DEE SNIDER: “I’m not dying”
“I just can't do those things that I did in my 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and even 60s”
16-02-2026
TWISTED SISTER frontman Dee Snider has shot down rumors that he is dying, a little over a week after the legendary rock canceled its planned 50th-anniversary concerts.
On February 5, TWISTED SISTER announced it had scrapped its 2026 reunion shows after Snider resigned, citing health issues.
The band posted on social media that Dee‘s “sudden and unexpected resignation” forced the group to cancel all dates starting in April through the beginning of the summer.
On Saturday (February 14), Snider shared a video to the Facebook page of his long-running “House Of Hair” radio show in which he said: “Hey, everybody. It’s me, Dee Snider, and I’m not dying. No, not never — I mean, we’re all dying, but not immediately.
“My announcement about canceling the tour for health reasons, problems with my heart, arthritis, things like that, the rumors have run wild that I am on my deathbed,” he continued. “I am not. I just can’t do those things that I did in my twenties, thirties, forties, fifties and even sixties. All right? Otherwise, I’m alive and well. I’m enjoying life. I’m here for the ‘House Of Hair’. I’m directing a movie. I’ll be writing things. You won’t see me on the stage kicking ass like I used to because that will mess me up.
“Someone just told me, ‘Hey, man, could you just go out on stage and lay back?’ No, I can’t do that,” Dee explained. “That’s not who I am. Look, I can barely do that on the ‘House Of Hair’. So, I had to pull out of TWISTED SISTER. I had to cancel a tour. My apologies for that. And thank you for all the love and care and worry and all that stuff. It was crazy. I mean, the amount of people, the outpouring was beautiful. Thank you very much for cheering me on.
“I’m okay. I just can’t do that anymore,” Snider added. “And you know what? Truth of the matter is, I don’t want you to see me up there being less than you expect me to be. If you got memories of a great show that I did, that’s what I wanna leave you with, not me standing up there like Willie Nelson. Nothing wrong with Willie — 95 years old in a wheelchair — but you know what I’m saying. I went out rocking. I’m still rocking here. I ain’t stopping. I got a lot of life to live. My dad’s 95 and still kicking, so I’m expecting to be around for a long time, which means the ‘House Of Hair’ will go on forever.
“All right. Don’t worry about old Dee. Thank you.”
TWISTED SISTER has canceled all of its previously announced 2026 reunion concerts due to “a series of health challenges” faced by the band’s lead singer Dee Snider.
A lifetime of legendarily aggressive performing has taken its toll on Snider‘s body and soul. Unbeknownst to the public until now,the 70-year-old Snider suffers from degenerative arthritis and has had several surgeries over the years just to keep going, able to only perform a few songs at a time in pain. 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.
TWISTED SISTER guitarists Jay Jay French and Eddie Ojeda, representing French Management Enterprises, released the following statement via the band’s web site: “With regrets, TWISTED SISTER cancels 50th anniversary celebration performance.
“Due to the sudden and unexpected resignation of TWISTED SISTER‘s lead singer Dee Snider brought on by a series of health challenges, the band has been forced to cancel all shows scheduled, beginning April 25th in Sao Paulo Brazil and continuing through the summer.
“The future of TWISTED SISTER will be determined in the next several weeks.
“Stay tuned for updates,
“Jay Jay French/Eddie Ojeda
French Management Enterprises“.
Snider added in a separate statement: “I don’t know of any other way to rock. The idea of slowing down is unacceptable to me. I’d rather walk away than be a shadow of my former self.”
TWISTED SISTER‘s 2026 shows were supposed to feature the band’s three core members: Snider, French and Ojeda. Bassist Mark “The Animal” Mendoza was not going to be joining the celebration. Russell Pzütto, who has toured with Snider‘s solo projects, was slated to replace Mendoza on bass. Joe Franco, who briefly played with the group in the mid-1980s, was supposed to sit behind the drum kit, stepping in for A.J. Pero, who passed away in 2015 at the age of 55.
Affected TWISTED SISTER shows:
June 3-6 – Sweden Rock – Sölvesborg, Sweden
June 10 – Mind Live Arena – Milan, Italy
June 19 – Graspop Metal Meeting – Dessel, Belgium
June 26 – Copenhell – Copenhagen, Denmark
June 27 – Tons Of Rock – Oslo, Norway
July 3 – Barcelona Rock Fest – Barcelona, Spain
July 10 – Midalidare Rock In The Wine Valley – Mogilovo, Bulgaria
July 24-26 – Steelhouse XV – Hafod-Y-Dafal Farm, Ebbw Vale, United Kingdom
August 23 – Riverside – Aarburg, Switzerland
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