We Are Twisted F***ing Sister!

Entertaining rock-documentary on Twisted Sister, who started as an east coast bar band in the mid-1970s, doing covers of songs by glitter rock artists David Bowie and Mott the Hoople, eventually evolving into a headbanger's band with a loyal, passionate following in the New York/Long Island area. While the music may not be to every taste, this film from writer-director Andrew Horn should be seen by any musician thinking of going into the business. Several personal and professional calamities befall the band, key members come and go, record deals fall through, but the core unit soldiered on, eager to get their "Let's have a good time" rock 'n roll message to the masses. Playing gig after gig after gig in the early-1980s, the group was headlining clubs without a record deal--and once they got one, with UK independent label Secret, the company went bankrupt. This is not an easy ride to the top of the pops, this is a sweat-stained story of hard rocking guys clawing their way up the ladder, determined to be recognized by the music industry. Frontman Dee Snider is an eloquent speaker in his older years, and a good storyteller, and yet Twisted Sister's success in the MTV era (saved, surprisingly, for the final minutes of the film) is bittersweet. The band had finally made it...now what? **1/2 from ****

As a lifelong fan of Twisted Sister I found this film to be among the great rock documentaries. A great combination of information and humor creates an fun and enjoyable view. Plus, unlike many rock documentaries, this film is packed with first person anecdotes and facts straight from the band members, club owners, label reps, and fans. The wealth of stories and personal photos & video is impressive and revelatory. I can't wait to to get the Blu-Ray version!

Now, I am basing my review on a private premiere screening when it was first "completed". But if I have any complaints at all, it would be that the sound could have been bigger and heavier. And some of the editing could have been tightened up on some transition shots. But all in all it's a really enjoyable film about an amazing, hardworking band. Go see it or buy it ASAP. You won't be disappointed...unless you like disco. :-)

WE ARE TWISTED F**KIN SISTER !

A Film By Andrew Horn.

I was fifteen years old when I saw my first concert, Twisted Sister, March 25th 1986 Hammersmith Odeon London. The 'Come Out And Play' tour, it changed everything, a door was opened and some three decades later it's still ajar. For me, like so many, TS first came to my attention via the 'Were Not Gonna Take It' and 'I Wanna Rock', singles of the Stay Hungry album. It was (for me) new, angry, anthemic, exciting and bizarre. The now famous promotional video's made them the darlings (for a while) of a new MTV generation. Before the fame, MTV, Atlantic Records and sold out world tours there was the 'Club Daze', ten years of working the nightclubs and bars of the Tri-state area of New York, between 1972-1982. This crowd funded film by Andrew Horn has been made with the bands full approval and co-operation. WATFS concentrates on the bands pre mass fame years 1972-1982, the making of the Twisted Sister. WATFS is not your usual heavy metal/rock band clichéd sex, drugs, divorce, suicide rehab, Bimbo's and TV's out of windows tale.

This is the real world of a hard working band, focused, hungry (stay), on their own struggle to 'make it'. To get a record deal and break out of the confines of the New York area and one day rule the rock world. No stone is left unturned, no detail missed, the stories from past, present and sadly departed members (Drummer AJ Pero unexpectedly passed away earlier this year from a heart condition while on tour with rock band Adrenaline Mob.) are told with a refreshing pride and honesty. The two main interviewees are singer Dee Snider and founding member, guitarist and CEO Jay Jay French. TS is Jay Jay's baby but Snider's child, the two talk openly on their internal battle to seize control of the band. Snider won the song writing, lead vocals, and costume choice, JJ remains the bands pragmatic business brains, historian, and media spokesman. We hear from Journalists, record executives, club owners, promoters, managers, road crew, rival bands and the original hardcore (SMF'S) fans. As an unsigned band they played five nights a week, performing between two and four sets per night. The band performed (at their height) to between three hundred and three thousand fans per night, earning up to ten thousand dollars an evening. T-shirts, posters, stickers and self made seven inch singles were all sold in vast numbers making TS a full time wage paying band. They sold out the New York Palladium in 1979 without a record deal or any real promotion, Three thousand two hundred fans. Even with this manic following they needed to cross the pond to finally get a record deal, of sorts. The UK saved TS then drowned them and saved them again, Sounds music paper, Secret Records, Lemmy and The Tube TV show all gave the band credibility and exposure on a nationwide scale. The band never looked back, high profile live dates mixed with their sheer determination finally paid off. Within two years of getting signed by Atlantic they were to become the multi platinum selling artist they always believed they should and would be. As a music documentary it works a number of levels, you are transported back to the late 70's, the club flyer's, live footage, early band photographs, all draw you back to a much tougher but simpler social media free, time and place. For Twisted Sister fans this is a 'must see', for everyone else a 'you really should see'.

The next chapter also needs to be told, the commercial success, Tipper Gore's PMRC, Senate hearings, Beau Hill, break ups, Dee's other musical projects, 9-11, reunions, The Xmas album!! (my pet hate), their 2016 final ever tour and the tragic loss of AJ Pero.

Play It Loud Mutha!

Guy Shankland

02/06/2015

For more information regarding 'We Are Twisted F**king Sister The Movie', including release dates, screening, trailers etc..please check https://www.facebook.com/TwistedSisterTheMovie

This is a must see documentary for the Twisted Sister fan. You know the influence the band eventually had, now you can hear about their beginnings, their raise to notoriety, and everything in-between in a story that is told exceptionally well. Do not expect to see the aftermath of their We're Not Gonna Take It days (no cheesy behind the music shite here), this film is about the band, how they started out, the struggle they endured, and the success that catapulted them into the mainstream. An honest and informative film that long time fans & those discovering them for the first time will wanna rock. Regardless of how much or how little you think you know about the band that came from 70's glam-rock & punk and started the glam-metal genre of the 80's, this is a film you don't want to miss.

I was one of the people who helped fund the movie and thus got to see it with the band several months ago. I have been a Twisted fan since I was a kid but since I'm much younger than the band or the people in this movie, almost all of it was new information to me.

The movie does a superb job of chronicling the bands first 10 years and I would say that the only negative is that maybe there were a few too many stories from fans. I'm sure it's a thrill for them, but it got a touch old.

Even if you're not a Twisted Sister fan, even if you're not a musician - this is a fascinating look into what it really means to develop and break a band.