TWISTED SISTER has called off all of its scheduled 2026 reunion shows after frontman Dee Snider was hit with a number of health-related issues.
Decades of fiercely intense performances have left a serious mark on Snider’s body and spirit. What fans didn’t know until now is that the 70-year-old singer has been battling degenerative arthritis for years, undergoing multiple surgeries simply to stay on stage, often managing only a handful of songs at a time while enduring significant pain. And as if that weren’t enough, Dee has recently learned that the relentless energy he has poured into his career has also impacted his heart. The truth is, he can no longer unleash the same level of rock ’n’ roll fire that defined him for so many decades.
Yesterday, TWISTED SISTER guitarists Jay Jay French and Eddie Ojeda, on behalf of French Management Enterprises, shared the following statement through the band’s official website and social media channels:
“With regrets, TWISTED SISTER cancels 50th anniversary celebration performance.
“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 TWISTED SISTER will be determined in the next several weeks.
“Stay tuned for updates,
“Jay Jay French/Eddie Ojeda
French Management Enterprises”.
Snider added in a separate statement: “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 2026 reunion dates were set to bring together three of TWISTED SISTER’s key members — Dee Snider, Jay Jay French and Eddie Ojeda. However, bassist Mark “The Animal” Mendoza was not expected to take part in the shows. In his place, Russell Pzütto, known for touring with Snider’s solo band, was lined up to handle bass duties. Behind the drums, Joe Franco — who had a short stint with the band in the mid-’80s — was scheduled to step in for A.J. Pero, the longtime drummer who sadly passed away in 2015 at the age of 55.
