Dee Snider attacked former President Donald Trump supporters, claiming that “MAGAT FASCISTS” and others like them were the inspiration for Twisted Sister’s iconic anthem “We’re Not Gonna Take It.”
In a tweet that mirrored the angry protest rock for which he is famous, Snider alternated between all-caps and normal text.
“ATTENTION QANON, MAGAT FASCISTS: Remember that ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It’ was written by a cross-dressing, libtard, tree hugging half Jew who HATES everything you stand for,” he said. “Every angry word of that song was inspired by you and people like you!” “F*** OFF!”
ATTENTION QANON, MAGAT FASCISTS: Every time you sing “We’re Not Gonna Take It” remember it was written by a cross-dressing, libtard, tree hugging half-Jew who HATES everything you stand for. It was you and people like you that inspired every angry word of that song! SO FUCK OFF!
— Dee Snider🇺🇸🎤 (@deesnider) August 26, 2022
However, as critics quickly pointed out, Democrats were the driving force behind the effort to censor bands like Snider’s — and specifically that song.
“I remember you in Congress, Dee, arguing in favour of free speech because Democrats wanted to censor you,” Aldous Huxley’s Ghost (@AF632) responded to the tweet. Now you’re a shill for the same Democrats who are in power.”
ATTENTION QANON, MAGAT FASCISTS: Every time you sing “We’re Not Gonna Take It” remember it was written by a cross-dressing, libtard, tree hugging half-Jew who HATES everything you stand for. It was you and people like you that inspired every angry word of that song! SO FUCK OFF!
— Dee Snider🇺🇸🎤 (@deesnider) August 26, 2022
Snider testified before the Senate in 1985, following the publication of a list of problematic bands and songs by the Parental Music Resource Center (PMRC), which included Twisted Sister. Although Republicans controlled the Senate at the time, the effort to censor music was largely a Democrat project. Tipper Gore, who would become second lady just seven years later, spearheaded the PMRC, which suggested that “We’re Not Gonna Take It” be labelled as “violent” because it promoted “violence.”
According to Snider, he chose to testify in front of Congress alongside fellow musicians Frank Zappa and John Denver because he was confident in his ability to present a compelling case against censorship.
“They really wanted [Mötley Crüe singer] Vince Neil,” Snider told Rolling Stone three decades later, in 2015. “Vince is not a very articulate person.” He is a lifestyler, so he was probably half in the bag when he went in there. Because he is incapable of fighting at the level, they would have smacked him around. He’d be defenceless if he went to have an intellectual debate on something.”
Snider told Congress at the time, “Ms. Gore claimed that one of my songs, ‘Under the Blade,’ had lyrics encouraging sadomasochism, bondage, and rape.” “The lyrics she cited have nothing to do with these topics.” The words in question, on the other hand, are about surgery and the fear that it instils in people. … I can state unequivocally that the only sadomasochism, bondage, and rape in this song are in Ms. Gore’s mind.”
Snider has since chastised Republicans who have used his song at events, ranging from Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) to former President Donald Trump, with whom he once sang the song onstage, while approving of any candidate who claims to be “pro-choice.”
