John Rocker Shot Down By Twisted Sister

01/18/2000 3:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Craig Rosen

(1/18/00, 3 p.m. ET) - The firestorm ignited by Atlanta Braves relief pitcher John Rocker has worked its way into the music world. Guitarist Jay Jay French of Twisted Sister has asked the Braves to stop using the band's song "I Wanna Rock" as Rocker's musical introduction when he enters a game.

French's request comes on the heels of Rocker's inflammatory comments in a recent Sports Illustrated interview, during which he disparaged New York City, immigrants, unwed mothers, and AIDS sufferers. Rocker has subsequently blamed his remarks on the way New York Mets fans treated him when the two teams played last season. "We've got Hispanics in this band, Italians in this band, people who are Polish and Russian," French told AP. "We're all immigrants, all foreigners -- quote unquote -- and this is our way of saying his comments were not acceptable." "I Wanna Rock," a single from the album Stay Hungry , peaked at No. 68 on the Billboard Hot 100 in late 1984.

-- Bruce Simon, New York

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