Two Twisted Sister concerts, both in New York, 14 years apart, comprise the two-DVD set Double Live, which showcases the original band lineup in full-on, hard rock glory. The first show, a 14-song set recorded in the band’s home base of Long Island sees Dee Snider and the boys saying goodbye to their loyal local fans prior to “crossing the Atlantic” to record Under The Blade. This 1982 show is a solid set featuring the members in full costume and make-up. Tunes like “Destroyer,” “Tear It Loose” and “Bad Boys of Rock ‘n’ Roll” reveal the massive attack that was Twisted Sister back in those early days.
This first DVD, entitled “North Stage ’82,” features the only commercial video of the club favorite “Lady’s Boys,” where Snider plays with a prop mirror much to everyone’s delight. Here too, are some nasty yet commercial moments of “I’ll Never Grow Up Now” and “You Can’t Stop Rock And Roll.” There is an unfortunate cover of the Rolling Stones’ “It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (But I Like It),” but for the most part, the crowd here is packed in and loving this fun and rocking show from back when we were all a lot younger.
The second DVD, entitled “New York Steel 2001,” is the concert Eddie Trunk put together to benefit the families of the firefighters, police and EMS workers who lost their lives on 9/11. This was a cause the members of Twister Sister easily put their differences aside for, and sans make-up, the boys sound pretty damn good after a 14-year layoff. It’s a high energy assault seeing Snider as buff as ever and the rest of the band playing well.
They roll through a chunky “The Kids Are Back,” the scary “Burn In Hell,” and a heavy shot of “You Can’t Stop Rock n Roll,” “Under The Blade,” along with superb versions of “I Wanna Rock” and “We’re Not Gonna Take It.” This is a great set for Twister Sister fans and anybody who wants to see footage of the band from then and more recently (well, at least 14 years later). The songs are fast and tight, and both shows were recorded well. Double Live truly proves that you really can’t stop rock and roll.
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
