Rhino Factoids: That Time Twisted Sister Sold Out The New York Palladium

37 years ago today, Twisted Sister sold out the New York Palladium without having a recording contract or any significant radio airplay. Pretty impressive stuff, no?

Given that Twisted Sister found their most significant commercial success while signed to Atlantic Records, it’s understandable that it’s that era which the average music fan knows the most about, but the band’s history actually stretches back to 1972, when they first formed under the name Silver Star. The name didn’t last long: they formed in December 1972 and they’d changed it to Twisted Sister by February 1973.

Keep in mind, however, that the original lineup of the band didn’t feature the band’s most famous frontman. No, Dee Snider didn’t join Twisted Sister until early 1976. Once he did, it didn’t take long for Dee’s innate charisma and his way with an audience to start increasing the band’s fanbase. In turn, Twisted Sister’s profile continued to rise, and by March 16, they sold out the Palladium.

After achieving such a remarkable thing, the band started getting serious about trying to find a record deal, and while it didn’t happen overnight, they did manage to secure one with Secret Records in April 1982. This led to a TV appearance on the UK series The Tube, which put them on Atlantic’s radar, and…well, you know what they say: the rest is history!