-3/21 - KMFDM @ Irving Plaza (Manhattan)
-3/23 - Y&T @ Stage 48 (Manhattan)

APRIL

-4/5 - Kix @ Ollies Point (Amityville, Long Island)
-4/6 - Yes @ The Beacon Theater (Manhattan)
-4/9 - Volbeat w/ Danko James @ Best Buy Theater (Manhattan)

Dee Snider vs Bret Michaels!

This lovely clip below shows Dee Snider calling a spade a spade. When asked by TMZ what he thought about Chris Brown's tribute to Michael Jackson, he replied:

I will tell you. Kind of like how I feel about Bret Michael's illnesses- Not sure if they are honest!

Hmmm, well. That's one opinion.

His comment on Al Gore is not too bad, either!

Christmas and metal join forces....

Alright, it's officially getting close to Christmas.  By now everyone should have some idea of what they are buying and what they want.  Let's get in the spirit with some metal Christmas music.  I feel like Twisted Sister was the first band to really make a BIG impact on the commercial success of metal and holiday music, so I will start with them in this playlist.  

Rock of Ages the Musical & after party with an appearance by Twisted Sister

Last night I headed over to Rock of Ages the musical to finally catch the show that went from a small off-broadway production, to a Tony Nominated theater. As a metal dork and broadway geek, you'd think this would be my dream show HOWEVER my snob side came out on both the metla and theater side. Bands like Journey were never my cup of rock tea, and come on theater should be Sondhein and Ionesco! Psssshhhh.

Despite my best efforts to not like this show. I did.

Daily Metal

Jay Jay French of Twisted Sister fame originally auditioned for KISS. Obviously he lost the part to the Space Ace.