LOS ANGELES (Twisted Sister/A. Schwarzenegger Websites) - Twisted Sister's rousing sing-along anthem "
We're Not Gonna Take It" from 1984's triple platinum 'Stay Hungry' album has been named the official song of actor Arnold Schwarzenegger's California gubernatorial campaign.
"It is a fabulous song, like a theme song for our campaign. People really connect to it," Schwarzenegger says.
Dee Snider, the lead vocalist of Twisted Sister, will perform "We're Not Gonna Take It" at a Schwarzenegger campaign rally scheduled the afternoon of Sunday, October 5, 2003, in Sacramento, CA. Details regarding the time and location of Snider's performance are being finalized.
Schwarzenegger is running as a Republican candidate in the recall election scheduled for Tuesday, October 7, 2003. He is looking to oust Democratic Gov. Gray Davis. "We're Not Gonna Take It" has been used to introduce Schwarzenegger at campaign appearances since August.
Snider, who wrote the song, is thrilled. Although the New York-based heavy metal band is apolitical, Snider for one has always been a fan of the hulking Austrian immigrant and his message of self-empowerment and his mega-success at pursuing the American dream.
"I was very inspired by Schwarzenegger. I've admired him since his bodybuilding days. He said he wanted to become the world's greatest bodybuilder, become a famous Hollywood actor, become a millionaire businessman and always planned on going into politics. He made these goals a reality," Snider says.
He certainly has. Schwarzenegger won 13 bodybuilding championship titles including Mr. Universe, Mr. Olympia and Mr. World. His status as an action-movie icon was sealed with the Terminator character in three films; he reportedly earned $30 million for reprising his Terminator role in this year's 'Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines,' making him the highest paid actor in history. In addition to the large sums of money he makes as a movie star, Schwarzenegger, who graduated with a business degree from the University of Wisconsin-Superior, makes millions more in business investments, particularly real estate. He also married newscaster Maria Shriver, niece of President John F. Kennedy, and they have four children.
Snider's admiration for Schwarzenegger extended to naming 'Stay Hungry' after Arnold's personal life philosophy and the 1976 movie of the same name. In 'Stay Hungry,' which also starred Jeff Bridges and Sally Field, Schwarzenegger portrayed a bodybuilder. It was one of his first serious film roles.
"He was such an inspiration for 'Stay Hungry' now things seem to have come full circle. We sent him a platinum album award for 'Stay Hungry' but he apparently never received it. But then I interviewed him a few years ago for my radio show and he didn't know that we dedicated the record to him, so this time we sent him a triple platinum 'Stay Hungry' award! He was promoting 'End of Days' when I did the interview but he calling from a satellite phone in the jungle in South America because he was filming 'Collateral Damage' at the time," Snider says.
"We're Not Gonna Take It" and 'Stay Hungry' were the biggest hit single and album, respectively, in Twisted Sister's career. Snider says "We're Not Gonna Take It" is now part of America's cultural fabric.
"It's become like a folk song. It's a traditional song now. It has a simple message that's applicable to everything from sports teams to politics. I even once heard about the song being used by people protesting the development of commercial property," he says.
The definitive lineup of Twisted Sister includes Snider, guitarist Jay Jay French, guitarist Eddie Ojeda, bass guitarist Mark "The Animal" Mendoza and drummer A.J. Pero, and they have reunited for several concerts this year. After selling more than 10 million records worldwide during a 15-year career Twisted Sister disbanded in 1987 and played one benefit show, without their trademark outrageous makeup and costumes, to raise funds for New York police officers and firefighters after September 11, 2001. They brought back the makeup and costumes for a USO tour of U.S. military bases in South Korea this past May and have also headlined major festivals in Europe and performed select dates at home in America.
More concerts are planned for this year, and the band would happily add a special performance in the "Golden State."
"If Arnold Schwarzenegger wins California's gubernatorial election, we'd play his inaugural ball in a hot second ... in tuxedoes, with or without makeup, whatever it takes to get invited!" Snider says.
