DEE SNIDER will release his new solo album, WE ARE THE ONES, which is due out October 28 on Red River Records (Distributed by BFD/RED).
WE ARE THE ONES crackles with modern energy, from the call-to-arms manifesto of “Rule the World,” to the anthemic bonding of “So What” (complete with, yes, a string section) to the intensely synth driven “Close to You,” to the thematically soaring “Superhero” (a song tailor-made for running over the end credits of the next Marvel or DC movie blockbuster if ever there was one). Another significant highlight of the album is a newly re-recorded acoustic version of “We’re Not Gonna Take It” which has also been tapped the official anthem for The Recording Academy’s advocacy efforts, including the “Fair Play Fair Pay” Act. Recently performed in Washington D.C. at the annual GRAMMYs On The Hill event, a video of the song recently premiered on Entertainment Weekly’s website and can now be viewed at Grammy.com/FairPlayFairPay.
Also featured on WE ARE THE ONES is an explosive cover of Nine Inch Nails’ “Head Like A Hole.” “I always thought it was a great song, a powerful song,” DEE explains, “I can’t wait to do that one live. Like ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It’ is iconic, ‘Head Like a Hole’ is iconic for that era.”
With Twisted Sister effectively entering the rearview mirror, DEE now has his sights dead-set on his new musical direction. “You can’t expect others to embrace what you do if you don’t embrace it yourself,” he admits. “I have to believe it first before I can expect anybody else to believe it. When you’re creating a new record, you want to make a statement, and you want to have music you can stand behind and feel strongly about. So it was a little unnerving when I started heading down this path. After Damon and I cut the first four tracks, I said, ‘Oh yeah, there is a place for me here.’ This is music I feel excited about, and I also look forward to playing it live.”
Earlier this summer, DEE took part in the unveiling of the new Rock & Roll Hall of Fame exhibit, “Louder Than Words: Rock, Power And Politics,” which will remain on display in Cleveland during the 2016 Republican National Convention. To commemorate the new Hall of Fame exhibit, DEE performed a new acoustic version of Twisted Sister’s legendary song, “We’re Not Gonna Take It.” This moving new version of DEE’s epic anthem is currently available on iTunes.
In April 2016, DEE was called to Capitol Hill for the second time—the first at the infamous 1985 Senate hearing instigated by Tipper Gore and the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC)--to speak on behalf of The Recording Academy’s "Fair Play Fair Pay” initiative. On September 18, DEE will be presenting his new music at Riot Fest at Douglas Park in Chicago, IL.
For the first time ever, superstar magician Criss Angel is joining forces with DEE to release a music video featuring the new acoustic version of “We’re Not Gonna Take It.” Directed by Angel, the video aims to raise awareness of pediatric cancer by promoting HELP, a one-night-only, star-studded event which took place on Monday, September 12 at Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas to support pediatric cancer research and treatment worldwide. The video sends a powerful message to viewers as DEE belts out the iconic lyrics, while the mother of a young girl—who is a cancer survivor—allows her head to be shaved in solidarity with her daughter and in support of the fight all of these children must endure. The video also features heart-wrenching footage of Criss Angel’s son, Johnny Crisstopher, going through treatments after being diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) in 2015.
DEE is unapologetically energized about where he’s going as an artist. “Music inspires that genuine enthusiasm. I’m not anti the past — I’m just not one of those guys sitting there singing about the glory days. To me, these are the glory days, and the days to come are the glory days. And this new record is the part of my next glory days.”
Here’s the complete track listing of WE ARE THE ONES:
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We Are The Ones
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Over Again
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Close To You
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Rule The World
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We’re Not Gonna Take It
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Crazy For Nothing
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Believe
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Head Like A Hole
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Superhero
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So What
