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Twisted Business

Lessons from My Life in Rock 'n Roll

By Jay Jay French
With Steve Farber
Published by RosettaBooks
Distributed by Simon & Schuster

About The Book

Jay Jay French—founder, guitarist, and manager of the world-famous heavy metal band Twisted Sister—delivers his “bizoir”: part memoir and part business primer.

In addition to founding Twisted Sister, a world-famous heavy metal band that has sold more than 20 million records worldwide, Jay Jay French is one of the top entrepreneurs in entertainment. After taking over as manager in the ‘70s, French developed Twisted Sister into the most heavily licensed heavy metal band in history, leading the group to perform more than 9,000 shows in forty countries.

Part business book, part memoir, Twisted Business is an unexpected, inspiring, whirlwind story of transformation and redemption. Twisted Business follows French’s adventure-filled life—from growing up in New York City in the sixties, to working as a drug dealer and struggling as an addict before quitting cold-turkey, and finally, to creating and cultivating Twisted Sister and turning it into one of the most successful brands in the world.

Together with his mentor, Steve Farber, a best-selling author and one of the world’s top leadership and management experts, French offers unique, hard-earned tips and advice from his nearly 50 years as a musician, music business manager, and entrepreneur. French shows how, through tenacity, grit, and dedication, anyone can create their own brand, grow a successful business, re-invent themselves, or simply find success in what they love to do. Entertaining, provocative, funny, and informative, this book is the trip of a lifetime and a treasured guide for entrepreneurs, business people, and music fans alike.

Excerpt
CONTENTS
Introduction

PART ONE: TWISTED LIVING

Chapter 1: How It Began

Chapter 2: Off the Path to Get on the Path

Chapter 3: I Wanna Rock

PART TWO: TWISTED BUSINESS

Chapter 4: “T” Tenacity

Chapter 5: “W” Wisdom

Chapter 6: “I” Inspiration

Chapter 7: “S” Stability

Chapter 8: “T” Trust

Chapter 9: “E” Excellence

Chapter 10: “D” Discipline

Epilogue

APPENDIX: The Twisted Collection

About The Author
Jay Jay French

Jay Jay French founded Twisted Sister, the internationally renowned heavy metal band, nearly fifty years ago. Since then, he has catapulted his career to become one of the most successful managers, producers, and entrepreneurs in the music business. French has amassed thirty-nine gold and platinum albums as a musician, manager, producer, and executive producer, and has performed over 9,000 shows in forty countries, selling 20 million records around the world. A charter member of the Long Island Music Hall of Fame and the costar of the critically acclaimed documentary, We Are Twisted F*cking Sister, he is considered a leading expert on vintage guitars and high-end music equipment.

French is a rock star, but he also shines as a business leader who developed Twisted Sister into a global brand with multiple revenue streams and built it into the most licensed heavy metal band in history. He is a contributing editor and columnist for Copper and Goldmine Magazine, and writes a business column for Inc.com called “The French Connection.” With his extensive business acumen, French often works as a keynote motivational speaker, delivering presentations to global Fortune 500 companies and nonprofits. Jay Jay’s insight and tried-and-true-tips about resiliency, reinvention, tenacity, turning roadblocks into pathways, authentic leadership, and innovation are now available to everyone in his “bizoir,” Twisted Business.

Product Details
  • Publisher: RosettaBooks (September 21, 2021)
  • Length: 240 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781948122832

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Raves and Reviews

These days, French focuses on business and writing, having retired from music following Twisted Sister’s final show in 2016. But he still has plenty of rock and roll mojo, and he brings that energy to every page of this very entertaining — and very educational (in a good way) — book.
 

– Howard Whiteman, Goldmine Magazine

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Twisted Business

Lessons from My Life in Rock 'n Roll

By Jay Jay French
With Steve Farber
Published by RosettaBooks
Distributed by Simon & Schuster