For The Metal Voice, Neil Turbin spoke to Twisted Sister bassist Mark ‘the animal’ Mendoza at The Metal Hall of Fame, which happened on Jan 26, 2023 at The Canyon Club in Agoura Hills.
When asked about this reunion of Twisted Sister Mark Mendoza said, “No we got inducted to the Heavy Metal Hall of Fame and we made an appearance here and played three songs.” Mendoza asked about the bands hiatus he said,” When was the hiatus? We got back together again of course we played New York Steel in 2001 for 9 11. In 2003 the offers were so good that we got back together. We didn’t tour so much but we did one offs, the big festivals all around the world and we did it for uh what about 14 years 15 years. And uh everybody decided they want to do other things and so we never broke up we just stopped playing.”
Canada’s The Metal Voice recently spoke to Twisted Sister Guitarist Jay Jay French. In the interview Jay Jay French was asked about why Mike Portnoy and Steve Vai were chosen to induct Twisted Sister at the Metal Hall of fame gala 2023. Plus how Mike Portnoy ended up filling in on drums after A.J. Pero died.
French said, “Mike Portnoy and Steve Vai are going to induct us (Metal Hall of Fame) and the reason why they are going to induct us is, they used to sneak in and see Twisted Sister when they were 15 years old in the bars in Long Island. This is Steve Vai and Mike Portnoy, two of the greatest rock musicians on the planet.”
He continued, “Now when A.J. died, for those of you who don’t know, A.J. was in a band called The Adrenaline Mob and that was his side gig when Twisted wasn’t on the road. He was on the road with Adrenaline Mob and he died in the tour bus of Adrenaline Mob in a parking lot in Poughkeepsie, New York, he had a heart attack. A.J. also replaced Mike Portnoy who was in Adrenaline Mob. So A.J. dies and the day after there was a memorial show in New Jersey. Adrenaline put on the show and I went because they asked me to appear on behalf of Twisted Sister and play a song with Adrenaline Mob. And I’m sitting there and Mike Portnoy was there and Mike Portnoy and I were in the dressing we’d never met officially and we’re both crying because A.J. just died 24 hours before. We’re both like crying you know but anyway um Mike looked at me and says man uh what are you guys gonna do because we had a tour lined up and I went I don’t know ? I don’t know if we haven’t even discussed it. He said well look I’m not touring this summer and if you need a drummer call me I’m available. So we attended A.J.’s wake a couple of days later and we’re all sitting around his father-in-law’s house in Staten Island discussing the future of the band and I went you to know Mike Portnoy offered his services should we decide to continue. Now at that point the whole European Festival tour was set up that summer so we all these promoters are now calling to find out because we’re headlining 15 festivals and we’re telling them give us some time because we can’t process this is too traumatic. We were so Blown Away by Mike’s offer and we thought about it and said you know what oh we’ll take you up on it. “
The Metal Hall Of Fame is a non-profit organization that enshrines forever those iconic musicians, artists, music industry executives who are responsible for making hard rock and heavy metal music what it is today. Their contribution to the genre is invaluable, and they keep inspiring fans throughout the world, from generation to generation.
A special Rocavaka meet-and-greet with Snider, Rocavaka’s brand ambassador, will take place after the induction ceremony where limited-edition Snider numbered Rocavaka bottles will be made available for purchase and signing.
ROCAVAKA – The Vaka Thats Rocks! is proud to present: The 6th Annual Metal Hall of Fame Charity Gala, where Rock Legends TWISTED SISTER will be Inducted into the 2023 Metal Hall of Fame. The event will take place January 26, 2023, at the Canyon Club, Agoura Hills, CA.
The classic Twisted Sister lineup of Dee Snider, Jay Jay French, Eddie Ojeda, Mark Mendoza, and late drummer, A.J Pero, will be Inducted into the 2023 Metal Hall of Fame. at the Annual Metal Hall of Fame Charity Gala “The Most Important Night in Hard Rock and Heavy Metal.”
Together, these musicians recorded Twisted Sister’s first four albums. Their first two albums “Under the Blade,” and “You Can’t Stop Rock ‘n’ Roll,” developed huge underground popularity for the band. This led Twisted Sister to achieve mainstream success with their third album “Stay Hungry” and the hit single “We’re Not Gonna Take It”. Over the last 30 years, both We’re Not Gonna take It, along with Twisted Sister’s other classic anthem, “I Wanna Rock” are not only consider to be two of the most influential videos in the history of Heavy Metal / MTV, but these two anthems are also the most licensed anthems in the history of heavy metal! After a 12 year hiatus, Twisted Sister returned to support a major fundraiser for 9/11 Police and Fireman which led to an extraordinary resurgence on the European festival circuit. In 2006, Twisted Sister had an unexpected international hit on their release of “A Twisted Christmas”, which continues to sell every holiday season.
“The 2023 Metal Hall of Fame Charity Gala is going to be an amazing event as always,” says Metal Hall of Fame President/CEO Pat Gesualdo. “There will be numerous Legendary Hard Rock and Heavy Metal artist Inductions, and many exciting surprises and performances!!”
“Twisted Sister is honored to be recognized by the Metal Hall of Fame and have our names alongside many of our peers,” says Jay Jay French.
*** A special Rocavaka Meet & Greet with DEE SNIDER, Rocavaka’s brand ambassador, will take place after the Induction Ceremony where limited edition Dee Snider numbered Rocavaka bottles will be made available for purchase and signing.
Additional Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Icon Inductees, performances, All-Star jams, and other surprises for the 2023 Metal Hall of Fame Charity Gala will be announced over the next few weeks!!!
Proceeds from the Annual Metal Hall of Fame Charity Gala go to the non-profit organization D.A.D. (Drums and Disabilities). D.A.D. brings free music programs and therapy services to help special needs children and wounded veterans in various health facilities and community centers.
About The Metal Hall of Fame:
The Metal Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization that enshrines forever, those Iconic musicians, artists, music industry executives who are responsible for making Hard Rock and Heavy Metal music what it is today. Their contribution to the genre is invaluable, and they keep inspiring fans throughout the world, from generation to generation.
The Metal Hall of Fame Annual Celebrity Gala has included many historical hard rock and heavy metal moments. For example, our idea to join with Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne to have former Ozzy drummer Lee Kerslake accept his Platinum Record Awards for “Blizzard of Ozz” and “Diary of A Madman,” after 38 years.
Having Metallica Induct Megaforce Records founders Jon and Marsha Zazula. Inducting Judas Priest at Wacken Open Air. Inducting members of KISS, Iron Maiden, and Triumph among others for our 5 Year Anniversary Bash. Having Don Airey’s surprise Induction for Black Sabbath co-founding member Bill Ward, (especially after not seeing each other since recording Black Sabbath’s 1978 “Never Say Day” album). Inducting Anthrax at Heavy Montreal. Having Kathy and Kelle Rhoads Induct their brother Randy Rhoads. Having Slayer’s Kerri King’s surprise Induction for Brian Slagel and Metal Blade Record’s 35th Anniversary. Having Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Geoff Tate, Chris Poland, and Bjorn Englen perform in the most historic metal performance of all time. Having Paul Stanley Induct Doc McGhee. Having Brian May of Queen Induct Joe Satriani. These are just some of the Legendary memories that we are honored to have shared with Hard Rock and Heavy Metal fans throughout the world.
JAY JAY FRENCH, founder, guitarist and manager of the world-famous heavy metal institution Twisted Sister, has delivered a “Bizoir” – part memoir (and essential reading for any metal fan) and part business primer – in Twisted Business: Lessons from My Life in Rock ‘N’ Roll, an unexpected, whirlwind, hilarious, transformative story of French’s adventure-filled life.
Co-written with Steve Farber, bestselling author and one of the world’s top leadership and management experts, Twisted Business follows French’s life from growing up as John Segall on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in the ‘60s – using and selling drugs in Central Park West – to quitting cold-turkey after a near-fatal overdose, to creating and cultivating Twisted Sister, turning it into one of the most successful brands in the world.
I brought my life story into this mix as both entertainment and cautionary tale,” French says. “Along with my co-author Steve Farber, we seamlessly weave the story of Twisted Sister’s remarkable 50-year history (with many legendary never before told stories) into business lessons that are applicable to every profession and even to life in general. For the first time, the story of the rise, fall and triumphant return of Twisted Sister is spelled out in amazing and often surprising detail.”
French offers honest, funny, heartfelt, entertaining in-the-rock-band-trenches stories, as well as unique, hard-earned tips and advice to anyone hoping to create their own brand, re-invent themselves, grow a business or simply love what they do.
“It’s a blueprint on how to survive and succeed against some of the toughest odds in the business,” he says. “The T. W. I. S. T. E. D. method of reinvention (as outlined in the book) will help you turn roadblocks into pathways, chaos into stability and ultimately help you realize a greater quality of life both personally and professionally.”
Jay Jay French and Steve Farber
French started the internationally renowned Twisted Sister nearly 50 years ago and has amassed 37 gold and platinum albums as a musician, manager, producer and executive producer while having performed over 9,000 shows in 40 countries and selling 20 million records around the world. A charter member of the Long Island Music Hall of Fame and the costar of the critically acclaimed documentary We Are Twisted F*cking Sister, he is considered a leading expert on vintage guitars and high-end music equipment.
Though legions of fans know French as the yellow and black-clad guitarist for Twisted Sister, he also shines as a business leader who developed Twisted Sister into a global brand with multiple revenue streams and built it into one of the most licensed heavy metal bands in history. Host of the popular podcast The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music, French is also a columnist as well as a Keynote Motivational Speaker delivering presentations to global Fortune 500 companies as well as to nonprofits.
Twisted Business: Lessons from My Life in Rock ‘N’ Roll by Jay Jay French and Steve Farber is available now via RosettaBooks.
Jay Jay French will sign copies of Twisted Business: Lessons from My Life in Rock ‘N’ Roll this Saturday, October 2 at Barnes & Noble in Paramus, NJ.
TWISTED SISTER guitarist Jay Jay French will be joining on the live interview of The Metal Voice today, April 30 12pm EST, talking about Twisted Sister legacy and his new book ‘Twisted Business‘.
Join the chat today at 9am Pacific 12pm EST 5pm UK
Napalm Records are thrilled to announce that legendary TWISTED SISTER frontman DEE SNIDER has inked a deal with NAPALM RECORDS for his upcoming solo album! This opus is entitled “For the Love of Metal” and will deliver what its name promises: pure world class metal!
Dee Snider doesn’t need any introduction anymore, right? Influential hard rock legend, reality TV star, Broadway alumni, horror movie director, radio host and as you all know – he is a thoroughbred heavy metal enthusiast.
“For the Love of Metal” is produced by Hatebreed vocalist Jamey Jasta and features contributions from Howard Jones (ex-Killswitch Engage), Mark Morton (Lamb Of God), Alissa White-Gluz (Arch Enemy), Joel Grind and Nick Bellmore (Toxic Holocaust) and Charlie Bellmore (Kingdom Of Sorrow). So prepare for a unique masterpiece!
This brand new DEE SNIDER album will be out this summer.
DEE SNIDER on the signing: “I am beyond excited to be working with one of the world’s leading labels for heavy music, it’s a perfect home for this album! I believe there’s something for every hard rock and metal fan on this record and I cannot wait to unleash it on the world July 27th!”
Thomas Caser, Managing Director of NAPALM RECORDS comments: “We are absolutely delighted to announce this signing today. It’s an honor to work with such an iconic artist such as Dee who lives and breathes METAL! This album is nothing but pure metal and adrenaline!”
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 