Guitarist Jay Jay French (Twisted Sister) was interviewed on the latest episode of the Guns N Roses -centric “Appetite for Distortion” podcast, where he was asked about live shows, playing with original members:
“Unlike Dee [Snider, Twisted Sister singer], I’m not as rigid [about bands touring with non-original members]. If the public buys it, that’s all that matters. If they don’t buy it, then that’s what matters. So you can go out there, and if you’re selling something that doesn’t live up to what the public believes in, then you’re out of business. And if you’ve figured out a way to do it, and you’re still in business, then more power to you.
“Look, life is hard — it’s hard in every way, for everybody. And being a musician and an entertainer is really hard. You can’t take it lightly, if you’ve had some success. And if the public buys it, who am I to say?
“I’m not trying to be Pollyannish, I’m not trying to be kumbaya-ish about it, but at the end of the day, if you’re selling a product based on a certain level of nostalgia, and you don’t live up to it, then you’ll know, ’cause the public will say ‘no.
“You’re in a band. [You play classic] hits that people’s lives are built around. If you can replicate it well enough for the fan to spend some stupid money to see you, and they walk away happy, who am I to say?”