One of the great ‘what if’ moments in rock history: Ace by Desperado. “Had this been released in the early 80s, it would have gone down a storm”

Dee Snider formed Desperado after Twisted Sister broke up in 1988, hooking up with ex-Iron Maiden drummer Clive Burr, guitarist Bernie Tormé (Gillan, Ozzy Osbourne), and bassist Marc Russell.

Their sole album, a gritty, blues-infused heavy metal affair intended for release in May 1990, was shelved by Elektra as the musical landscape shifted towards grunge and corporate tensions flared. The band were dropped, but the album circulated for years as a heavily bootlegged fan favourite before the master tapes were salvaged and officially released under the album title Ace in 2006 via Angel Air / Deadline Music.

“Very proud of the Desperado album, some of my best songwriting,” wrote Snider in the liner notes. “Painful to think about what might have been. I found a real partner in Bernie; it resulted in magic. The creativity of the rhythm section, too. Clive is the only drummer I’ve ever worked with who works off the vocals; to finish his parts, he works off the melody, where most drummers work off the guitar or bass.

“But doing that record, creatively, was the best moment in my life to that time. Bernie plays like I think; it opened me up as a writer and shared the burden. A real blossoming as a writer and creator.

“We bonded, we got on great, and it breaks my heart that we didn’t get to tour and really be onstage together.”

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Other albums released in May 1990

Charmed Life – Billy IdolWhen the Storm Comes Down – Flotsam and JetsamThe Winding Sheet – Mark LaneganYoung Lions – Adrian BelewSteelheart – SteelheartLock up the Wolves – DioTen – Y&TPacked! – The PretendersHell to Pay – Jeff HealeyBloodletting – Concrete BlondePod – The BreedersJoe Cocker Live – Joe CockerManscape – WireTattooed Millionaire – Bruce Dickinson

What they said…

“This album sounds far less commercial than Twisted Sister did around the time of the breakup. Though bluesy, rocky, and often with hooks, it feels like Dee and co doing what they want to do, rather than a commercial endeavour (see: Love is for Suckers). Dee writes awesome, soulful, semi-ballads and hard rockers, coming across as genuine and well-seasoned.” (Encyclopeadia Metallum)

“From the heavy blues rock of Hang ‘Em High, the kick-ass metal of Run Wild Run Free (The Maverick), to the powerful ballad The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter, there’s one winner after another here. Dee Snider puts in one of his best performances on the album, and had this record been released when it was initially intended, I think guitarist Tormé would really have gotten the recognition worldwide that he deserves.” (Sea Of Tranquillity)

“What a pleasant surprise this turns out to be. Heavy, raw rock music, with enough subtlety, excellent melodies and great musicianship. Dee Snider’s vocals are a revelation. None of the over-the-top screaming from his Twisted Sister days, but some very powerful, and at times really emotional singing. The punky/Hendrix attitude of Tormé is very familiar. (Metal Noise)

What you said…

Chris Downie: The recent spat between Kelly Osbourne and recently-retired former Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider was notable for igniting more than one old argument in the rock and metal world; one being that Ozzy, a man of limited vocal range and even more limited songwriting ability, was continually elevated to greatness by the extraordinary talents of great musicians and equally gifted songwriters.

Few would contest this. However, another talking point was the insinuation by Osbourne that Snider was an irrelevance, who hasn’t been creatively significant for four decades. It is this point which is less clear-cut and perhaps requires more nuance.

Few, if any, dispute that Snider and his erstwhile bandmates made their career and reputation on phenomenal live performances; from clubs in New York State in the late 70s as an unsigned band, to arena runs in the 80s and several post-millennium comebacks (a triumphant support slot with Alice Cooper two decades ago was particularly memorable), they never disappointed live.

Conversely, their recorded output was a mixed bag; three great albums, culminating in the multi-platinum commercial peak of 1984’s Stay Hungry, but disappointingly followed by a mediocre fourth (despite a good Alice Cooper collaboration) and a fifth and final effort so poor, even the band disowned it. Their refusal to even attempt a new album in the multiple reunion eras only compounded the issue and saw them dine out solely on live nostalgia trips.

Looking back, it’s impossible to say whether a new album in the late 90s or 2000s would have elevated them beyond the comfort zone of the 80s nostalgia circuit, but while it’s technically accurate of Osbourne to say Snider hasn’t enjoyed a multi-platinum hit in 40+ years, there were a few projects which deserved better and were arguably buried in the zeitgeist of their time. Desperado is one such project.

Assembling a lineup featuring ex-Gillan guitarist Bernie Tormé and ex-Iron Maiden drummer Clive Burr, this project saw a more direct, less theatrical heavy metal approach than Twisted Sister. The Western-themed titles like Hang ’em High are evocative of what Bon Jovi could have sounded like, with a more metallic approach to their cowboy themes.

What is equally clear from this album, though, is what a loss Clive Burr was to the heavy metal scene; while many of us see Nicko’s arrival as the final piece in the Maiden jigsaw that took them to their full potential, Burr’s playing on their first three albums was phenomenal, albeit more direct and groove-oriented than McBrain’s jazz-inspired flair. That Burr never went on to much greater things after Number Of The Beast is a tragic tale in itself.

Ultimately, Desperado was a short-lived experiment quickly forgotten due to record company politics and the time in which it was conceived; had it been released in 1987, or even 1989, this could and should have done big business – and potentially launched a new career for both Snider and Burr, while giving Bernie a big platform to shine into the next decade.

History may have decreed this a long-forgotten ‘what if’ moment in rock history, but in the age of the internet it deserves a new lease of life – and maybe, just maybe, gives credence to the idea Snider deserves more than the 80s relic tag he’s been lumped with. 8/10.

Gary Claydon: An enjoyable chunk of western-hued hard rock that first saw light of day as an easily available bootleg. Thanks to some record company shenanigans, the album wasn’t officially released until long after the project bit the dust. That release wasn’t much different to the bootleg version, and if ever there was an album ripe for a remaster and re-release, this is it.

Some clichéd song titles and the occasionally cheesy lyrics aside, Snider does some fine work and the rhythm section is solid, but it’s Bernie Tormé who is the star turn. Shooting from the hip with his fuzzbomb guitar, Tormé rarely allows the energy levels to dip.

Had this been released in the early 80s, it would have gone down a storm. Unfortunately, due to the aforementioned label neglect plus the changing landscape of 80s rock, it was criminally ignored.

Chris Elliott: Probably one of the few records that makes you pine for a Twisted Christmas. I have the bootleg – it’s not improved since. Think meat and potatoes – but the meat’s grey and the potatoes are lumpy.

Adam McCann: Great album, arguably released at the wrong time. Same goes for Widowmaker. It’s a cult album with solid alumni, which sorely need a proper reissue so that it can finally be recognised 30 years on.

Brian Carr: Dee certainly fits the moniker “big, dumb rock,” but I think his voice is strong and quite underrated. The lyrics here are fairly cliched, but of a theme. If anything, I have yet another example of the need to dive into Bernie Tormé’s varied projects because I’ve been impressed every time.

Andrew Cumming: Well, what a treat this is! The late 80s was a good time for supergroups – Damn Yankees, Mr Big. Even Dave Lee Roth and David Coverdale were stacking their bands full of A-list musicians. And apparently Dee Snider jumped on this bandwagon too – with Bernie Tormé (Gillan and Ozzy) and Clive Burr (Iron Maiden).

It’s an unlikely combination and one that went largely unknown as the record label pulled this album just weeks from its proposed release in 1990. It’s a shame because in 1990 this would have gone down a storm.

Snider has always been one of rock’s great characters and also has one of rock’s great voices. Sadly, that voice has not really had the discography it deserves, given Twisted Sister’s fairly limited output and tendency for crowd-pleasing anthems. So to hear that voice given a much broader and more consistent range of hard rock songs is a real strength of this album.

Tormé’s guitar playing is excellent too. Overall, it’s a decent set of songs and a decent album. Apparently the problem in 1990 was the record company trying to take revenge on one of their execs who’d just left to join the competition. What a shame that such short-sighted behaviour meant this didn’t get the recognition it deserved. Good album. Deserves to be better known.

Mike Canoe: Faux-Wild West hooha nonetheless played with class and conviction by three hard rock veterans (and a bassist I’ve never heard of). If Bon Jovi could be Wanted: Dead or Alive or go out in a Blaze of Glory, why shouldn’t Dee Snider and company nick their song titles from a spinner rack of dime store Westerns and play at being, well, desperadoes?

I always enjoy Dee Snider’s big, booming voice, but guitarist Bernie Tormé is the real revelation here. I remember liking Tormé’s playing when we reviewed Gillan’s Future Shock, but here he throws in all the squiggles and squeals that late 80s hard rock demanded.

The formula works for a little over half of the album, but then the cliches start piling up and getting stale. I have to admit that I was relieved that this version was three songs shorter than the original release. Favourites are front-loaded with Gone Bad, The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter, and capping out with See You at Sunrise. Nothing original here, but it’s a cowboy shoot ’em up that’s fun in parts.

Greg Schwepe: Ever since I’ve been part of this album review club, instead of an objective, well-thought-out review some week (but are mine ever that?), I’ve wanted to just write a snarky, sarcastic review devoid of any reasoning. Just a pure rant on something I didn’t like. And when I saw this week’s selection of the Dee Snider-led band Desperado and their release Ace, I thought I had my chance. “This might be the week. What the heck album is this?!”

But then something happened; this album really surprised me. I liked it. Ace was a true example of “don’t judge a book by its cover” syndrome. And that’s why you listen to the album. I never cared for or “got” Twisted Sister. But I’ve always liked Dee Snider and his sense of humour. He was a regular on a show here in the U.S. where musicians offered their insights on various music topics each week and was always a hoot to listen to.

First off, you wonder what record company exec would have green-lit something like this in the first place. Would have liked to be a fly on the wall at that pitch meeting; Hopeful A&R guy: “It’s a supergroup with the guy who was at the PMRC hearings, but without the make-up, and…” Wary record exec: “Geeesh, do we not have any new music ideas? Approved… just get outta here and don’t make me regret this.”

But my gosh, the entire 54-minute (a tad long!) album rocked from start to finish and kept me engaged the whole time. Dug the vocals. Really dug the guitar. There was no “this blows, skip to next track, and to next track…”

And was there kind of a Western theme running through this? I mean, this is way better than some off-the-wall stuff we’ve reviewed before. Maybe there is something about getting a band together where members had success with their previous band. Now, this will be a “one and done” event for me, but my favourite tracks were There’s No Angels Here, Run Wild Run Free (The Maverick) and Son Of A Gun.

7 out of 10 on this one for me on an album I was wanting to dislike. Will have to save my totally snarky review for another time.

Adam Ranger: Ok, fully admit to not wanting to like this album and expecting Twisted Sister-style bombast. But, as I should have known, with Clive Burr on Drums and Bernie Tormé on guitar, this is not half bad. And it shows that Snider is a decent rock singer, showing there’s more to his range than typical Twisted Sister stuff.

At times bluesy, often rocky and often melodic. This is a great rock album. Nothing unique or original perhaps, but sounds good. Tormé’s playing especially. Not essential listening, but one that I wouldn’t skip if it came on somewhere. A fun listen. Pleasantly surprised.

Philip Qvist: Of course I have heard of Dee Snider and Twisted Sister, not to mention their goofy videos for songs such as I Wanna Rock. Then there was that moment in time when he ran rings around Tipper Gore and co after they had appointed themselves moral guardians of the music industry. However, the one thing that I didn’t know about him was that he was part of a supergroup named Desperado, so this week’s album choice is definitely new territory for me.

And the verdict is simple: it’s a lot of fun without setting new boundaries, which is just fine with me. Bernie Tormé’s guitar playing, not to mention songwriting, is the real highlight of Ace (or Bloodied, But Unbowed, the original title of Desperado’s debut), while there is no mistaking Dee’s voice or lyrics.

Clive Burr and Marc Russell provide a solid background to a record that did not deserve to fall into the obscure category. As they say in the classics, timing is everything, and the timing here sucked big time.

Hang ‘Em High, The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter, See You At Sunrise (complete with a scorching guitar solo to end the song), Ride Thru The Storm and Made For Trouble were my picks, but in truth there wasn’t much filler here. I wasn’t expecting much from Ace, but I was rather pleasantly surprised with what I heard. It’s not essential, but it is definitely worth a few spins. At least a 7 from me.

Nigel Mawdsley: Well, this was a pleasant surprise from a ‘supergroup’ I paid no attention to until now! What a great album, and I love the punchy production and musicianship throughout. In places it sounds like a heavy metal Bon Jovi on steroids!

Okay, it’s derivative of many bands and artists: Whitesnake grooves on songs like Made For Trouble and Son Of A Gun; the Angus Young-style lead break on No Angels Here, and the final track, Emaheeval is a cross between early 80s Gillan and Twisted Sister! All great stuff!

Other influences filtering through are Dokken, Stryper and Sammy Hagar.

I guess that the only (extremely) minor criticism of Desparado is, as stated, that they are derivative of so many bands without forging an identity for themselves. If I heard any of these tracks on the radio, I’d be thinking ‘that sounds like (insert band name), but it isn’t’.

I’m bordering between 8 or 9 out of 10, but this album will definitely get more plays.

Evan Sanders: This is a pleasant surprise of an album. Dee Snider showed that he could move beyond the cartoonish anthems of Twisted Sister, and it’s actually a set of viable songs from a supergroup. I liked the cowboy opener of Hang ‘Em High, followed by Gone Bad, and soon followed by the power ballad The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter, even with cheesy lyrics.

I will never say that this album belongs on a Top 10 list, but I will also never say that it was a failed attempt. I actually found myself feeling sorry for Dee Snider when I read the account of how the album was pulled just prior to release, apparently due to record company bureaucracy. These songs deserve a continued place among 1980s hard rock deep cuts. 6 or 7 out of 10.

Brian Hart: I wasn’t sure what to expect when I saw Dee Snider’s band Desperado was the featured album this week. Dee Snider is a fine singer and Twisted Sister’s Stay Hungry is a good album. I always loved their song You Can’t Stop Rock n Roll as well. However, the follow-up, Love Is For Suckers, sealed the band’s fate, and they were an afterthought from then on.

As I got older, I thought of Twisted Sister as nothing more than a joke. I remember Dee forming Desperado and then Widowmaker, but I never gave them the time of day. So when Ace was suggested, I went in as a sceptic. After listening to it twice, I’ve come to really like this album.

Ace starts off with Hang ‘Em High and Gone Bad. Both are good songs, but I wasn’t quite sold yet. Run Wild Run Free is where the album starts to hit its stride. Followed by The Heart is a Lonely Hunter. Is it me or does that have hints of Whitesnake running through it? Great song.

Calling For You slows it down a bit but still a really good song. See You At Sunrise is another gem with a killer guitar outro solo by Bernie Tormé. There’s No Angels Here and Made for Trouble round out the run of great songs. The album slows a little with Ride Thru The Storm and Son Of A Gun – they’re not bad songs, just the weakest on this album. The album finishes with the high-energy Emaheeval. It’s a fun way to end this surprisingly good album.

I learned a few things from listening to Desperado’s Ace. 1) Dee Snider is a really good singer. He really brings it on The Heart is a Lonely Hunter. 2) Bernie Tormé is an absolute monster of a guitar player! He shines throughout the album. The closing solo on See You At Sunrise is incredible. Lastly, listening to this album gave me a whole new respect for Dee Snider. His singing is excellent on this album, and now I’m going to check out Widowmaker. This is an album that definitely deserved more recognition when it came out. I give this album a solid 8/10.

John Davidson: Wow. I had no idea this existed before this week and low expectations before I actually listened to it.

But it’s a solid Western-themed rock album. Given it was delivered by two Londoners, a Dubliner and a New Yorker, it’s no surprise it sounds more like the soundtrack to a Louis L’amour novel than a serious attempt to capture the time.

It is, however, a great deal of fun. Snider does a great job on the vocals while Tormé rips up the riffs and solos. Burr and Russell provide more than just a solid rhythm section, adding fills and flourishes that round out the sound without overwhelming the song.

Plucked out of time, this is a great set of songs, and if it had been written in 1981 it would probably have been a hit, but 15 years later it disappeared with hardly a trace. Shame. It deserves to be heard.

Final score: 6.73 (38 votes cast, total score 256)

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