Dee Snider of Twisted Sister recently took to X to share his perspective on why he wasn’t particularly fond of Eddie Van Halen.
It all started when a user tagged Snider in a video featuring musicians who had clashed with Van Halen. The tweet suggested that neither Randy Rhoads nor Snider had issues with Eddie, contrary to what the video implied. Snider responded, shedding some light on his encounter with Van Halen:
“Well, that’s not entirely accurate. The one time I crossed paths with Eddie, he was a bit rude and clearly had a few too many drinks. But that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate his talent. You don’t necessarily have to like the artist to admire their work.”
This wasn’t Snider’s first time commenting on Van Halen. Back in 2015, he discussed Van Halen’s behavior in an interview with Ultimate Classic Rock, siding with Sammy Hagar in his disagreements with Eddie:
“Sammy’s the real deal. He’s talented and tough as nails. He’s got that fearless attitude, speaking his mind backed by both his success and his skill.”
Snider didn’t hold back in criticizing Eddie either, recalling a particular incident:
“I mean, let’s be real here, Eddie’s antics sometimes veered into the bizarre. Remember when he just randomly joined a Mexican band at a restaurant, with his boots falling apart? It was a strange sight.”
He also voiced his opinion on Van Halen’s impact on rock and roll, suggesting that the band wasn’t the sole savior of the genre:
“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Van Halen wasn’t the only torchbearer for rock and roll. Bands like Aerosmith and KISS were already making waves before they hit the scene.”
Snider’s remarks highlight a nuanced view of Eddie Van Halen, acknowledging his talent while not shying away from criticism of his behavior and the band’s place in rock history.
That’s not completely true. The one time I met Eddie he was drunk and acted like a bit of a dick to me, but I wouldn’t say I can’t stand him for that. Hey, you don’t have to like the artist to love their art. https://t.co/j7FH2uwuaI
— Dee Snider🇺🇸🎤 (@deesnider) April 14, 2024
