From thousands of Long Island bar gigs and Dee Snider's legendary Senate testimony to breakups, political battles and Sebastian Bach taking the microphone in 2026.

Twisted Sister's history is considerably stranger than "We're Not Gonna Take It" and "I Wanna Rock."

Nova Starwick and Dorian Prescott go back to 1972 and trace the band's journey from a New York-area glam cover band through a decade-long grind on the tri-state club circuit. By the time Twisted Sister finally landed a record deal, they had already played more than 2,000 shows.

Along the way came an equipment truck destroyed by fire, extraordinary club stories, constant lineup changes, record-label rejection and the arrival of Dee Snider.

Then Stay Hungry changed everything.

"We're Not Gonna Take It" and "I Wanna Rock" turned Twisted Sister into MTV stars, but their success also put them directly in the path of the Parents Music Resource Center. In 1985, Dee Snider joined Frank Zappa and John Denver before the Senate Commerce Committee and delivered testimony that became one of rock's most famous confrontations with censorship.

Nova and Dorian also explore the internal tensions that eventually destroyed the band, the disappointing Love Is for Suckers era, their reunion, the death of drummer A.J. Pero, and the seemingly endless battles over politicians adopting "We're Not Gonna Take It."

Finally, the story reaches 2026. Dee Snider stepped away as Twisted Sister prepared for its 50th Anniversary return, and former Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach stepped in with Snider's blessing. On August 28, Bach played his first show fronting Twisted Sister in New Jersey.

After more than five decades, Twisted Sister is still finding something to fight for.

Nova and Dorian cover the week's biggest rock headlines, including Metallica, Anthrax, KISS, Ozzy and Black Sabbath, Poison, Skid Row, Rammstein, Def Leppard, Queen, and more.

This week on Shot of Rock News: Last Call, Nova and Dorian break down the biggest rock and metal headlines for the week ending September 19, 2026.

Stories include Metallica extending the M72 World Tour into 2027 with Limp Bizkit and Avatar, Anthrax releasing the video for "Cursum Perficio" from its first studio album in a decade, and KISS announcing a huge 50th anniversary super-deluxe edition of Rock And Roll Over with 100 previously unreleased tracks and mixes.

Also covered this week: Rikki Rockett says there are still no concrete Poison tour plans for 2027, Skid Row moves its singer search into another round, Rammstein brings Live In Mexico City to theaters, Def Leppard releases a previously unheard Beatles cover, and the complete Black Label Society recorded catalog is acquired by MNRK Music Group.

Plus: Nightwish rules out a reunion with Tarja Turunen, Brian May says he is open to a Queen avatar-style show, Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath's final Back To The Beginning concert heads to theaters, Bad Company releases the final performance with Mick Ralphs, Greta Van Fleet shares "Tear It Down," Candlebox reunites with Peter Klett on new music, Rock Am Ring and Rock Im Park reveal major 2027 lineups, and Gene Simmons is set to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award.

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Nova and Dorian follow the money from a new band's first recording to stadium tours, streaming royalties and the multimillion-dollar fortunes of rock's biggest stars.

Rock and metal may sell rebellion, but behind every album, tour bus, stage set and pyro cannon is a bill that somebody has to pay.

Nova Starwick and Dorian Prescott follow the money through the music industry, beginning with what an unsigned band can spend recording, promoting, and releasing its first music before earning a single dollar.

Then the numbers get much bigger.

They examine the enormous touring operations behind Iron Maiden and Metallica, the economics of nostalgia-driven stadium tours, and Ghost's legal battle over how touring and album revenue was divided between Tobias Forge and his former Nameless Ghouls.

Then it's time to look inside the wallets of the rock stars themselves.

Lars Ulrich's art collection, Axl Rose's Guns N' Roses fortune, Brian May's investments, David Lee Roth's unconventional spending habits, and Steven Tyler's admission that addiction cost him millions are just the beginning. Nova and Dorian also look at the reported fortunes of Gene Simmons, Jon Bon Jovi, Ozzy Osbourne, Dave Grohl, Sammy Hagar, Sebastian Bach, Rudy Sarzo, Lita Ford, Dee Snider, and many more.

Finally, they compare the record-label-driven industry of the 1980s and 1990s with today's streaming economy, where releasing music has never been easier, but turning those streams into a sustainable career can be extraordinarily difficult.

From a new band thousands of dollars in the hole to Metallica generating hundreds of millions on tour, this week we're following the money.

Nova and Dorian cover the week's biggest rock headlines, including Slipknot, Def Leppard, Tony Iommi, Bill Ward, William Shatner, Mötley Crüe, Gojira, Staind, and more.

This week on Shot of Rock News: Last Call, Nova and Dorian break down the biggest rock and metal headlines for the week ending September 12, 2026.

Stories include Slipknot surprise-releasing "Arsenal," its first new song in over three years, and Def Leppard announcing its first authorized feature-length documentary, Long Live Def Leppard, coming to theaters in early 2027.

Also covered this week: Tony Iommi releasing the limited-edition "World Alone" seven-inch single, Bill Ward mastering a new solo album, William Shatner revealing the title of his heavy metal album, and Bruce Dickinson announcing a newly remixed version of Accident Of Birth.

Plus: Mötley Crüe celebrates 45 years of Too Fast For Love with a deluxe limited edition, Trans-Siberian Orchestra announces its 30th-anniversary tour, the official King Diamond documentary continues development, Foo Fighters release a Vevo performance of "Child Actor," The Hu shares the "Warrior Chant" video, Doro covers Fleetwood Mac, Mr. Big brings Big, Bigger, Biggest! to vinyl and high-resolution formats, W.A.S.P. performs "Mr. Cool" live for the first time, Gojira announces a St. Louis charity show, and Staind kicks off its Break The Cycle anniversary tour.

Fast, factual, and built for rock fans who want the week's biggest headlines in one place. Story pool came from the week ending September 12 news file.

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Nova and Dorian follow heavy metal's family tree from Black Sabbath through thrash, hair metal, nu metal, black metal, sludge, power metal, metalcore, and the genre debates of 2026.

Heavy metal started with a handful of bands. More than 50 years later, it has become a sprawling family tree of genres, subgenres, and scenes that sometimes barely sound related.

Nova Starwick and Dorian Prescott trace that evolution from Black Sabbath and Tony Iommi's foundational sound through the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and the Sunset Strip before diving into thrash and the Big Four of Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax.

From there, things get increasingly complicated.

They explore how the Judgment Night soundtrack helped establish rap metal, how Korn, Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park took nu metal mainstream, and how the Norwegian black metal scene became infamous for events far beyond the music.

The tour continues through sludge, power metal, grindcore, metalcore, mathcore and post-metal, with bands including Melvins, Crowbar, Helloween, Sabaton, Napalm Death, Converge, Killswitch Engage, The Dillinger Escape Plan and Neurosis.

Finally, Nova and Dorian arrive in 2026, and Sleep Token, whose mix of metal, pop, R&B, and electronic influences has reignited one of heavy metal's oldest arguments: what actually counts as metal?

From Black Sabbath to Sleep Token, this tour traces more than five decades of metal constantly breaking its own rules and growing new branches.

We're changing up Rockers to Doctors news. Instead of trying to cover every headline, Nova and Dorian are going live to dig into the five rock stories actually worth talking about.

KISS has somehow reached a new U.K. downloads-chart high after retiring from touring, Gene Simmons still can't stay offstage, and Pophouse's ownership raises an interesting question: who actually controls KISS now?

Queens of the Stone Age are preparing Perfecth, their first full studio album since In Times New Roman.... We also remember ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard, who died at 77 after more than five decades behind the kit.

Then things get messy. Kelly Osbourne and Dee Snider clash over Ozzy Osbourne's songwriting history, opening a much bigger conversation about Geezer Butler, Bob Daisley, Lemmy and the difference between writing lyrics and writing a song.

Finally, we untangle Sid Wilson's departure from Slipknot: the original report, Jim Root's response, Slipknot's deleted confirmation, Wilson's acknowledgment and what we actually know about the end of No. 0's nearly three-decade run.

Five stories. More details. And plenty to argue about.

What would have made your Top Five?

Nova and Dorian cover Twisted Sister's first show with Sebastian Bach, Soundgarden's Seahawks halftime performance, Quiet Riot's singer update, Polyphia, Tony Iommi, Bruce Dickinson, and more.

This week on Shot of Rock News: Last Call, Nova and Dorian break down the biggest rock and metal headlines for the week ending August 29, 2026.

Stories include Twisted Sister playing its first concert with Sebastian Bach on lead vocals, Soundgarden preparing to perform during halftime at the Seattle Seahawks season opener, and Quiet Riot confirming that a new lead singer has been chosen, with Jason McMaster filling in for two shows.

Also covered this week: Tom Keifer says his vocal injury requires extended rest, Polyphia announces Be Not Afraid, Tony Iommi talks about his new solo album From the Dark, Bruce Dickinson recruits horror actor Bill Moseley for a new music video, and Alice Cooper reveals the 2026 Christmas Pudding lineup.

Plus: the Hollywood Vampires documentary heads to the Boston Film Festival, Shogun Mojo announces its debut album, the Ronnie James Dio estate joins KnuckleBonz360, Pearl Jam's Jeff Ament announces Since Forever book events, Gene Simmons explains why he still performs live, Roger Glover talks "Smoke On The Water," and Bad Wolves guitarist AJ Rebollo quits over the band's planned "Jolene" cover.

Fast, factual, and built for rock fans who want the week's biggest headlines in one place.

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One year after Back to the Beginning, Nova and Dorian track what happened next for the artists who gathered to say goodbye to Ozzy and Black Sabbath.

It has been roughly one year since some of the biggest names in rock and metal gathered at Villa Park for Back to the Beginning, the historic farewell to Ozzy Osbourne and the original Black Sabbath.

So what happened to everyone after they left the stage?

Nova Starwick and Dorian Prescott check in with some of the musicians who made that day unforgettable.

Nuno Betancourt went from all-star guest guitarist to Grammy winner, launched Nuno Guitars, created his Six String Sanctuary guitar camp and returned to the studio with Extreme. Steven Tyler's performances at Villa Park and the MTV VMAs offered Aerosmith fans a glimpse of the singer they feared they might never see onstage again.

Elsewhere, Billy Corgan has balanced the Smashing Pumpkins with his wrestling business, Lzzy Hale and Halestorm have maintained a relentless touring schedule, Danny Carey is focused on Tool, and Rudy Sarzo has stepped into solo music while continuing with Quiet Riot.

Then Nova and Dorian widen the lens to Guns N' Roses, Gojira, Tool and Pantera before checking in on Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward.

Finally, they return to Ozzy Osbourne and the concert that unexpectedly became his final bow just 17 days before his death.

Back to the Beginning was designed as a farewell. One year later, it also looks like an extraordinary snapshot of where an entire generation of rock and metal legends was headed next.

Nova and Dorian cover the week's biggest rock headlines, including Ozzfest 2027, Slipknot, ZZ Top, Queens of the Stone Age, Ritchie Blackmore, Demon Hunter, Bush, Buckcherry, and MTV.

This week on Shot of Rock News: Last Call, Nova and Dorian break down the biggest rock and metal headlines for the week ending August 22, 2026.

Stories include Ozzfest officially confirming its 2027 return at Villa Park in Birmingham, Slipknot confirming it is no longer associated with Sid Wilson, and sad news from ZZ Top as longtime drummer Frank Beard dies at age 77.

Also covered this week: Ritchie Blackmore reflecting on his emotional Deep Purple reunion, Queens of the Stone Age announcing Perfecth, Rikki Rockett's The Rockett Mafia performing Poison's Look What The Cat Dragged In in full, and Stray Cats returning to late-night television after 35 years.

Plus: Demon Hunter's lawsuit over KPop Demon Hunters gets a response from Netflix, Nita Strauss returns as official guitarist for the L.A. Rams, Bush announces a 15th anniversary edition of The Sea Of Memories, Bret Michaels pulls out of Mountain Music Festival, Buckcherry members are safe after a tour bus accident, Cult of Luna releases "A Way Back," and MTV removes the Best Rock category from the 2026 VMAs.

Fast, factual, and built for rock fans who want the week's biggest headlines in one place.

That's your shot of rock news. Subscribe to stay current.

From "Everything About You" to Nirvana criticism, Norman Reedus and three days with Black Sabbath, Nova and Dorian uncover the strange career of Ugly Kid Joe.

Ugly Kid Joe arrived just as hair metal was dying and grunge was taking over, yet somehow found an audience in the middle.

Nova Starwick and Dorian Prescott trace the band's story from its beginnings in Isla Vista, California, and the joke that created the Ugly Kid Joe name through the enormous success of "Everything About You," As Ugly as They Wanna Be, and America's Least Wanted.

They dig into the $5,000 music video that became an MTV staple, the band's connection to Wayne's World, their unexpected hit cover of Harry Chapin's "Cats in the Cradle," and a young Norman Reedus appearing in its video.

Then things get stranger.

Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic publicly takes a shot at the band. Ugly Kid Joe struggles with changing musical tastes and its relationship with Mercury Records. Whitfield Crane joins Life of Agony and later spends three days fronting Black Sabbath during rehearsals for the band's 1997 reunion with Ozzy Osbourne.

Nova and Dorian also explore Ugly Kid Joe's breakup, reunion, later albums, and how Crane eventually made peace with the hit he once resisted playing.

It's the story of a band that could easily have become a 1990s punchline but refused to disappear.