Eddie Ojeda
The flashy, melodic guitarist whose riffs provided the anthemic backbone for Twisted Sister's glam metal rebellion.
Born 1955 (age 71)·American guitarist·Birthday: August 5·Baby Boomers
Biography
Eddie Ojeda joined Twisted Sister in 1975, just as the band was solidifying its outrageous, face-painted identity in the hard-rocking clubs of Long Island and New York City. While frontman Dee Snider provided the snarling voice and manifesto, Ojeda's guitar work delivered the soaring, memorable hooks that transformed their songs into arena-ready shouts. His playing on anthems like 'We're Not Gonna Take It' and 'I Wanna Rock' blended hard rock muscle with a keen sense of pop melody, a key ingredient in the band's crossover success in the mid-80s. On stage, his 'Fingers' nickname was earned through a fluid, precise style that contrasted with the band's chaotic, theatrical energy. Though the glam metal wave eventually receded, Ojeda remained the consistent six-string heart of Twisted Sister through reunions and farewell tours, his riffs forever etched into the soundtrack of 80s rebellion.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Eddie was born in 1955, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Eddie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1955
#1 Movie
Lady and the Tramp
Best Picture
Marty
#1 TV Show
The $64,000 Question
Eddie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1955Born
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1960Started school
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1968Became a teenager
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1971Could drive
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1973Could vote
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1976Turned 21
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1985Turned 30
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1995Turned 40
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2005Turned 50
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2015Turned 60
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 70
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 71 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Co-wrote and performed the iconic guitar riffs on Twisted Sister's multi-platinum hits 'We're Not Gonna Take It' and 'I Wanna Rock'.
- Performed as lead guitarist on all of Twisted Sister's major studio albums, including 'Stay Hungry' and 'Come Out and Play'.
- His guitar solos and melodic structures were central to the band's signature blend of heavy metal and catchy hard rock.
Did You Know?
He is an accomplished martial artist, holding a black belt in Taekwondo.
Before joining Twisted Sister, he was in a band called The Dictators, which was part of New York's early punk scene.
He released a solo album, 'Axes 2 Axes', in 2005, featuring contributions from other notable hard rock musicians.
“That solo has to cut through the makeup and the noise.”
