2023 starts with a blast.
Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider recently shared his controversial opinion on Twitter. He stated that Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin) and Ronnie James Dio (Dio, Black Sabbath, rainbow) are not real ‘performers’.
Dee Snider recently celebrated late drummer Cozy Powell’s 75th birthday. He called him a drum god and what followed was some criticisms of Rober Plant and Ronnie James Dio. After he revealed his thoughts on several names, he stated that Robert and Ronnie have great vocal capabilities but are not really great performers.
It all started on December 30. Dee paid tribute to late drummer Cozy Powell by sharing one of Rainbow’s best songs ‘Stargazer’. He praised the drummer for his brilliant craft. “How amazing was Cozy Powell?” He said in his tweet. “Listen to the first 11 seconds of this Rainbow song, and you will know. Then listen to the rest of ‘Stargazer’ with the incomparable Ronnie Dio on vocals, and you will know why many consider it to be the greatest metal song ever!”
How amazing was Cozy Powell? Listen to the 1st 11 seconds of this Rainbow song & you will know…https://t.co/EqMu4hd7rU
Then listen to the rest of "Stargazer" with the incomparable Ronnie Dio on vocals & you will know why many consider it to be the greatest metal song ever! https://t.co/ozjPk5yfvO
— Dee Snider🇺🇸🎤 (@deesnider) December 30, 2022
That’s when a fan joined in the tweet and said Dio was the second-best frontman in the world of rock after Freddie Mercury. Dee responded “You are confusing singing with performing. There is a huge difference between a great frontman and a great singer. Ronnie was one of the greatest singers of all time, but as a frontman, he pretty much just stood on stage and sang. Freddie was an amazing singer and frontman.”
You are confusing singing with performing.
There is a huge difference between a great frontman & a great singer.
Ronnie was one of the greatest singers of all time, but as a frontman, he pretty much just stood on stage & sang.
Freddie was an amazing singer AND frontman. https://t.co/akrNVaoI49
— Dee Snider🇺🇸🎤 (@deesnider) December 30, 2022
Another Twitter user also joined in on the Tweet and said Robert Plant should also be on this list. As he was one of the greatest frontman in the late 60s and early 70s. Snider again argued. “I’m a huge Plant fan vocally, but he showed me nothing as a performer. Looked amazing, great hair, stood on stage with one hand raised and sang his ass off. Not a frontman, in my opinion. And FYI, many great frontmen are not great singers.”
I'm a HUGE Plant fan vocally…but he showed me nothing as a performer. Looked amazing, great hair…stood on stage with one hand raised and sang his ass off. Not a frontman in my opinion.
And FYI many great frontmen are not great singers. https://t.co/621U1fnBdM
— Dee Snider🇺🇸🎤 (@deesnider) December 30, 2022
There was also another fan who disagreed with Snider. She said that she watched Plant perform four times. Plant again argued and said, “I toured with him. (Beat ya!) He is one of my vocal heroes, but my frontmen are all over the stage and interact with the crowd. Showmen. Think David Lee Roth, Paul Stanley, Mick Jagger, Freddy Mercury, Axl Rose… The list goes on.”
I am sorry, @deesnider but this is an absurd take.
I was fortunate enough to see him perform four separate times and never did he just stand there and sing.
The last time was just after he turned 67 and was dying of cancer; but still put on one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. https://t.co/2WZj2l8ZHN— C.R. Hoaglund (@CrHoaglund) December 30, 2022
Seems like Dee Snider has a different take on how frontmen could be great. To him, Mick Jagger, Freddie Mercury, Axl Rose, Paul Stanley, and David Lee Roth are great examples of rock frontmen due to their captivating performances on stage along with their vocal capabilities. And looks like, some fans argue with his reasoning while others continue to agree on his reasoning.
