Rock legends hardly ever keep retired, and now Twisted Sister has formally joined that record. In a brand new interview with John “JP” Parise of Lengthy Island’s 102.3 WBAB and Tampa’s 102.5 The Bone, frontman Dee Snider defined why the band is reuniting in 2026 for its fiftieth anniversary, regardless of his previous criticisms of farewell excursions.
“Initially, I personal [my previous] statements [about not wanting to stage a Twisted Sister reunion]. I stated that and extra. I singled out bands. I named names. I ranted and raved about this, and I anticipated to get excrements for this, however I am getting hit onerous,” he confirmed (through Blabbermouth).
His reversal comes with some very private causes. “I am not gonna lie, and I can solely inform you a lot, however that is the full fact,” Snider stated. “I turned 70 this yr, and I had a well being scare. And I am okay… And it shook me up… I will not say [exactly what it was], and I am okay. Nevertheless it actually made me re-evaluate a number of issues. [When I was] 40, 50, 60, I believed I used to be superhuman. Twisted Sister retired 10 years in the past once I was ripped to shreds. After which [at] 70, one thing occurred and it was a re-evaluation, fairly truthfully. And a part of that re-evaluation was trying and saying… Am I able to go? Effectively, you by no means know while you’re gonna go quietly to the evening. You by no means know when your time is up. And do I actually wanna do this with out rocking yet another time.”
Snider admitted that he had even stopped his solo performances lately, solely often leaping on stage with artists like Bret Michaels of Poison or Lita Ford. However after speaking it over together with his spouse, he was the one to make the decision to his previous bandmates.
“And upon speaking to my spouse and re-evaluating, it was I, me, who referred to as the [other] guys [in Twisted Sister]. I referred to as them. They by no means referred to as. I imply, we discuss, however they by no means introduced it up as a result of I used to be, like, ‘This isn’t occurring, guys. It’s finished. It’s over, similar to I advised all people.’ However, like I stated, I had a life-changing expertise and re-evaluation of a number of issues, and I reached out. I stated, ‘Guys, what do you concentrate on doing it yet another time?’”
The 2026 lineup will embody Snider, founding guitarist Jay Jay French, and longtime lead guitarist Eddie Ojeda. Notably absent can be bassist Mark “The Animal” Mendoza, who has opted out of the reunion, with Snider describing the explanations as “irreconcilable variations”. Taking his place can be Russell Pzütto, a well-known face from Snider’s solo tasks. Behind the drums can be Joe Franco, who briefly performed with the group within the mid-Eighties, stepping in for A.J. Pero, who handed away in 2015.
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