Dee Snider recently commented on a decades-old claim about rock vocalists. He addressed the issue in a statement shared on X.
A Twisted Sister fan had asked Snider about his thoughts on Robert Plant and Roger Daltrey. Both performers recently took the stage and maintained their vocal prowess. The question prompted Snider to revisit a controversial take from Mötley Crüe’s Nikki Sixx.
The fan wrote, “Hi Dee. Saw Robert Plant in Birmingham, UK, at the weekend and his voice is as good today as it was in his Zeppelin heyday. Saw Daltrey last year and he was the same. True superstars. Your thoughts on both?”
“Nikki Sixx once said that singers with curly hair can’t rock,” Snider said in his response. “He is wrong.”
Snider’s response directly contradicts Sixx’s assertion. He used the examples of Plant and Daltrey—both legendary curly-haired rockers—as evidence that the claim holds no merit. The comment reflects Snider’s support for the enduring talent of classic rock vocalists.
The debate over curly-haired rockers touches on a defining aesthetic of rock history. Ultimate Classic Rock noted that Dee Snider served as a commanding leader of Twisted Sister, mixing a punk rock work ethic with equal parts aggression and bravado during the 1980s hair metal era. His signature long blond curly hair and heavy makeup became part of his iconic stage persona during the band’s peak years.
Robert Plant, the legendary lead singer of Led Zeppelin, became emblematic of 1970s rock frontmanship with his naturally wavy and curly blond hair. This distinctive look became an integral part of his iconic image during the classic rock and blues-rock performances that defined his career. Similarly, AOL reported that Roger Daltrey of The Who was known for his muscular stage presence and thick, often wavy curly hair throughout his prime decades. His appearance contributed significantly to the band’s mod and rock image.
Nikki Sixx, the bassist and primary songwriter for Mötley Crüe, was himself a central figure of 1980s glam and hair metal. AOL documented that of all the members of Mötley Crüe, Sixx may have had the biggest hair. He has downsized his look in recent years while maintaining his rocker aesthetic. His controversial take on curly-haired singers appears particularly ironic given his own prominent role in an era defined by extravagant hair and image.
Snider’s recent comment serves as a reminder that some of rock’s greatest vocalists—Plant, Daltrey, and Snider himself—have all defied Sixx’s outdated assertion. The enduring success and vocal quality of these performers across multiple decades proves that hair texture has no bearing on a musician’s ability to rock.
