SCARECROW has been named an official nominee for Song of the Year – Metal/Alternative Metal at the 12th Annual Josie Music Awards, recognizing the band’s single “Twisted,” featuring Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider. The awards ceremony will take place September 20 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.
For SCARECROW founder, songwriter, and frontman John Blaze, the nomination marks a remarkable return to the roots of a musical journey that has spanned more than two decades.
Blaze has been the creative force behind SCARECROW since its early days, developing the band’s signature combination of gritty vocals, hard-edged rock, and theatrical presentation. The group’s original lineup featured Twisted Sister guitarist Eddie Ojeda, establishing a connection to the legendary New York metal scene that would continue to influence Blaze’s career.
That connection comes full circle with “Twisted.” Built from Blaze’s longstanding friendship and musical history with Dee Snider and the members of Twisted Sister, the song combines SCARECROW’s distinctive identity with Snider’s unmistakable voice, resulting in a contemporary rock anthem with classic-metal roots.
The recording features an accomplished lineup of musicians, including Mark Wood of Trans-Siberian Orchestra on violin, TJ Jordan on lead guitar, and Bobby Marks of Humble Pie on drums.
The nomination also celebrates the evolution of SCARECROW through several chapters of Blaze’s career. Following the band’s Redlight Records debut, SCARECROW released A Touch of Madness through Pavement Music in the 2000s. Blaze later expanded the concept into the theatrical production “I AM SCARECROW,” before revisiting the band’s history with the career-spanning compilation Blood, Sweat and 20 Years, released through The Spectra Music Group.
Now, with “Twisted,” Blaze has brought together the past and present of SCARECROW in a recording that reflects both the band’s history and its continued evolution.
The Josie Music Awards Song of the Year nomination recognizes the songwriting and performance behind the track, making the honor especially significant for an independent artist whose career has been built through years of persistence, collaboration, and genuine relationships within the rock community.
SCARECROW will compete for Song of the Year – Metal/Alternative Metal at the 12th Annual Josie Music Awards on September 20 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.
