This is a project aimed at making it easy to see who inspired the bands you love or even hate. For this I try not to use any influences that the band don’t claim themselves. There will be a focus on predecessors but successors will be added as they site the band. These trees become more and more interactive as new bands are added, allowing you to click any band that has a tree and jump to it.

We want our lists to be better. If you know something that belongs on this list, let us know. When in doubt we will leave it out, so we need reliable sources.

Twisted Sister despite their looks were has heavy metal as any. They predate the glam metal bands that followed in the later 80’s. In fact they originate from the early 70’s with guitarist Jay Jay French being the only original member. The core line up of the band would trickle in with guitarist Eddie "Fingers" Ojeda, singer Dee Snider, bassist Mark "The Animal" Mendoza, and lastly A. J. Pero. With the exception of one album that Pero didn’t play on, all studio albums maintained that line up. Writing credits however are consistently Dee Snider as the sole writer. With that being the case, this family tree will be focusing on the influences named by him.

Paul Revere and the Raiders started as an instrumental rock band in the early 60’s before following the the pop/rock format of the British invasion. Dee named them as an early influence.

The Rolling Stones were the grittier sounding alternative the more poppy Beatles. Dee named them as an early influence.

The Monkees were a pop rock band put to gather for TV. Dee named them as an early influence.

Grand Funk Railroad were an influential American hard rock band. Dee named them as an influence.

Led Zeppelin are one of the biggest and most influential bands. Dee named them as an influence.

Alice Cooper is one of the original shock rockers. Dee named him as his biggest influence.

Slade were a hard glam rock band. Dee named them as an influence.

Black Sabbath are the fathers of metal. Dee named them as an influence.

Judas Priest are one of the most quintessential heavy metal bands. Dee named them as an influence.

AC/DC are no doubt the quintessential hard rock band. Dee named them as an influence.

Dee sung in the church choir till he was 19.

According to Dee, the earlier line ups come from a more glam rock root with influences from David Bowie. The more heavy metal influence was brought to the band by him.

Bands influenced by Twisted Sister!

As this project advances, bands will be added here… there are many!

Sources:

https://www.goldminemag.com/articles/10-questions-with-dee-snider
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkSf1LjQauo
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/twisted-sisters-dee-snider-on-the-connection-between-rock-and-politics