On the new solo album, he said, “I was guided by my producer, who encouraged me to do a more mainstream record, to take Dee Snider’s message of rebellion and standing up for your beliefs, and bringing it to a broader contemporary rock audience. Lyrically, I’ve kept with what I’ve always stood for and what I’ve always represented, and connected my words and message to new sounds and new music.”
He said, “The response of the album has been really good so far, and at least, people are honest and they’ve really listened to it and judged the record. Ultimately, I want a fair and nonjudgmental listen.”
Snider filmed a moving music video for his acoustic version of “We’re Not Gonna Take It,” where he collaborated with superstar magician Criss Angel. “The message of the song is more important now than it ever was,” he said. “Criss had told me about his charity, and he told me that he wanted to make a video, and it speaks to that, and that’s the beauty of the song. It speaks to the frustration and it is going to work, and express your feelings.”
Snider continued, “Criss and I go back to before he was famous. I met him in 1996 and was impressed with his drive, talent and vision, both as a magician and a musician. We are both Long Island guys.”
In 2006, Snider was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame. Each day, Snider is motivated by his desire to feel challenged. “To come up with an idea and to bring it up to life. Sometimes, it goes as far as a script, or a treatment for a script,” he said. “I am working on a new book idea, and hopefully that will be a movie.”
On the key to longevity in the music industry, he said, “Desperation and inspiration. 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent desperation.”
Success for Snider means “Going to bed each night, knowing that you gave it your all.”
Dee Snider’s new album is available on iTunes.
To learn more about iconic rocker Dee Snider, check out his homepage and Facebook page.
