Twisted Sister

Twisted Sister

Group from United States

Genres: hard rock, heavy metal, hair metal, 80s, rock

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About Twisted Sister

Twisted Sister is an American heavy metal band formed in 1972 in Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey, and later based on Long Island, New York. The band’s best-known songs include “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and “I Wanna Rock”, which became widely associated with humorous music videos. The group has also been associated with glam-influenced visual presentation, including elaborate hairstyles, make-up, and androgynous clothing, and has often been discussed in relation to the 1980s hard rock and hair metal scenes. Twisted Sister evolved from a band called Silver Star and went through numerous lineup changes before establishing a stable formation in 1982 consisting of Jay Jay French (guitars), Eddie “Fingers” Ojeda (guitars), Dee Snider (lead vocals), Mark “The Animal” Mendoza (bass), and A. J. Pero (drums). This lineup recorded the band’s first four studio albums. Their debut EP “Ruff Cutts” (1982) was followed by the album “Under the Blade” (1982), which gained underground attention, particularly in the United Kingdom. Their second album, “You Can’t Stop Rock ’n’ Roll” (1983), continued to build their audience and included the single “I Am (I’m Me)”. Their third album, “Stay Hungry” (1984), brought mainstream success and became their most commercially successful release, largely driven by the singles “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and “I Wanna Rock”. The band’s subsequent albums, “Come Out and Play” (1985) and “Love Is for Suckers” (1987), did not achieve comparable commercial success. The group disbanded in 1988. Before achieving stability, the band underwent multiple early iterations between 1972 and 1982, with frequent personnel changes and shifts in musical direction. In its early years, the band played extensively in the club circuit in the New York area, performing numerous shows per week and developing a reputation for theatrical live performances and audience participation. During this period, the group also developed a fan base that used the acronym S.M.F. (Sick Mother Fuckers), reflecting the band’s self-styled identity. After the release of “Under the Blade”, Twisted Sister signed with Atlantic Records following interest generated by live performances and television appearances. “You Can’t Stop Rock ’n’ Roll” was produced by Stuart Epps and supported by early music videos that contributed to the band’s growing visibility. “Stay Hungry” was produced by Tom Werman and became the band’s breakthrough album, selling millions of copies internationally. Its music videos, frequently broadcast on MTV, contributed significantly to the band’s mainstream recognition. The band also made a cameo appearance in the film “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure” (1985). Twisted Sister’s public image and video content were the subject of controversy in the mid-1980s, including criticism from the Parents Music Resource Center during U.S. Senate hearings in 1985, where Dee Snider testified alongside other musicians. The band’s lyrical themes and visual style were discussed in the context of debates over music censorship. The album “Come Out and Play” included guest appearances from several musicians and achieved moderate commercial success, earning a gold certification, but was less successful than “Stay Hungry”. The album’s promotional cycle was affected by limited video airplay for “Be Chrool to Your Scuel”. A remixed version of “Under the Blade” was also reissued during this period. Drummer A. J. Pero left the band after the tour and was replaced by Joey “Seven” Franco. The album “Love Is for Suckers” was released in 1987 under Atlantic Records. Although presented as a Twisted Sister album, most of its recording was performed by session musicians and Dee Snider, and it featured a more pop-oriented production style. The band’s use of make-up was also discontinued during this period. The band disbanded shortly after Snider left in 1987, with the breakup becoming public in early 1988. Following the breakup, members pursued various projects. Dee Snider formed Desperado and Widowmaker and was involved in film work including “Strangeland” (1998). Eddie Ojeda joined several projects including Scarecrow and Prisoners of War. Jay Jay French worked in management and production, including involvement with the band Sevendust. Mark Mendoza worked in production and management and briefly joined Blackfoot. A. J. Pero and Joey Franco were involved in various musical collaborations during this period. In 1992, the compilation “Big Hits and Nasty Cuts” was released, and in 1994 a live album titled “Live at Hammersmith” appeared. The band reunited in 1998 to record “Heroes Are Hard to Find” for the soundtrack of “Strangeland”. In 1999, reissues of earlier material were released, along with the compilations “Club Daze Volume 1: The Studio Sessions” and “Club Daze Volume 2: Live in the Bars”. In 2001, the tribute album “Twisted Forever: A Tribute to the Legendary Twisted Sister” was released, featuring contributions from multiple artists. That same year, the band performed at a benefit concert for victims of the September 11 attacks, which led to renewed interest in live performances. In 2002, the compilation “Essentials” was released. The song “I Wanna Rock” was included in the video game “Grand Theft Auto: Vice City” (2002). In 2003, Snider and Franco worked on the project Van Helsing’s Curse, releasing “Oculus Infernum”. The band reunited for performances at the Sweden Rock Festival and Wacken Open Air in 2003. In 2004, they re-recorded “Stay Hungry” and released it as “Still Hungry”, including additional bonus tracks. In 2005, they released “Live at Wacken”. In 2006, they released the Christmas-themed album “A Twisted Christmas”, which included a version of “O Come, All Ye Faithful” arranged in the style of “We’re Not Gonna Take It”. That year they also performed internationally and were inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame. In subsequent years, Twisted Sister continued to perform at festivals and events, including appearances in 2007, 2008, 2009, and the early 2010s. “I Wanna Rock” was included in “Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s” using the version from “Still Hungry”. The band continued touring under anniversary-themed events, including a 30th anniversary “Stay Hungry” tour and appearances at European festivals. A. J. Pero died in 2015, and the band subsequently announced a farewell tour titled “Forty and Fuck It” in 2016. Mike Portnoy performed as drummer for this tour. The band’s final performance of this period took place in November 2016 in Monterrey. In 2023, Twisted Sister reunited for an induction into the Metal Hall of Fame, performing a short set with guest musicians. In 2025, the band announced a 50th anniversary reunion tour titled “Twisted Forever, Forever Twisted”, but bassist Mark Mendoza did not participate due to reported disagreements. The planned tour was later cancelled in 2026 following Dee Snider’s departure due to health-related issues. Shortly thereafter, it was announced that the band would continue with former Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach as vocalist. Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twisted_Sister Studio albums Under the Blade (1982) You Can't Stop Rock 'n' Roll (1983) Stay Hungry (1984) Come Out and Play (1985) Love Is for Suckers (1987) Still Hungry (2004) A Twisted Christmas (2006)

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