Dee Snider on Ted Nugent: 'He Was a Draft Dodger!' (EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW)

Charles Norfleet, Getty Images

"I know some people complain about musicians going on about politics, but I recently got pulled into my own political controversy and I had no choice," a heated Dee Snider tells Noisecreep.

The Twisted Sister frontman is referring to a public beef he had with Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan for using Twisted Sister's 1984 anthem "We're Not Gonna Take It" in his then campaign for the vice presidency.

Snider – who will be honored this Thursday (Jan. 24) at the 2nd Annual Revolver and Guitar World Rock & Roll Roast in Anaheim, Calif. – was initially surprised that his comments about Ryan to a smaller media outlet picked up as much steam as it did.

"I guess nothing is small anymore with the Internet. But yeah, everyone picked up the story."
The Twisted Sister frontman thinks that Ryan's use of "We're Not Gonna Take It" missed the point of the song's free-spirited lyrics.

"Ryan and his people clearly didn't listen to the words of the song. It says in it, 'We've got the right to choose.' It's the first line! So with him not being pro-choice, I thought it was ridiculous that he would use my song. I don't like the guy and I virtually stand against everything he stands for – well maybe not [popular fitness program] P90X," laughs Snider, 57.

"It's mind-numbing how many conservative rock musicians there are now! That's so convenient when you have a lot of money. 'Now I have money, so I'm a Republican.' But when they were broke, struggling musicians, they were liberal and all for sharing the wealth. It's so convenient."

Since we're on the subject of conservative musicians, Noisecreep asks Snider how he feels about fellow rock icon Ted Nugent's recent comments about Barack Obama and gun control.

"Ted's always been a gun-toting conservative. But what gets me is that he was actually a draft dodger! I mean, to the point where he didn't bathe for a week, and vomited on himself to deliberately avoid the draft. I totally understand why he did that, but all of these Republicans who love Ted don't seem to know or remember that too well. It's crazy that he's become one of the voices of Conservative America even though he was a draft dodger. If you don't believe me, Google it."

Watch Dee Snider Rock & Roll Roast Video Teaser

The 2nd Annual Revolver and Guitar World Rock & Roll Roast is going down at The Grove in Anaheim, Calif. (Jan. 24) and will be open to the public. It will also air live on AXS TV at midnight ET (9 p.m. PT).

This year the Roastmaster will be comedian/illusionist Penn Jillette and will feature guests such as last year's honoree Zakk Wylde, Anthrax's Scott Ian, Lita Ford, WWE legend Mick Foley and That Metal Show host Eddie Trunk. Comedy and roast experts Jim Norton, Craig Gass, Jim Florentine and others will grill Snider throughout the evening.


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extrmfnsh

Just another pawn in Hollyweird and the governments Bread &Circus agenda? The government leaves you just enough money at the end of the week to buy your bread so your little tummies don't ache, then you can go home and sit on your couch and watch the circus ( your favorite team you idolize, or your favorite hollyweird propaganda). Meanwhile the Kings in Washington are busy stealing your riches, your rights and freedoms. Most peasants on the street can tell you anything you want to know about sports, actors, new movie releases, yet cannot tell you anything about the Constitution, their elected theifs in their state or Washington. It worked well for Ceasar. Those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it. Throw your televisions out in the yard and save the greatest nation ever to exist. Anyone find it interesting that Dee was a libtard when he was broke but now that he has money he is a conservative.

January 26 2013 at 12:42 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
med32g

xrismontez - while I disagree with quite a few of the things you said, I have to speak to your definition of art. Not all art is pretty, full of love, and about bringing people together. See Munch's 'The Scream', for instance. Or the various depictions of H*ll by medieval and renaissance artists. Sometimes art is about getting across a message that is terrible, but needs to be heard.

The only thing that can really be said across the board about art is that it is an attempt at communication. But as someone once noted, "Art generally does not match one's sofa." True art ain't always pretty or about love, but it *is* a reaching out ... of course.

January 26 2013 at 12:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Tyler London

Says the man who voted for Clinton. He also voted for Gore AFTER publicly stating he didn't trust him as far as he could throw him.

As far as "Draft dodging" is concerned, it's a stupid thing to insult someone with. If Americans are so unsupportive of a war that their government can't fight it without forcing people to fight it for them (i.e. slavery), that isn't American. They have no moral high-ground to tell you to die for a cause you don't believe in. That's something I'd expect from Stalin.

Ted Nugent did what he had to do to preserve his life and freedom. **** anyone who insults him for it.

January 26 2013 at 12:15 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
med32g

So ... the man who shoots non-human, unarmed animals, is shown to be someone who turns and runs (and vomits) when he might face another armed human. Another uninformed - but loud - voice for the NRA following children's deaths. Funny Mr. Nugent maintains such a tough-guy image, but if he was one of the armed guards he proposes be put into classrooms, has no skills as a protector of humans and probably couldn't even pull the trigger if needed.

January 26 2013 at 12:09 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
cadmasterp

Dee ? The guy that dressed up like a Girly Clown. He should have been glad Ryan played his song. Other wise noone has heard it in years. Nugent is the best. Omamow and his democRAT friends better tread real light on Guns and peoples cars or 2014 will be like 2010 in the Senate. This man has to be stopped and everything he has done repealed.

January 26 2013 at 11:58 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
aatriggs

In my opinion, Nugent and the rest of the ultra conservative lot (aka racists) are the epitome of unamerican. I'm glad that Dee Snider is calling Nugent out on his hypocrisy. If Nugent and his like minded ilk don't like our President or the direction that our country is going in, they should go somewhere else.

January 26 2013 at 11:18 AM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
newtire

So... I see this happening alot. Look at G. W. Bush. He sold my G.I. benefits down the river and never served himself, yet touts himself as a big time lover of G.I.'s. It's different with Ted Nugent. If I could have gotten out of that war, I would have but didn't have the know-how back then.

January 26 2013 at 10:52 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tthegal

Dee shut the heck up. Many libs are RICH!!!!!!!!!! And get huge tax breaks. Leave Ted and Paul Ryan alone. Be happy Paul wanted to use your song. Ones like you who have to be upset having your song used, well I enjoyed what xrismontez said on here. ENOUGH SAID. Prochoice? Well that has lead to 55 million souls being terminated from carrying out a life here. Happy Dee? I enjoyed you on The Apprentice, but NOW I DONT LIKE YOU, just like you dont like Paul Ryan.! Go talk to Bonjovi and Bruce and others who are rich and LIBERAL!

January 26 2013 at 10:50 AM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
javiblake

Why is Ted so bitter and unhappy

January 26 2013 at 10:20 AM Report abuse +3 rate up rate down Reply
mikeymarg

Dee Snider?

January 26 2013 at 8:41 AM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply

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