The first Metal Meltdown concert series event kicked off at The Joint at the world famous Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas on May 30th, 2015. Legendary, multi-Platinum selling rockers Twisted Sister performed an explosive 90-minute concert of their biggest hits spanning their 40-year career. The show was dedicated to the honour of Twisted Sister's iconic drummer, A.J. Pero, whose tragic, sudden death just two months prior to the filming of this event shocked the music world. The band announced that not only were all the remaining concerts being performed in 2015 dedicated to the memory of A.J. Pero, but that 2016 would mark the 40th and final year of the band’s legendary live performances. They recruited renowned drummer and friend of A.J. Pero, Mike Portnoy (The Winery Dogs, Dream Theater, Avenged Sevenfold) to take the reins, and his very first Twisted Sister appearance was captured by the Metal Meltdown camera crew.

Check out “The Price” from Metal Meltdown below:

Directed by Brian Lockwood (Bon Jovi, Metallica, Motley Crue), Metal Meltdown - Featuring Twisted Sister Live At The Hard Rock Casino - Las Vegas features that complete concert, as well as Rockshow, a bonus documentary that takes fans through the band's 40-year ride from local club outcasts to world domination with exclusive interviews, archive footage from the ‘80s, photo gallery. It was mixed in 5.1 Surround Sound. Out now, the retail package includes both BluRay and DVD formats as well as an audio CD.

As Twisted Sister guitarist JayJay French explains, “The decision to continue performing all the summer shows in 2015, not to mention the concert that this performance celebrates, was in jeopardy over the days immediately following A.J.'s sudden death. We needed time to re-group and re-focus. Everyone was great. All the promoters of the huge European summer festivals that we were set to headline and Barry, the producer of this concert said, ‘We understand. You all (meaning the band) have to do what makes you comfortable. Whatever the band decides has to be honoured and respected.’

“In the end, I believe we did what A.J. would have wanted us to do and Mike Portnoy was a very big part of that decision in both an emotional and artistic way. This performance captured herein just two months after A.J.'s death really was about our way to help memorialize the great A.J. Pero. The front four (Dee, Eddie, Mark and I) have had no one but A.J. behind us since 1982. This concert has A.J.'s influence permeating through our bloodstream in ways that I will never forget and when we cut to A.J.'s drum solo on the rear projection screen, We were all emotionally overwhelmed. Not since our reunion for NY Steel in 2001 (to honour and raise money for the families of the NYC police and fire department who died on 9/11) have I been moved to tears."

Award-winning producer Barry Summers of Rock Fuel Media commented, "Twisted Sister was the first live club band I ever saw in 1979 at Emmett’s Inn in New Jersey, and they literally blew my mind. We actually revisited Emmett’s and filmed a scene for the Rockshow documentary. It has been a real dream come true to produce this amazing concert film for such an iconic and influential band. The tribute to A.J. Pero makes this film that much more special. We’re excited to give the fans the highest quality concert film and live recordings ever released in the year of Twisted Sister’s final farewell.”

Other bands filmed in Las Vegas as part of the Metal Meltdown include Extreme, Skid Row and Great White. Stay tuned for details on those releases.

Metal Meltdown Featuring Twisted Sister Live At The Hard Rock Casino - Las Vegas tracklisting:
 
“What You Don't Know”
“The Kids Are Back”
“Stay Hungry”
“The Beast”
“Shoot ‘Em Down”
“You Can’t Stop Rock ‘N’ Roll”
“I Believe In Rock ‘N’ Roll”
“Under The Blade”
“I Am (I’m Me)”
“We’re Not Gonna Take It”
“The Fire Still Burns”
“The Price”
“Burn In Hell”
A.J. Pero Tribute
“I Wanna Rock”
“Come Out And Play”
“S.M.F.”

"We're Not Gonna Take It":

Trailer:

 

 

According to TeamRock.com, Twisted Sister guitarist Jay Jay French will take part in a Q&A with fans at a screening of We Are Twisted F*cking Sister in London, England next month. He will join the film's director Andrew Horn at the event at Prince Charles cinema in Leicester Square on August 10th. Tickets are available at this location.

Following on the heels of the critically acclaimed documentary film We Are Twisted F*cking Sister! comes a deluxe box set chronicling the meteoric rise of the legendary glam rock outfit who strutted their way to the top of the music scene in high heels and fishnet stockings. Featuring three full length vintage live recordings dating back to the group’s late ‘70s, early ‘80s heyday, this incredible release, titled Rock ‘N’ Roll Saviors - The Early Years, is available now via Deadline Music.

In addition to the classic Twisted Sister lineup of vocalist Dee Snider, guitarists Jay Jay French and Eddie Ojeda, and bassist Mark “The Animal” Mendoza, these recordings feature early drummers Tony Petri and Ritchie Teeter as well as the man who earned the spot as permanent drummer, the brilliant A.J. Pero, whose passing last year was mourned across the entire rock universe.

All together, these legends of crazed, cross-dressing hard rock mayhem absolutely slay on stage with performances of the early classics “Rock ’N’ Roll Saviors,” “The Kids Are Back,” “What You Don’t Know (Sure Can Hurt You),” “Ride To Live, Live To Ride” and many, many more.

Each concert CD comes in its own individual wallet with inner sleeve and the whole set is packaged in a lavish, red velvet-lined box with pop up mirror. In addition to the CDs, inside the box is a gorgeous full-color 20-page booklet of rare photos and extensive liner notes written by music journalist Malcolm Dome, plus three signature guitar picks, a custom bright pink lipstick tube, and a backstage pass. It’s everything you need to properly celebrate this extraordinary band.

Tracklisting:

Disc 1: 1979 Detroit Club
“Rock 'N' Roll Saviors”
“Pay The Price”
“Follow Me”
“Under The Blade”
Guitar Solo
“Can't Stand Still”
“Lady's Boy”
“Workin' On You Baby”
“Come Back”
“Without You”
“Chinese Hustle”
“I’ll Never Grow Up Now”
“Plastic Money”
“Johnny B Goode”
“Rock 'N' Roll Saviors”

Disc 2: 1980 Hammerheads
“What You Don't Know (Sure Can Hurt You)”
“Come Back”
“Bad Boys”
“Destroyer”
“Pay The Price”
“Without You”
“Under The Blade”
“Rock 'N' Roll Saviors”
“Plastic Money”
“You Know I Cry”
“I'll Never Grow Up Now!”
“Born To Be Wild”

Disc 3: 1983 Donington
“What You Don't Know (Sure Can Hurt You)”
“The Kids Are Back”
“Shoot 'Em Down”
“Destroyer”
“Like a Knife In The Back”
“Ride To Live, Live To Ride”
“We're Gonna Make It”
“You Can't Stop Rock 'N' Roll”
“I Am Me (I'm Me)”
“It's Only Rock 'N' Roll”

Buy the CD. Buy the digital version.