Twisted Sister – Live at Wacken: The Reunion (2005/2006)
Type: Live album + DVD/CD release
Artist: Twisted Sister
Released: June 28, 2005 (original); various reissues appeared around 2006–2010
Recorded: August 2, 2003 (Wacken Open Air Festival, Germany) and additional archival live recordings
Genre: Heavy metal / glam metal
Label: Eagle Vision / Drakkar (Europe)
Producers: Mark Mendoza & Jay Jay French
Live at Wacken: The Reunion documents Twisted Sister’s reunion performance at the 2003 Wacken Open Air Festival — one of the band’s biggest festival appearances since reforming — alongside bonus live material from earlier years. The package combines high‑energy concert footage, classic Twisted Sister anthems, and archival audio to celebrate the band’s legacy.
🎵 Contents & Tracklist Highlights
DVD section:
The DVD contains the full Wacken 2003 performance intercut with interviews, archival footage and behind‑the‑scenes segments. Songs include:
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What You Don’t Know (Sure Can’t Hurt You)
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The Kids Are Back
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Stay Hungry
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Under the Blade
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You Can’t Stop Rock ‘N’ Roll
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We’re Not Gonna Take It
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I Wanna Rock
…plus additional interviews and legacy footage.
CD audio (“Live…Past & Present”):
The accompanying audio disc features a mix of:
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Rare live recordings from 1980 Detroit & Port Chester, NY and 1982 London Marquee Club
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Live tracks from the 2003 Wacken performance
including: Stay Hungry, Like a Knife in the Back and The Fire Still Burns.
🎤 Band Lineup (Reunion Era)
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Dee Snider – lead vocals
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Jay Jay French – guitar & backing vocals
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Eddie “Fingers” Ojeda – guitar & backing vocals
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Mark “The Animal” Mendoza – bass & backing vocals
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A.J. Pero – drums
This was the classic ‘80s lineup reunited, performing on the big stage again after years of inactivity.
Cover Art Description
The cover of Live at Wacken: The Reunion usually features dramatic, high‑contrast imagery evoking the festival’s massive outdoor atmosphere — often including live stage photography of the band performing before a sea of fans, explosive lighting, and heavy metal iconography typical of Wacken releases. The title and band name are set in bold typefaces that match Twisted Sister’s theatrical, bold aesthetic. (Based on official CD/DVD packaging from the release years.)
Reception & Impact
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The release was welcomed by fans as a strong live document of Twisted Sister’s reunion phase, capturing their feral energy and stage presence decades after their original heyday.
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Reviewers often note the band’s performance as high voltage and intense, with frontman Dee Snider still commanding the stage like in their classic era.
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Although not a major chart hit, the release is considered among the best live artifacts of the band’s reunion and festival legacy.
Fun Facts & Trivia
🎸 Reunion Performance: The Wacken Open Air appearance in 2003 was Twisted Sister’s largest festival performance since regrouping, with the set filmed in front of tens of thousands of metal fans.
📽️ Multi‑Disc Format: The release often appeared as a DualDisc (DVD+CD) set, giving fans both audiovisual live footage and rare audio tracks.
📜 Historical Depth: The audio portion doesn’t just include Wacken 2003; it features rare early‑era live recordings from 1980 and 1982, giving a wider view of the band’s evolution.
🎤 Interviews & Behind the Scenes: The DVD includes interviews with all band members reflecting on their breakup in the ‘80s and the road to reunion, making it a “mini‑documentary” as much as a concert video.
📀 Legacy Spotlight: This release stands as one of the key reunion artifacts before later Twisted Sister works like A Twisted Christmas (2006).
Did You Know?
👉 Although often associated with a 2006 edition, the original Live at Wacken: The Reunion was released in 2005, capturing a 2003 festival show that celebrated Twisted Sister’s comeback.
👉 The Wacken performance was filmed with multiple cameras and has become one of the most widely circulated live metal performances from that era.
Download Twisted Sisters Albums from Amazon
Twisted Sisters Full Discography by Labels
More Albums:
Twisted Sisters - Under the Blade (1982)
Twisted Sisters - You Can't Stop Rock 'n' Roll (1983)
Twisted Sisters - Stay Hungry (1984)
Twisted Sisters - Come Out and Play (1985)
Twisted Sisters - Love Is for Suckers (1987)
Twisted Sisters - Big Hits and Nasty Cuts (1992)
Twisted Sisters - A Twisted Christmas - Live (2007)
