October 2026 saw the release of my 54th book overall, The Great American Nightmare: An Oral History of the Howard Stern Show, which chronicles the history and impact of Stern's legendary radio program through firsthand interviews with former staff members, guests, musicians, celebrities, and longtime listeners.
Throughout the '80s and into the '90s, Stern forged close relationships with numerous rockers and welcomed them onto the show, including Dee Snider of Twisted Sister, Leslie West of Mountain, Bon Jovi, Alice Cooper, and The Who's John Entwistle. He also took up-and-coming bands he believed in under his wing – including Enuff Z'Nuff.
In this excerpt, Chip Z'Nuff and Donnie Vie recall how their relationship with Stern began in 1989, how the band's appearances on the show helped raise their profile, and how their friendship with Stern continued long after those early appearances.
Throughout the '80s and into the '90s, Stern forged close relationships with numerous rockers and welcomed them onto the show, including Dee Snider of Twisted Sister, Leslie West of Mountain, Bon Jovi, Alice Cooper, and The Who's John Entwistle. He also took up-and-coming bands he believed in under his wing – including Enuff Z'Nuff.
In this excerpt, Chip Z'Nuff and Donnie Vie recall how their relationship with Stern began in 1989, how the band's appearances on the show helped raise their profile, and how their friendship with Stern continued long after those early appearances.
Chip Z'Nuff (Enuff Z'Nuff bassist): Enuff Z'Nuff signed in 1988 with ATCO-Atlantic Records – with Derek Shulman, who used to be in a band called Gentle Giant. And he flew us out to New York to meet his staff. And during the meeting, we got a chance to talk to a guy named Mark – and Mark's brother was Dee Snider from Twisted Sister.Mark said, "Have you ever heard of Howard Stern?" I said, "I heard of him, but we're from Chicago. We're not as familiar with him as we should be, probably." And he says, "This is the guy you want to talk to. He's a big fan of rock and I think he'd really enjoy your company. I can hook it up so you can go down to the station and say hello to him."
And from the moment we met, it was a real great kinship right there. He loved the sound of the band. He said that we were like a hard rock version of The Beatles – he's a huge Beatle fan. And we started talking about how we started the band off, and all our promiscuous ways that we've carried throughout our career at that point. I think he was smitten by that, because he doesn't like any bands that come in there that aren't transparent. He wants the real stories, wants the real McCoy, wants honesty and truth – even if it's not in your best interest. That would have been in 1989, during our first record [the group's self-titled debut].
Donnie Vie (Former Enuff Z'Nuff singer/guitarist): I instantly loved Howard. He instantly loved us. We became buddies, immediately. The show was just very relaxed and comfortable. He was just like us, and he was asking about the debauchery. And we just chilled, and had a good time down there. Very, very comfortable, and was around there a bunch of times. We'd bring an acoustic guitar and sing a song on there.
Chip Z'Nuff: At the end of the show, Howard took me in his back room. It was a small, shitty little office he had – papers all over the place and books and stuff. And we sat there and talked for a good half an hour after the show, which he never does with any artist.
The big artists – the Paul McCartneys, the Elton Johns, etc. – split right after the show's over with. But he had us stay there, and we talked and started bonding. And from there, every time we were through New York, he said, "You guys have a ticket and a key to come in here anytime and hang out with me. You guys are my new brothers."
Donnie Vie: It'd be a spike in record sales by like, 50,000 every time we'd be on that show. So, that's when things started adding up.
Chip Z'Nuff: Howard Stern was the catalyst because right after that show, there was a huge push on the band. It really elevated our perception, immediately.
So, for him to stay there and then be there through the end of the show, when we would call him up... occasionally we'd have to call him up a little bit sooner, because, "Howard's falling out, man, he's gotta go." "OK, we'll call him up."
Chip Z'Nuff: He's a smart, well-read book smart guy. And he was street smart, too. To this day, he's always been great and said wonderful things about our band. And we appreciate the sentiment and his love and respect for our band.
Donnie Vie: I started emailing them a few years back, saying, "I got a new record," and this and that. And it was like, "We don't have that same format anymore, but Howard says hello." And they ended up later on asking me to write and record a version of Howard's goofy little song, "Bang O'Clock," that he would sing to his girlfriend. It was time for sex, he calls it "Bang O'Clock."
And so they asked me if I'd record it. I more than recorded it – I wrote a chorus for it and everything. So, I kind of got a song co-written with Howard Stern. He plays it every now and then. And every now and then, he plays a clip from the shows [that Enuff Z'Nuff appeared on] and says really, really wonderful things about me.
Keith Roth (Radio personality, DJ): What he did with Enuff Z'Nuff, that was a band that I loved on first listen. I honestly thought it was the new Cheap Trick record when my roommate in Long Branch was listening to it in his room. I'm like, "Is that Cheap Trick? Is that Elvis Costello? Is that some Beatles outtakes?" "No, it's Enuff Z'Nuff." And then, "Wait... I hear them on The Howard Stern Show." So, he always had his ears open to some great bands, as well.
October 6, 2026
The Great American Nightmare: An Oral History of the Howard Stern Show is available for purchase at Amazon now.
Further Reading:
Cover Story - Slippery When Wet by Bon Jovi
Interview with Leslie West of Mountain
Interview with Dee Snider of Twisted Sister
Alice Cooper: Fact or Fiction
More Song Writing
