Rocker Redoes Anthem for Barack Obama

By WAYNE PARRY
Associated Press Writer

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) -- Jay Jay French wants to rock. He also wants Barack.

So the Twisted Sister guitarist has rerecorded the heavy metal band's anthem, "I Wanna Rock," which has become "I Want Barack."

French, a lifelong liberal Democrat whose mother campaigned for John F. Kennedy, said Barack Obama, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, has energized a new generation of voters who previously felt left out of politics.

"He has excited so many people," said French, who founded Twisted Sister in 1973, in a telephone interview Tuesday. "He has given sincere hope to people who have been out of the arena for years."

French plays guitar on the track, which features Paulie Z., singer for the band Z02, on vocals and lead guitar. They call the band Jay Jay French and Friends and stress this isn't a Twisted Sister project because that band's members are split on the presidential candidates.

The Obama camp had no immediate comment on the song.

It's not the first ode to Obama from the rock world. Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am has recorded and released two music videos, "Yes, We Can," which has garnered more than 5 million hits on YouTube.com, and the more recent "We Are the Ones."

French said an accompanying video will soon be released on YouTube, and hopes the song will someday be played at rallies for Obama, where Stevie Wonder's "Signed, Sealed and Delivered" now reigns.