Dee Snider's Triumphant Journey: From Bankruptcy to Icon

After the dissolution of Twisted Sister, Dee Snider faced immense financial setbacks, including double bankruptcy. However, through perseverance and with the support of his wife, he rebuilt his career and emerged stronger than ever before.

Dee Snider, the iconic frontman ofTwisted Sister, was a rock star at the peak of his fame in the 80s. However, after the band's split in 1988, he found himself facing financial turmoil. In an interview with Fox News Digital, he revealed the struggles he endured during this challenging period. "I lost everything," Snider said. "Double bankruptcy, my career collapsed." He went from being a rock star to working a desk job, answering phones, and riding a bicycle to work.

Snider attributed his ability to overcome these hardships to the unwavering support of his wife, Suzette, who has been by his side for over 40 years. "She's been by my side forever," he said. "So I always had someone standing with me and saying, 'We got this,' which is great."

Dee Snider's Triumphant Journey: From Bankruptcy to Icon

Another source of strength for Snider was the attitude embodied in his biggest hit, "We're Not Gonna Take It." "I'm singing my song to myself," he revealed. "We're not gonna take it. I'm going to get out of this. I'm going to get out of this and keep moving forward."

Spurred by the desire to regain his financial footing, Snider embraced various projects, including radio, voice-over acting, reality TV, and movies. He recalled the rough period of time in the early 90s when he and his wife were so broke that they couldn't afford to buy their children candy at a convenience store.

Dee Snider's Triumphant Journey: From Bankruptcy to Icon

Despite the adversity he faced, Snider remained resilient and eventually turned things around when his Christmas song, "The Magic of Christmas Day (God Bless Us Everyone)," written for his wife, was recorded by Celine Dion in 1998. Snider owns the publishing rights to the song, which has enjoyed immense success.

Reflecting on his humble beginnings as a choir boy, Snider acknowledged the transformative power of music in his life. "When I sang, whether it was in a band or was in choir, I had a home. It didn't matter how I looked. It didn't matter about my hair. It didn't matter what I wore. When I opened my mouth and sang, people were like, 'OK, you can hang. All right.'"

Dee Snider's Triumphant Journey: From Bankruptcy to Icon

The isolation and rejection Snider felt as a child fueled his determination to make a name for himself. "I just had this epiphany one day," he recalled. "I said, 'I will not go quietly into the night. I don't need all these people's approval. I'm just going to become my own biggest fan.'"

This shift in attitude, coupled with the decade-long struggle before Twisted Sister achieved mainstream success, inspired the band's most well-known song, "We're Not Gonna Take It." Snider explained, "We developed this chip on our shoulders, and there's this in-your-face attitude."

Dee Snider's Triumphant Journey: From Bankruptcy to Icon

The song resonated with audiences worldwide, transcending its genre and era. Snider said, "It was really just my life of rejection, you know, and I just felt constantly rejected since I was a kid and told 'no' and 'you can't' and 'not you.'"

Despite the band's breakup in 1988, Twisted Sister has reunited briefly over the years, most notably for a farewell tour in 2016. Snider revealed that they planned for that tour to be their last hurrah, but offers continue to come in, and they are only becoming "bigger and bigger every year."

Dee Snider's Triumphant Journey: From Bankruptcy to Icon

Snider's journey from financial ruin to enduring success is a testament to his perseverance, resilience, and the power of belief. He has emerged as a true icon, not only for his musical contributions but also for his indomitable spirit.