The one rule everyone agreed on was “no spandex.” After all, the members of Twisted Sister are a bit wiser ? and wider ? than they were in their heyday some two decades ago.
“We are not going anywhere near that spandex. Believe me, we all agreed that is not happening,” Twisted Sister founder Jay Jay French said as he rode in a taxi through the streets of Toronto on his way to a last-minute television appearance arranged after the previous night?s concert.
The newfound popularity of the band is quite disconcerting to French and his bandmates, who went on to other ventures when they bade their final farewell to fans in 1988.
“On the weekends I?m a rock star,” said French, who founded French Management, which represents many musicians. “On Monday, I?m asking my clients. ?Can I get you coffee?? It?s just weird. The artists have a sense of humor about it all.”
Despite continued popularity of their rock anthems, including “We?re Not Gonna Take It,” and “I Wanna Rock,” both French and lead singer/songwriter Dee Snider professed no interest in playing as part of Twisted Sister. The members did occasionally work together on various projects and played small gigs, sans makeup and costumes, as The Bent Brothers.
At one point, Snider commented to his bandmates that the chorus of the band?s biggest hit, “We?re Not Gonna Take It,” has the same notes as “O Come All Ye Faithful.” So the band put together a 12-song disc, “A Twisted Christmas,” which also featured “Silver Bells” and other holiday standards. He suggested a novelty album as a final farewell to Twisted Sister.
What a surprise ? especially to Snider, who?s philosophical about the album ? that some critics now hail it as the best rock Christmas album ever.
“We never play things nice and easy; we play them twisted,” says Snider of and on the album.
But industry insiders, including Mike Carden, president of North American operations for Eagle Rock Entertainment, have commented on the band?s good fortune in choosing a theme and release time that reignited the band?s popularity.
French isn?t so sure he agrees.
“This whole thing is a complete letdown for me,” French said. “I?m now a middle-aged transvestite.”
IF YOU GO
Twisted Sister with Baptized by Fire and Scarlet Angel
» Venue: Rams Head Live
» Time: 8 p.m. Thursday
» Tickets: $31. www.ramsheadlive.com; 410-244-1131
