After spending years battling degenerative arthritis in secret, Dee Snider has decided to resign from Twisted Sister, the group he’s fronted since 1976.
Due to health conditions that have left the iconic act’s lead singer in constant pain and now “able to only perform a few songs at a time” the band was forced to cancel all of their planned reunion shows in 2026. A formal statement posted on the band’s website explained:
“A lifetime of legendarily aggressive performing has taken its toll on Dee Snider’s body and soul.” “Unbeknownst to the public (until now) Snider (70) suffers from degenerative arthritis and has had several surgeries over the years just to keep going, able to only perform a few songs at a time in pain.” “Adding insult to injury, Dee has recently found out the level of intensity he has dedicated to his life’s work has taken its toll on his heart as well. He can no longer push the boundaries of rock ‘n’ roll fury like he has done for decades.” “I don’t know of any other way to rock. The idea of slowing down is unacceptable to me. I’d rather walk away than be a shadow of my former self.”
The band’s management company confirmed that the future of the group will be decided in “the next several weeks,” adding:
“Due to the sudden and unexpected resignation of Twisted Sister’s lead singer Dee Snider brought on by a series of health challenges, the band has been forced to cancel all shows scheduled, beginning April 25th in Sao Paulo Brazil and continuing through the summer.” “The future of The future of Twisted Sister will be determined in the next several weeks. Stay tuned for updates.”
Originally scheduled to hit the road for reunion shows featuring Snider, guitarists Jay Jay French and Eddie Ojeda, bassist Mark ‘The Animal’ Mendoza was going to be replaced by Russell Pzutto while the band’s previous drummer Joe Franco – who played with them during the 1980s – would have replaced longtime percussionist A.J. Pero, who died in 2015.
The forthcoming Twisted Sister tour – originally slated to hit the road in Sao Paulo, Brazil on April 25 and include a stop in Mexico before taking the tour to Europe and wrapping up in Palmer, Alaska at the Alaska State Fair on September 4 – would have been the group’s first time back on the road together in ten years.
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Author: Saul Goode
Photo: Frank Schwichtenberg