Dee Snider quits Twisted Sister due to health reasons. The band cancels all concerts on the 50th anniversary tour in 2026. The ex-frontman cites arthritis and heart problems as the reason.
The legendary US rock and metal band Twisted Sister has canceled its planned 2026 tour to mark the group’s 50th anniversary. The reason is the sudden resignation of their frontman Dee Snider due to serious health problems. The band confirmed the cancellation of all concerts – from the start on April 25th in São Paulo until the summer – in an official statement.
Official statement from the band
A joint statement from guitarist Jay Jay French and Eddie “Fingers” Ojeda said: “Due to the sudden and unexpected resignation of our vocalist Dee Snider, prompted by a series of health challenges, the band is forced to cancel all scheduled shows.” The future of the band will be reassessed in the coming weeks.
Dee Snider on his decision
70-year-old Dee Snider commented on his retirement in a statement on the band’s homepage. He describes how a lifetime of “legendarily aggressive performances” took its toll on Snider’s body and soul.
Snider, who has been performing live for decades, explained that he suffers from degenerative arthritis and has had several surgeries. It also recently emerged that his heart had also suffered from the intense stress.
His clear message to fans: “I don’t know any other way than to rock. The idea of slowing down is unacceptable to me. I would rather quit than be a shadow of myself.”
What did the tour mean?
The tour, planned for 2026, was intended as a major celebration of the band’s 50th anniversary, ten years after the last farewell tour in 2016 and after isolated reunions, including at the Metal Hall of Fame event in 2023.
The glam rock icons had retired from touring in 2016, but announced last September that they would be returning for a world tour. They gave the first hints of this on social media, with Snider teasing something related to their upcoming 50th anniversary. “If you’re lucky enough to be in a band that people still want to see 50 years later (!), how could you not heed that call? In 2026, Twisted Fucking Sister will be taking over stages around the world because WE STILL WANT TO ROCK!!,” he wrote at the time.
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