Twisted Sister is officially reuniting for a massive 50th anniversary world tour set for 2026, marking their first full-scale return since wrapping up their 40 And Fuck It! farewell tour nine years ago. The iconic glam-metal group will hit the stage once again with founding members Dee Snider, Jay Jay French, and Eddie Ojeda, joined by drummer Joe “Seven” Franco and bassist Russell Pzütto.
During an interview with Eddie Trunk on SiriusXM’s Trunk Nation (as transcribed by Blabbermouth.net), Dee Snider opened up about what inspired the reunion, explaining that it came after a period of deep reflection.
“I turned 70 in March,” Snider said. “And milestones, they are what they are, but at the same time, they’re reflection times for people. And me reflecting, I realized, wow, next year is 50 years since I joined Twisted Sister. And that’s significant.”
Snider admitted that part of his motivation was challenging himself and his bandmates. “‘One more time. Can we do it one more time?’ And certainly we’ve got people like McCartney and Jagger and Alice Cooper out there… how can you say, well, I’m 70. I’m too old? So, the guys said, ‘Seriously?’ I said, ‘Seriously. One more time. Let’s do it one more time.'”
But, one key figure missing from the lineup is longtime bassist Mark “The Animal” Mendoza. When asked why Mendoza wouldn’t be part of the reunion, Snider carefully addressed the situation without revealing too much.
“I can’t get into the weeds and I can’t go down that path. And I won’t,” he said. “But irreconcilable differences. People change, and however it is, and I’m not saying he changed; maybe we changed, whatever it is.”
Snider went on to explain why Russ Pzütto, who has worked closely with him for years, was chosen as Mendoza’s replacement.
“In deciding who to use on bass, my bass player on the last two Dee Snider albums, For The Love Of Metal and Leave A Scar, was Russ Pzütto. And he was Mark Mendoza‘s bass tech, and a great bass player… So, he did an amazing job on those two albums.
“He was a great guy to tour with. The band all knew him from years of working with Twisted Sister, and again, he seemed like a likely choice. As a matter of fact, one time he was Mark‘s choice to fill in for him. And one gig, it was in Belgium at Graspop, and Mark couldn’t make it, and Russ stepped in and played with Twisted Sister. So he actually has performed with Twisted Sister once before.”
The reunion also brings back Joe Franco, who last toured and recorded with the band during their 1987 Love Is For Suckers album cycle. Franco replaces Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater, who had filled in on drums following the death of A.J. Pero in 2015. Portnoy is unavailable this time due to other touring commitments.
Exact tour dates and venues have yet to be announced, but Twisted Sister has promised a worldwide run to celebrate their five-decade legacy. Fans can expect an unforgettable tour honoring one of heavy metal’s most rebellious and enduring bands.
With Snider leading the charge, this 50th-anniversary trek promises to be both a milestone celebration and a chance for fans across the globe to experience the band’s explosive live energy once again.
