American glam metal band formed in Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey in 1972. Long-running classic lineup: Dee Snider (vocals, b. 1955), Jay Jay French (guitar, b. 1952), Eddie Ojeda (guitar), Mark Mendoza (bass), and A.J. Pero (drums, 1959-2015). Distinguished by their over-the-top glam-metal visual aesthetic and Snider's outspoken role during the 1985 PMRC senate hearings on music censorship.
Released seven studio albums between Under the Blade (1982) and A Twisted Christmas (2006). Commercial peak: Stay Hungry (1984, 3x platinum, featuring "We're Not Gonna Take It" and "I Wanna Rock"). The band reunited 2003-2016 and has been on permanent hiatus since A.J. Pero's 2015 death.
