SCARECROW has been at this since 1989. On September 20, that history walks into the Grand Ole Opry House as the hard-rock band earns an official nomination for Song of the Year — Metal/Alternative Metal at the 12th Annual Josie Music Awards, for their single “Twisted.”
Founded by writer, producer, and lead vocalist John Blaze, SCARECROW built its reputation during the last wave of the late-80s hard rock scene, debuting at Long Island’s Sundance nightclub in September 1989 with a raspy, theatrical sound that leaned into darker, more cinematic storytelling than most of its peers. The band’s original lineup even carried a direct line to metal royalty: guitarist Eddie Ojeda, known for his work with Twisted Sister, was part of that first incarnation.
“Twisted” closes that loop in dramatic fashion. Inspired by Blaze’s long-standing friendship with Dee Snider and by Twisted Sister’s legacy, the track features Snider himself delivering guest vocals through the climactic second verse and chorus, his instantly recognizable voice landing on a modern, radio-ready rock production without losing SCARECROW’s heavy roots. The single also brings in violinist Mark Wood of Trans-Siberian Orchestra, lead guitarist TJ Jordan, and drummer Bobby Marks, giving the track a wall-of-sound scale to match its guest list.
That combination of pedigree and songwriting is exactly what earned “Twisted” its nomination. The Josie Music Awards, the largest independent music awards show in the world, reward craft over label muscle, and SCARECROW’s entry into the Metal/Alternative Metal category puts a nearly four-decade-old band in the same conversation as the genre’s rising names. For John Blaze, walking into the Opry House on September 20 isn’t a debut. It’s a band that has outlasted trends, sharing a stage moment with one of the voices that helped define the genre in the first place.