Dee Snider Withdraws From Twisted Sister 2026 Reunion Tour

Health Challenges and Physical Limitations

During an appearance on "The Jasta Show", hosted by Jamey Jasta, Dee Snider detailed the "health challenges" that led to his decision to step away from the upcoming tour. Snider revealed he is suffering from growing arthritis and degenerative arthritis that has spread through his shoulders, neck, arms, and legs. The singer explained that the chronic pain led to a heavy reliance on painkillers, which began to impact his internal organs.

"I'm not dying anytime soon. But I am dealing with issues that if I don't deal with them, I could kill myself. And my dad is 95 years old, and my mom, before she got hit by the car, God bless her, she was as healthy as a horse at 85… I've got longevity, but I can't do the things I do and expect to enjoy that longevity, the things the way I did them."

— Dee Snider

"My body's been causing me problems with growing arthritis and degenerative arthritis through my shoulders, my neck, my arms. It's worked down my legs. It's throughout my body. It hurts all the time. And I was taking so many painkillers, and I'm not the drug guy. I'm not the drug guy, but when you're in pain, you're just looking for relief. But it was screwing up my other organs, because you can't take even Advil. You start downing them by the handful, and before you know it, that's what you're doing all day long. You start hurting the liver, the kidneys or other organs in your body. And that started to become an issue for me. It was really when they discovered that I have hypertension and some heart issues that I have to address, and by addressing it means I gotta calm the fuck down."

— Dee Snider

Family Intervention and Performance Concerns

Snider shared that his children played a significant role in his decision, staging an intervention to express their fears regarding his physical safety on stage. He compared his situation to that of Slayer vocalist Tom Araya, who suffered from neck injuries that limited his ability to perform with his usual intensity. Snider expressed concern that he would be unable to restrain himself from "throwing down" once the music started.

"[SLAYER bassist/vocalist] Tom Araya was a thrasher in his heart of hearts to the bitter end, but his neck gave out, as they do, and he could no longer [thrash around like he used to], as you know, in the years with Slayer. And it hurt him. I read it. He said, 'The fact that I can't throw down' — I'm paraphrasing — 'with the audience. I can't bang and thrash, whip my head around like I used to do,' he said, 'it makes me sad that I can't do that.' … And I'm not trashing Tom — please don't take it as that — I'm applauding him and I'm commiserating with him and that feeling. I just don't know if I could stop myself. … That's the thing — I don't think I can… But the point is I don't know if I could do it. I don't know if I could stop myself. I don't know if I would want to… My kids sat me down and said, 'Please stop' — some were crying — 'because you are gonna kill yourself,' 'cause they know who I am."

— Dee Snider

Band Accommodations and Management Intervention

When Snider informed his bandmates of his departure, the group offered various accommodations to keep him involved, including medical technicians and the use of a wheelchair on stage, similar to Mötley Crüe guitarist Mick Mars. However, Snider’s manager, Phil Carson, intervened to confirm that the singer would not participate for his own safety.

"When I told the band I'm leaving the band and I'm not doing the reunion shows, there was a lot of trying to — I'll put it in the nicest way possible — accommodate me and make it workable. 'We'll have medical technicians. We'll wheel you on and off stage. I'm gonna get the same crew that handled [MÖTLEY CRÜE guitarist] Mick Mars [who is suffering with degenerative bone condition ankylosing spondylitis], wheel him out on stage, go do the show.' They were offering me everything. And I wasn't asking for all this stuff. And [my manager] Phil [Carson], said, 'Dee, you cannot do this. I know you. I've stood on stage and watched you for decades. You cannot do this. You'll hurt yourself.' And he called the guys up and said, 'He's out. He cannot do this. So stop offering him everything in the world.'"

— Dee Snider

New Lineup and Scheduled Shows

Following Snider’s resignation, Sebastian Bach was announced as the new frontman for Twisted Sister's fall 2026 performances. The touring lineup will feature original guitarists Jay Jay French and Eddie Ojeda. Bassist Russell Pzutto will step in for Mark Mendoza, and drummer Joey Cassata will replace the originally planned Joe Franco, who is unavailable for the fall dates.

The band has currently confirmed a performance on September 4 at the Alaska State Fair. This tour follows a brief 2021 one-off reunion at the Metal Hall of Fame, which featured Dee Snider, French, Mendoza, and drummer Mike Portnoy. Twisted Sister's original run ended in the late 1980s, and the group previously reunited in 2001 for the New York Steel benefit concert.