Early Twisted Sister Gig Resurfaces
Before Twisted Sister became internationally-known rock stars, they were Silver Star out of Bergen County, cross-dressing and considering themselves to be New Jersey’s answer to the New York Dolls. From ’72 to ’80, they toiled in clubs constantly refining and redefining their act. It wasn’t until ’82 that the band as we know it blossomed. Cleopatra Records has now released the 12-track Hammerheads 1980, named after a West Islip, New York, venue. Back then they were still covering Chuck Berry (“Johnny B Goode”) and Steppenwolf (“Born To Be Wild”). Their own “Rock’n’Roll Saviors” is here in an early version, as is “What You Don’t Know” and “Under The Blade,” which would be included on their UK-only Ruff Cuts EP debut. “Bad Boys” and “Destroyer” would make it to their Under The Blade stateside full-length debut. Taken from a 2016 boxed set, Rock’n’Roll Saviors: The Early Years, this is the first stand-alone version of their patented brand of loud explosive mayhem.