In 1984/1985, Iron Maiden’s massive World Slavery tour in support of Powerslave lasted 331 days and a good chunk of the 189 gigs performed saw Twisted Sister as the opening act, as they were supporting their breakthrough album, Stay Hungry.

During a recent BraveWords interview in support of his new solo album, Leave A Scar, singer Dee Snider looks back at arguably the ride of his life!

“People call it hair metal, this, that, the other thing, but in the beginning there was no separation,” he looks back fondly. “We were a weird metal band. We toured with Motörhead, we toured with Saxon, we toured with Metallica in Europe, we toured with Iron Maiden, and nobody blinked. That was when tours were tours and men were men. Shows were sold out, when doors opened and we hit the stage, the arena was filled, there was no showing up later just to see the headliner. People were there from beginning to end, no one left - maybe your girlfriend - but no one left, and the bands complimented each other. Two very intense, very athletic, passionate bands, very different but just rocking the house. And somewhere in the mid to late ’80’s people started defining it, and then you wouldn’t see a Poison on the same bill as a Megadeth, you wouldn’t see that. But in the early ’80’s man, nobody blinked.”

What was a key learning experience travelling around the world with Rod Smallwood and the band?

“I just remember getting along really well with the guys,” he says. “We formed around the same time, I think they formed in ‘76, and I joined Twisted in ‘76, so we’re about the same age. We were both married, had kids, our kids would be out on the road and they’d play together backstage, so it was a really great thing when we came together. We would watch them and they would watch us, and there was a mutual respect. But we were two different animals, I never saw myself as wanting to do what Maiden did, and I’m sure they didn’t think they wanted to do what Twisted Sister or Dee Snider did. Although Bruce (Dickinson) is on the short list of front men that I hold in high regard. I think very highly of myself when it comes to fronting which is what I do very well, but there’s a shortlist of people who are very good at being front man. Not just the singer, but front man is a different job, and Bruce is one of those people.”

Watch the entire Streaming For Vengeance interview below: