Why Dee Snider moved to Oak Ridge, NC and what’s next for the rock legend
Dee Snider is embracing North Carolina’s welcoming community, moving from Los Angeles to Oak Ridge for a calmer family life and film projects.
OAK RIDGE, N.C. — Rock legend Dee Snider has traded the bright lights of Los Angeles for the peaceful roads of Oak Ridge—and he couldn’t be happier about it.
The Twisted Sister frontman joined WFMY News 2 Mornings on Wednesday to talk about settling into his new life in North Carolina and why he and his entire family chose to make the Tar Heel State home.
Choosing North Carolina for Family and Film
“We’re from New York originally. We moved out to LA 10 years ago, the whole family. And a couple of years ago, everybody was sitting around saying, you know, it’s time to get back to a calmer life,” Snider said.
“We decided we’re gonna build a family compound and we’re gonna start a family production company making movies, which is what we do now.
We literally looked from the West Coast to the East Coast and slowly it started dialing in. North Carolina took the number one spot,” he added.
Welcoming Community Sealed the Deal
Snider said North Carolina’s filmmaking incentives initially caught their attention—but it was the people who ultimately sealed the deal.
“And people were amazing and that’s ultimately what it came down to. The people in North Carolina were welcoming and I don’t think it was just me, because they were nice to my family when I wasn’t there,” Snider said.
“But they were welcoming and lovely and we said this is where we want to live.”
Settling into Oak Ridge
Now getting settled into their Oak Ridge home—after a few hiccups with an early contractor, which Snider lightheartedly recounted on air—the rocker said he and his children and grandchildren are here to stay.
“I’m a Tar Heel baby,” Snider laughed.
“I said they’re gonna bury me by that oak tree in the front yard.”
He continued,
“So are we welcome? I hope I’m welcome. Everybody’s been so great—except for my ex-contractor. You’re fired! That’s right!”
Building a Film Industry in North Carolina
In addition to making North Carolina home, Snider plans to build something lasting here: a booming film business. Inspired by what Atlanta has accomplished with its film industry, he hopes to bring similar opportunities to the state.
“We want to bring industry here, we want to bring business here, we want to create jobs here, we want to do here in North Carolina what they did in Atlanta,” Snider said.
Reflecting on His Fight Against Censorship
Snider, who famously testified before Congress 40 years ago in a fight against music censorship, reflected on that moment, too.
“Well, certainly at the time I didn’t realize how significant would it be,” Snider said.
“At the time, I felt very abandoned by the music community. It was me, Frank Zappa, John Denver, [we] didn’t feel a lot of support…But it was important to speak out.”
Enjoying the Roads of North Carolina
When he’s not working on his new home or busy in the film industry, Snider said you might just spot him on the local roads.
“I like cars…and the roads here are great and I’m also a motorcycle rider,” Snider said.
“Here you can get up and you can just get out on the open roads and just really enjoy the beauty of the state and enjoy riding and driving.”
A Family Man at Heart
You won’t catch him out at bars or clubs, though.
“You’ll see me at Starbucks. You’ll see me at Home Depot or Lowe’s,” Snider said.
“They’ll say, what are you doing here, Dee? Buying light bulbs! What are you doing here?! I’m a family guy and I’m always happy to say hi. Just please appreciate that I am a father and a grandfather, and a husband, and that to me is my first priority—always.”
Part 1 of our interview with Dee Snider:
Part 2 of our interview with Dee Snider: