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APRIL 10 – 12, 2026
Schaumburg Convention Center | Chicago, IL

Episode 26: Stereos to Stadiums and Back: Jay Jay French Unplugged

Jay Jay French the founding guitarist of Twisted Sister, traces his lifelong passion for music and hi-fi from his teenage years in 1967 to his rise in the music industry. He shares vivid memories of buying his first stereo during the launch of Sgt. Pepper, attending legendary concerts at the Fillmore East, experimenting with early high-end gear, and eventually building a system that rivals any audiophile’s dream. Along the way, he discusses how drug culture nearly derailed his life, how glam rock and Twisted Sister became his creative outlet, and how decades in the music business led him to a new focus on audio journalism, podcasting, and business mentorship. It’s a raw, funny, and unfiltered story about obsession, survival, and reinvention—told by someone who lived through rock’s wildest eras and came out the other side.

Jay Jay French the founding guitarist of Twisted Sister, traces his lifelong passion for music and hi-fi from his teenage years in 1967 to his rise in the music industry. He shares vivid memories of buying his first stereo during the launch of Sgt. Pepper, attending legendary concerts at the Fillmore East, experimenting with early high-end gear, and eventually building a system that rivals any audiophile’s dream. Along the way, he discusses how drug culture nearly derailed his life, how glam rock and Twisted Sister became his creative outlet, and how decades in the music business led him to a new focus on audio journalism, podcasting, and business mentorship. It’s a raw, funny, and unfiltered story about obsession, survival, and reinvention—told by someone who lived through rock’s wildest eras and came out the other side.

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