Twisted Sister

Twisted Sister is an American heavy metal band from Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey, formed in 1972 and later based on Long Island, New York. The group is active from 1972 to the present and is associated with glam, glam metal, glam rock, hard rock, heavy metal and metal. Its core line-up from 1982 consists of Jay Jay French on guitars, Eddie Ojeda on guitars, Dee Snider on lead vocals, Mark Mendoza on bass and A. J. Pero on drums. Other members and collaborators across the band’s history include Toni Petri, Richie Teeter, Walt Woodward III and Joe Franco.

Style and early years

The band develops from an earlier group called Silver Star and goes through repeated line-up changes before settling into its best-known formation. In its early years, Twisted Sister plays heavily on the New York club circuit, performing frequently and building a reputation for theatrical live shows and audience participation. Its image is marked by glam-influenced visual presentation, including elaborate hair, make-up and androgynous clothing, and it becomes closely associated with 1980s hard rock and hair metal.

Recordings and commercial peak

Twisted Sister’s first studio release is the EP Ruff Cutts in 1982, followed by Under the Blade later that year. That album gains underground attention, especially in the United Kingdom, and helps the band secure a deal with Atlantic Records. You Can’t Stop Rock ’n’ Roll follows in 1983 and includes “I Am (I’m Me)”. The band’s third album, Stay Hungry, appears in 1984 and becomes its biggest commercial success, driven by “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and “I Wanna Rock”. Those songs become the group’s best-known tracks and are strongly linked with humorous music videos broadcast on MTV.

The follow-up albums Come Out and Play and Love Is for Suckers do not match that level of success. Come Out and Play includes guest appearances, reaches gold certification and contains “Be Chrool to Your Scuel”, although its promotional run is limited by restricted video airplay. Love Is for Suckers appears under Atlantic Records in 1987 and is notable for its more pop-oriented production, use of session musicians and Dee Snider’s central role in the recording. The band also drops its make-up during this period.

Break-up, controversy and reunion work

Twisted Sister disbands in 1988 after Snider leaves the group. Around this time, the band’s image and videos attract criticism from the Parents Music Resource Center during U.S. Senate hearings in 1985, where Snider testifies alongside other musicians in debates about music censorship. The group also appears in Pee-wee’s Big Adventure in 1985.

After the split, the members pursue separate projects. Snider forms Desperado and Widowmaker and works in film, including Strangeland. Ojeda joins projects including Scarecrow and Prisoners of War. French works in management and production, including involvement with Sevendust. Mendoza works in production and management and briefly joins Blackfoot. Pero and Franco also take part in various musical collaborations.

The band later returns for recordings and performances. Big Hits and Nasty Cuts appears in 1992, followed by the live album Live at Hammersmith in 1994. Twisted Sister reunites in 1998 to record “Heroes Are Hard to Find” for the soundtrack of Strangeland. In 1999, earlier material is reissued alongside the compilations Club Daze Volume 1: The Studio Sessions and Club Daze Volume 2: Live in the Bars. The tribute collection Twisted Forever: A Tribute to the Legendary Twisted Sister follows in 2001, and the band also performs at a benefit concert for victims of the September 11 attacks that year. Essentials is released in 2002.

Later releases and performances

Twisted Sister continues to perform at festivals and events through the 2000s and early 2010s, including appearances at Sweden Rock Festival and Wacken Open Air. In 2003, Snider and Franco work on Van Helsing’s Curse and release Oculus Infernum. The band re-records Stay Hungry as Still Hungry in 2004, adding bonus tracks, and issues Live at Wacken in 2005. A Twisted Christmas follows in 2006 and includes “O Come, All Ye Faithful” arranged in the style of “We’re Not Gonna Take It”. That year the group is inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame.

Later, “I Wanna Rock” appears in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s. A. J. Pero dies in 2015, and Twisted Sister announces the farewell tour “Forty and Fuck It” in 2016, with Mike Portnoy on drums. The group’s final performance of that period takes place in Monterrey in November 2016. In 2023, Twisted Sister reunites for an induction into the Metal Hall of Fame with guest musicians. Mark Mendoza, who is listed among the band’s members, does not take part in the planned 2025 reunion tour, and Sebastian Bach is later announced as vocalist.