Dee Snider on TWISTED SISTER’s Reunion: “It’s Not About Money—It’s About the Music”DEE SNIDER has officially confirmed that TWISTED SISTER will reunite in 2026 to celebrate the legendary band’s 50th anniversary. The shocking announcement comes nearly a decade after their farewell trek, the “40 And F-ck It!” tour, which was billed as the band’s final run.

×

During a candid conversation on the September 10 episode of SiriusXM’s “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk”, Snider explained why he had a change of heart.

“It really was a milestone thing. I turned 70 years old in March. And milestones, they are what they are, but at the same time, they’re reflection times for people,” Snider said (transcribed by Blabbermouth). “Next year is 50 years since I joined TWISTED SISTER, since me, Eddie [Ojeda] and Jay Jay [French] became a band. That’s significant. And the offers kept coming in and the interest is there to have us reunite.”

Snider admitted that he was the one who called Ojeda and French to push for a reunion. “Almost as a challenge to each of us to say, ‘One more time. Can we do it one more time?’” he explained. “Certainly we’ve got people like [Paul] McCartney and [Mick] Jagger and Alice Cooper out there, and Ozzy — may he rest in peace — and how can you say, well, I’m 70. I’m too old? So the guys said, ‘Seriously?’ I said, ‘Seriously. Let’s do it one more time.’”

Overcoming Reluctance

Snider revealed that his earlier refusal to reunite came from the high-energy persona he created on stage, something he feared he might not be able to maintain in his 70s.

“We talked about my performing style… You said, ‘Dee, you really did paint yourself in a corner. You created a stage persona, a stage energy that people come to expect,’ and anything less will be disappointing,” Snider recalled, quoting host Eddie Trunk. “And you’ve seen me out there with Bret Michaels doing a few songs, but that’s four songs, dude. It’s not 18 songs.”

Despite the physical challenges, Snider is determined to make the reunion happen for the right reasons. “We’re still here, and let’s do it. Let’s challenge ourselves. And we’re doing it for all the right reasons. It’s not about money. It’s not about any of those typical things. It’s ’cause we want to do it one more time.”

Training for the Stage at 70

Snider, known for his incredible fitness, admitted he let his strict regimen slide during the pandemic. But with the 2026 reunion looming, he’s back in the gym preparing for the tour.

“At 70, I said, ‘This can’t be it. I need to challenge myself to go out in a blaze of glory,’” Snider said. “I’ve got like a year to get in shape. But still, there’s a big difference between going out and doing four songs with Bret Michaels and holding the stage for 20 songs. So it’s gonna be a challenge. But I sure don’t wanna embarrass myself, and the band doesn’t wanna embarrass itself. So, people, you’ll be impressed. I promise I will make some 20-year-olds feel really badly about themselves.”

Mark Mendoza’s Absence

While fans are thrilled about the reunion, one notable absence stands out: longtime bassist Mark Mendoza will not be part of the tour. Instead, Russell Pzütto, who has worked with Snider on his solo records and previously filled in for Mendoza at festivals, will handle bass duties.

“I can only simply say irreconcilable differences and leave it at that,” Snider said about Mendoza’s departure. “People change… and however it is, 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. He seemed like a likely choice.”

When asked if Mendoza might rejoin at some point, Snider was cautious: “I can’t imagine it right now. Things have happened that I don’t see being reconciled, hence the term ‘irreconcilable differences.’”

A Reunion for the Fans

Snider recalled the emotional farewell tour in 2016 when fans were moved to tears, believing it was the last time they would see TWISTED SISTER. Now, nearly a decade later, the band is preparing to give their global fan base one more explosive run.

Snider summed it up simply: “We want to do it one more time. And there’s interest there all over the world, so, we’re going for it, man. 2026.”