I wanted to be a rich, famous rock-and-roll star in that order.

In this blunt, self-deprecating line, Snider punctures the romantic myth that rock stardom is chiefly about art or rebellion. By ranking “rich” before “famous” and only then “rock-and-roll star,” he frames ambition as candidly transactional: music as a vehicle for financial security and public recognition. The humor lies in the inversion of expected priorities, but the remark also signals a working-class pragmatism—success is measured in tangible outcomes, not just creative fulfillment. Read in light of Snider’s later public persona (outspoken, media-savvy, and business-minded), the quote underscores how show business often rewards those who admit, manage, and monetize their desires rather than pretending they don’t exist.