Dee Snider recently told Metal Hammer he doesn’t believe the industry is screwed in the long term, but short term things aren’t looking great.
“The live music industry is screwed for the time being,” said Snider. “It’s hopefully not screwed forever, but this is certainly going to leave a mark. Everything that’s happening is just horribly damaging, especially for young artists who don’t have the legacy or the licensing or branding that a band like Twisted Sister has.”
Snider also wonders about people returning to see shows once COVID-19 has passed.
“How are people going to feel when gigs are back on? Will they even come? Will they be standing shoulder to shoulder in the audience, or are they going to be wearing masks? As fan and as a performer, rock’n’roll is about that one-ness – those moments where a massive audience and the band and the song connect and we’re all one.
“If that’s not there, I don’t want it any more. That’s not rock’n’roll. It better get back out there, cos I don’t think I want to do it if it doesn’t. I’m like an old brat who’s behaving like a child: ‘I want my rock’n’roll!’”