Twisted Sister rocker Dee Snider criticized Arizona Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake after learning her campaign had used the Twisted Sister song “We’re Not Going To Take It” at her campaign rallies.
In response to a question about copyrights, Snider tweeted:
"I've explained this many times. You don't have to get permission to play any song at an event. Same as a baseball game."
Snider is referencing the paid licensing agreements that allow venues to legally use an entire catalog of music.
The rocker added:
"And I won't try to stop someone (unless they are using it without permission for commercial use - that's different) who I disagree with."
"I WILL denounce them."
\u201cI've explained this many times. You don't have to get permission to play any song at an event. Same as a baseball game. \n\nAnd I won't try to stop someone (unless they are using it without permission for commercial use - that's different) who I disagree with. I WILL denounce them.\u201d— Dee Snider\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Dee Snider\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1659295239
Later, he noted the hyper conservative Lake was using a song "NEVER intended for you fascist morons" because the first line is what he called a "PRO-CHOICE anthem."
Snider said as the singer and songwriter "I DENOUNCE EVERYTHING" Lake "STANDS FOR!"
Lake's campaign was unrepentant, later responding Snider was once "anti-establishment" because he once testified before Congress about music censorship during hearings in the 1990s about the "dangers" of rock music.
\u201c@deesnider @KariLake @CNN @FoxNews @MSNBC Remember when you were anti-establishment?\n\nNow you'd be sitting next to Tipper Gore.\u201d— Dee Snider\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Dee Snider\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1659289801
Snider called MAGA minions like Lake out as a vocal minority.
\u201cTruth is it's more like 35%...but they act like they are "half". Don't be fooled. Shut those mutha effers down.\u201d— Dee Snider\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Dee Snider\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1659514261
Then threw his support behind Lake's Democratic opponent.
\u201cLooks like I got some singing to do for @katiehobbs campaign!\u201d— Dee Snider\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Dee Snider\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1659513947
Many praised Snider for speaking out and criticized Lake in the process.
\u201cAnd the Arizonians demonstrate their right not to vote for a liar and traitor.\u201d— Thabisa Sibanda (@Thabisa Sibanda) 1659511019
\u201cYou stole Dee Snider's song just like you're trying to steal elections.\nVoters aren't going to stand for it.\u201d— Jac (@Jac) 1659499232
\u201cThat tweet was so bad she got ratioed in real life.\u201d— Chuck Grassley's Goat \ud83d\udc10\ud83c\udf10 (@Chuck Grassley's Goat \ud83d\udc10\ud83c\udf10) 1659508287
\u201cNext up, Karen Puddle will unironically recite some RATM lyrics for us. Thanks for using your brand of crazy to keep turning the state.\u201d— Scott Smith (@Scott Smith) 1659473763
\u201c@deesnider You ever think about getting into politics? Or at least debating some of these people? Would be so much fun watching you unleash on them.\u201d— Michael Krause (@Michael Krause) 1659317223
\u201cDee Snider isn't gonna take Lake's foolishness!!!\n\nAren't there any country-western songs the GQP can use?\u201d— Kymberlyn Reed, Uppity Faerie Gothmother of Metal (@Kymberlyn Reed, Uppity Faerie Gothmother of Metal) 1659461614
\u201cTwisted Sister is Twisted over Kari Lake. I don't blame you @deesnider they're trying to take our Civil Rights as women away.\u201d— CINDY NO-DM's JRL HR-4 VOTING ACT WOMENS RIGHTS (@CINDY NO-DM's JRL HR-4 VOTING ACT WOMENS RIGHTS) 1659497049
\u201cLooks like @KariLake has gone down, great day for democracy! \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\u201d— Nick Corelli (@Nick Corelli) 1659505416
Lake has previously made headlines for wading into conservative controversy over LGBTQ+ rights and for recently becoming angered when she was called out over her hypocrisy about drag queens during a Fox News interview.
During her campaign, Lake has said that drag queens should not be around young children, statements that were countered by Richard Stevens, a drag queen who performs as Barbra Seville and told The Arizona Republic that Lake has attended "countless" drag shows over the years and had the pictures to prove it.
Lake was asked about the controversy by Fox News anchor Bret Baier during a sitdown she'd used to further former President Donald Trump's falsehoods about the integrity of the 2020 general election.
Lake insisted that Stevens had never been in her home, calling his remarks "ludicrous," adding that she and her campaign had attempted to serve him with defamation papers but found that he's difficult to "track down."
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