Twisted Sister, a product of New York City’s early ’70s glam rock scene, was heavily influenced by the New York Dolls, Kiss’s theatrics, Slade’s pop acumen, and the shock rock of Alice Cooper. The band’s core lineup included guitarists Jay Jay French and Eddie ‘Fingers’ Ojeda, vocalist Dee Snider, bassist Mark ‘The Animal’ Mendoza, and drummer A.J. Pero. After releasing two critically acclaimed albums, Twisted Sister achieved mainstream success in 1984 with their multi-platinum album ‘Stay Hungry,’ driven by hits like ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It’ and ‘I Wanna Rock.’ Despite disbanding in 1988 and reuniting in the early 2000s, the band faced challenges, including the passing of A.J. Pero in 2015, leading to their final show in 2016.
Founded in 1972 by guitarist John Segal, known as Jay Jay French, Twisted Sister drew inspiration from the New York Dolls and gradually solidified their lineup with members like Dee Snider, Kenneth Harrison Neil, and A.J. Pero. With Snider’s arrival in 1976, the band found its leader and primary songwriter, infusing their glam-forward sound with an Alice Cooper influence. Their breakthrough album, ‘Stay Hungry,’ released in 1984, propelled Twisted Sister to stardom with platinum certifications in multiple countries and iconic singles like ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It’ and ‘I Wanna Rock.’ Despite challenges and lineup changes, Twisted Sister left a lasting impact on the pop/hair metal scene and music industry.