Twisted Sister's 50th anniversary celebrations were recently scrapped, with guitarist Jay Jay French confirming the band had "no other choice but to cancel" its planned 2026 reunion concerts following Dee Snider's sudden resignation due to serious health issues.
On February 5, the legendary New York rock band announced it was pulling the plug on all scheduled reunion dates, which were due to begin in April and run through early summer 2026. The decision came after Snider stepped down from the group, citing ongoing medical problems that have made performing at his trademark intensity impossible.
In a statement shared across the band's social media platforms, Twisted Sister described Snider's exit as a "sudden and unexpected resignation," adding that it forced the band to cancel all anniversary shows.
Two days later, on February 7, French posted an emotional video message marking the exact 50th anniversary of Snider joining Twisted Sister. Reflecting on the moment Snider first entered the band, French said: "Today is the actual 50th anniversary of the day that Dee auditioned in the band. 1976. Here's the diary entry. 'Danny Snider' — he wasn't Dee yet — 'auditions for Twisted Sister', February 7th, 1976."
French went on to underline the scale of their shared history. "For the last 50 years, me and [Twisted Sister guitarist] Eddie [Ojeda] have stood side by side with Dee, not with hundreds of shows, but with thousands of shows," he said.
Addressing Snider's decision head-on, French leaned into a familiar sports analogy. "You know the cliché in sports, when a great sportsman retires, they say he left it on the field," he explained. "Well, I can tell you when it comes to Dee, he left it on the stage. He gave everything his all, and his body is now telling him, 'I can't give you anymore.' And when someone tells you that, you have to accept it and you have to move on."
French stressed that the cancellation wasn't taken lightly. "So please understand this was a tough decision, but we had no other choice but to cancel these dates," he said.
While the future of Twisted Sister remains uncertain, French hinted that conversations are still to come. "As far as the future of Twisted Sister is concerned, Eddie Ojeda and I will have conversations in the next couple of weeks to discuss what, if any, options exist for us to continue."
He closed the message by thanking the band's fiercely loyal fanbase — affectionately known as the SMFs (Sick Mother Fuckers). "Just know that the SMFs around the world are the thing that kept us alive and kept us going, and we love you guys," French said. "We will do everything we can to always live up to your expectations as fans, 'cause nobody understands fandom more than us… hopefully we'll see you again in the future."
Snider, now 70, elaborated on his health struggles in a separate announcement released on February 5. According to the statement, the frontman has been diagnosed with degenerative arthritis and has undergone multiple surgeries "just to keep going," leaving him "able to only perform a few songs at a time in pain."
"A lifetime of legendarily aggressive performing has taken its toll on Dee Snider's body and soul," the statement read. "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."
Snider himself made it clear that compromise was never an option. "I don't know of any other way to rock," he said. "The idea of slowing down is unacceptable to me. I'd rather walk away than be a shadow of my former self."
Quoting Dirty Harry, Snider added: "A man's got to know his limitations. Sadly, Dee Snider now knows his."
The now-cancelled 2026 reunion shows were set to feature Twisted Sister's three core members: Snider, French and Ojeda. Longtime bassist Mark "The Animal" Mendoza was not slated to participate, with Russell Pzütto — a regular collaborator in Snider's solo projects — announced as his replacement. Drummer Joe Franco, who briefly played with the band in the mid-1980s, was due to take over behind the kit following the death of A.J. Pero in 2015 at the age of 55.
