Mark Mendoza
He laid down the thunderous, headbanging bass lines that powered Twisted Sister's anthems of teenage rebellion and heavy metal glory.
Born 1956 (age 70)·American bassist·Birthday: July 13·Baby Boomers
Biography
Mark Mendoza didn't just join Twisted Sister; he injected it with a raw, street-level power that helped define its sound. Before the makeup and MTV fame, he cut his teeth in the proto-punk band The Dictators, bringing a New York City rock 'n' roll swagger to the Long Island outfit. As 'The Animal,' his stage presence was a whirlwind of long hair and relentless energy, physically anchoring the chaotic spectacle of Dee Snider and the guitarists. His work on albums like 'Stay Hungry' provided the muscular, rhythmic foundation for hits like 'We're Not Gonna Take It,' turning club shows into national phenomena. Beyond the band's heyday, Mendoza evolved into a savvy media presence, co-founding a production company and connecting with fans through his own podcast, proving his career was more than a flash of spandex and face paint.
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.
Mark was born in 1956, 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 Mark Was Born
The biggest hits of 1956
#1 Movie
The Ten Commandments
Best Picture
Around the World in 80 Days
#1 TV Show
I Love Lucy
Mark's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1956Born
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1961Started school
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1969Became a teenager
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1972Could drive
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1974Could vote
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1977Turned 21
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1986Turned 30
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1996Turned 40
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 50
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 60
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 70
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played bass on Twisted Sister's multi-platinum album 'Stay Hungry,' which sold over three million copies in the US.
- Co-wrote several Twisted Sister songs, including the fan favorite 'The Beast' from the 'Stay Hungry' album.
- Performed as a key member of Twisted Sister during their historic 1984 MTV breakthrough and subsequent world tours.
- Co-founded Area 22 Productions, through which he hosts the long-running weekly podcast '22 NOW.'
Did You Know?
His nickname 'The Animal' was reportedly given to him by a radio DJ after a particularly wild on-stage performance.
He was briefly a member of the Southern rock band Blackfoot in the late 1980s.
Before joining Twisted Sister, he was in the influential cult rock band The Dictators.
He has collaborated with guitarist Leslie West of Mountain on several projects.
“You gotta have that New York attitude; it's a street fight every night.”
