TWISTED SISTER Frontman Says VAN HELSING'S CURSE Is 'Not Very Scary'

TWISTED SISTER frontman Dee Snider recently spoke to the Asbury Park Press about VAN HELSING'S CURSE, Snider's Halloween-themed classical/rock musical project which is bringing its spectral horror-inspired ambience to the stage this weekend.

The concert combines a classical orchestra, a haunting choir and a menacing rock band with Snider's storytelling for a final product that crosses over into several genres. But this isn't just a bunch of weirdo musicians who throw some spooky songs together for cheap thrills every October; it's is a conceptual, complete performance piece.

"You can think of it as something like 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show'. It's a story we're telling," Snider told the Asbury Park Press. "The music is not free-standing . . . but it's not acted out. I sort of tell the story and the music renders what I've told.

"It's dark, it's gothic, but it's not a haunted house. It's a concert event, a very visual event, but we're not here to make you jump out of your seat," he said. "It's not very scary; there's just a group of very dark creatures onstage playing this dark music."

Fans who attended last year's performances might be skeptical of the idea that, since the show is based heavily on retelling the album's spooky story in its proper order, seeing VAN HELSING'S CURSE again might not offer a creepy, new experience. Snider said the show has added new visual elements and seeing the show a second time is part of the fun.

"This year, we're trying to incorporate an artist to do some rendering of the scenes, and that will be projected to help the audience follow along," he said. "We had such success last year, the hope is to have people make VAN HELSING'S CURSE part of their annual Halloween plans. We're hoping it will become the musical element of Halloween."