Dee, it’s great to talk to you again. This time we’re gonna talk about your new site, TakeBackTheHorns.com. I’ve noticed right off that it’s heavy on the sarcasm over there, with a little dash of history. What initially gave you the idea to do this site?

The article in the Onion that I mention on the site. They did a spoof editorial a few years ago which I have on the website. The over usage of the metal horns really is off the hook, ya know? When I did “Gone Country” down in Nashville – I really love John Rich and all – but seeing all these photos of him with the metal horns just wasn’t right, man. He said it was the “hook ‘em” horns. My ass! There’s no football team in sight and he had his tongue hanging out like Gene Simmons! That’s not the “hook ‘em” horns, OK? The one that pushed me over the edge – my daughter showed me a picture of Miley Cyrus at an awards ceremony in a gown throwing the horns. One night I was on stage in Vegas and started talking about it and I got a huge reaction from the audience. I didn’t have to wonder if I was the only person thinking that way any longer! People got so fired up. I decided to start the site. And, you’re right. It’s serious but really sarcastic. If you step away from it it’s kinda silly. It’s a very Twisted Sister kind of thing. At the same time, it’s true! What the fuck happened? We were demonized for being metalheads and now I open up AOL and they have an emoticon with the metal horns.

I know you just mentioned some very clear examples of how the horns are abused. Of all that you’ve seen, which one disgusts you the most?

There’s particular ones. I’m gonna be totally honest and totally fair. I have seen Miley Cyrus in concert because my daughter for a while was a Miley fan. I was impressed that she and the Jonas Brothers come from more of a rock background instead of the dance thing. They’ve got a rock band backing them. Same goes for John Rich. I see people working the line at the grocery store and when they successfully scan all the items they throw the horns. What the fuck is that? Or when someone successfully pulls a pair of 32 size jeans off the rack and they throw the horns. That’s the shit that disgusts me. If it’s vaguely music or party connected, I can maybe handle it. Check out the “Metal Or Not” section on TakeBackTheHorns.com. There’s some great stuff on there. It’s almost like throwin’ the horns is something you do when you can’t think of anything else to do with your hands!

They’re giving the horns a bad name! And you see it all over the place on MySpace and Facebook. People are throwing the horns that don’t have a clue what they represent!

That’s troubling as well. Maybe they do know that it’s metal. We were mocked and scorned for being metalheads in the 70s and 80s. I think there’s a degree of mocking. Some of those preps – you know they’re not metal fans. They’re making an evil face and throwing the horns and to some degree I think they’re mocking it.

Dee, I’m 33 years old. When I was younger my friends and I took a lot of shit because we listened to metal and we had long hair. To see those guys mocking it now is like slapping all of us in the face!

Especially in Kentucky or Tennessee! I certainly know there is a rock community down there but it’s never been like the heartbeat of the heavy metal community in the 80s. It wasn’t as intense as the Midwest or the East Coast or the West Coast. The horns are supposed to be a sign of solidarity. When you saw somebody walking down the street and you sensed they were a ‘banger, you shot ‘em the horns. They shot ‘em back and it was an instantaneous connection. Now it’s just completely confusing! I used to do this thing on stage when somebody would flip me off. I’d say “You’re giving me the fucking finger? That’s the Twisted Sister salute! Fuck you! Everybody give the Twisted Sister salute!” The entire audience would put their middle fingers in the air. You’d look around and the meaning was lost. That guy would look around and feel like an idiot.

It was nice to see that you’ve addressed the creation of the horns on TakeBackTheHorns.com. We’ve been hearing the Dio/Gene Simmons theories for years.

Oh God. Gene invented everything! As an original headbanger – I’m 54 years old – I was there for it’s birth. I helped destroy the Woodstock nation. As decades passed and the metal community adopted the horns, I thought it was a clear symbol of solidarity. I have the first KISS album. I know he’s a Spider-Man fan. He is throwing the web fingers. He is shooting webs from his hands! He said it in his earliest interviews. As a comic book fanboy as a kid, I loved the fact that there was a guy adopting the Spider-Man hand thing.

So Dee, tell us how we can all help take back the horns by using TakeBackTheHorns.com.

Actually, I’ve been contemplating making a ticket you could print out and issue to any violators! I just want to bring people’s attention to it and start talking about it and saying “What the fuck!” I have to thank the Onion for pointing it out to me.

Having users upload their own metal horns pics is awesome.

That’s the best part. The “Metal Or Not” section is killer. People are finding some awesome photos. There’s even one of Betty White throwin’ the horns! I’m not sure how to handle seeing Aaron Carter throwing the horns on Dancing With The Stars ‘cuz he was dancing to “We’re Not Gonna Take It.” I’m confused if he’s allowed or not. Voting on those pictures is awesome and you could spend hours reading the comments. The commentary about the pictures is very, very funny.

So here’s a situation: What if it’s an extremely hot chick throwing the horns. Do you give her the benefit of the doubt just because she’s hot or do you boot her out?

Absolutely, positively use it as leverage to get in. As a conversation starter – no way. Nothing supersedes the possibility of getting some ‘tang, OK? Be gentle. Ask if she knows what she’s throwing. One of the top rated shots on the site – besides Dio and the metal guys – is a shot of this amazing girl with a thong on. That’s been in the top since day one. She’s not in a band! She’s just a model throwing the horns in front of her ass! That’s metal!

The more I think about this – isn’t it all really Jon Bon Jovi’s fault anyways?

I blame everything on Bon Jovi. There are some definite issues – bitterness and jealousy – on my part. Whenever I can I blame shit on Bon Jovi. He’s not getting enough shit. And what I’m giving him is really affecting his career. It’s blowing him up! He’s playing stadiums now. You’ve got to feel sorry for him.

And I’ve got to ask about the sequel to Strangeland because I will be shot or beaten if I don’t bring it up.

Oh God. I feel like the boy the cried sequel! Strangeland:Disciple is moving forward extremely slowly. We were supposed to start filming this winter in Ohio. We are still moving in that direction but the details in putting this together is going slower than expected. It will probably turn into a spring shoot. It’s literally a phone conversation every week. To get into details – which are way too boring – I’ve got a $5 million budget. I had $1 million for the first movie. We’re shooting in Ohio where the passed some extensive tax incentives. This is the first movie to be shot with those incentives and it’s moving very slowly. There was no film commissioner so they had to hire the film commissioner. Then there was issues with the wording in the documents. We’re sort of paving the highway for other films coming to Ohio. My production company is going through the pains but it is headed towards production. Captain Howdy will ride again. Now that it’s becoming a reality I realize it’s going to be an intense, disturbing sequel. Remember – he was severely burned in the first movie. He survives. You’ll believe how he survives when you see it. Captain Howdy will be a monster. They’re taking tattooed flesh and moving it to burned places on his body that weren’t tattooed. The skin grafts make him look kinda like a quilt, just not as organized. I’m very excited to get to it.

Dee, I appreciate your time. Thanks again and we’ll all make a New Year’s resolution to TAKE BACK THE HORNS!

Thanks, Jesse. It’s always a pleasure!