Twisted Sister guitarist claims Stay Hungry producer Tom Werman wanted band to record four Saxon covers for the album

The Gauntlet recently spoke with Twisted Sister guitarist and founding member Jay Jay French about the bands recent release of the 25th Anniversary of Stay Hungry. When asked about songs that didn't make it on the album, Jay Jay stated "We lost two songs on the album because of all this. We lost "Blastin' Fast and Loud" and "Never Say Never" as concessions to Tom so that he'd stop bugging us to do covers of Saxon songs. He wanted us to do 4 or 5 Saxon covers. Tom would deny he ever said that but he did. Dee was insulted as he was a song writer. That created problems and no one got along."

The Gauntlet was a little shocked by this. It is well known and documented that Dee Snider and producer Tom Werman have been at odds over the years. Having never heard the accusations of Tom wanting the band to cover songs by Saxon, I called Tom Werman up and he was kind enough to take some time out of his busy schedule to comment on the Saxon issue among others. "I did bring them three or four songs from Saxon" stated Tom, "not wanting them to cover them, but just suggesting to them they listen to these songs because I loved them. That is my job. I didn't tell them that they were going to record them. Did they end up recording any, no. If I had the authority to pick songs as Dee [Snider] has said I did, why didn't I force it on them?" You can check out some of Tom's memoirs over at popdose.com.

You will be able to read the entire interview with Twisted Sister guitarist Jay Jay French tomorrow.


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Tags:  Twisted Sister, Jay Jay French, Saxon, Tom Werman, Stay Hungry

jason fisher    July 30, 2009