Twisted Sister Meets AC/DC: Dee Snider and Lita Ford Rock Missouri Crowd

Rock and roll defiance roared back to life on October 3 as Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider surprised fans in St. Charles, Missouri by joining Lita Ford onstage. The electrifying set featured the Ozzy Osbourne–Lita Ford duet “Close My Eyes Forever”, Twisted Sister staples “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and “I Wanna Rock”, as well as a fiery rendition of AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell.” The performance marked more than just a night of nostalgic metal—it was a loud, proud hint at what’s coming next for one of rock’s most enduring names.

Twisted Sister is officially reuniting in 2026 to celebrate the band’s 50th anniversary, returning to the stage for the first time since their 2016 farewell. But as Snider explained, this wasn’t a decision made lightly—and not everyone from the classic lineup is along for the ride.

“A Life-Changing Experience”

After years of swearing off reunions—and criticizing others for doing them—Snider is candid about what changed his mind.

“I own [my previous] statements,” he told John “JP” Parise in a recent interview with WBAB and 102.5 The Bone. “I said that and more. I singled out bands. I named names. I ranted and raved about this… but I turned 70 this year and had a health scare. And I’m okay. But it shook me up.”

Snider, who had previously vowed that Twisted Sister would never reunite after their “40 and F**k It!” farewell tour, said the experience made him reevaluate what really mattered. “I looked in the mirror and asked, ‘Am I ready to go?’ You never know when your time is up. And I stopped doing solo stuff, too. But then I said, ‘Do I really want to go out without rocking one more time?’”

It was Snider who picked up the phone and called guitarist Jay Jay French and lead guitarist Eddie Ojeda. “They never brought it up because I was so firm about it being over. But I said, ‘Guys, what do you think about doing it one more time?’”

A Celebration, Not a Tour

The band’s 2026 reunion isn’t a full tour—it’s a select run of 20 to 25 global festival dates, with appearances already confirmed at Spain’s Rock Fest, Denmark’s Copenhell, and Norway’s Tons of Rock.

“This is not a tour,” Snider emphasized. “We’re flying first-class on a private plane. It’s a celebration. We’re not hitting the road again. People are saying, ‘Come to this town, come to that town.’ No, man. This is about us going out and celebrating 50 years of doing the impossible.”

Snider also addressed speculation around how much money the band was offered to return.

“I’m gonna be honest. The numbers are getting higher and higher… but it wasn’t really about the money. Yeah, if there was no money, I’m not gonna do it. I’m not gonna lie about that. But it was really this sort of looking in the mirror going, ‘Hey man, that was scary, and I don’t want to go out like that.’ Kicking and screaming, man—that’s the way I wanna go.”

Lineup Changes and Moving Forward

While the core trio of Snider, French, and Ojeda is back, original bassist Mark “The Animal” Mendoza won’t be part of the reunion. Snider was blunt but respectful:

“I can only simply say irreconcilable differences and leave it at that. I can’t get into the weeds and I won’t.”

Replacing Mendoza is Russell Pzütto, a longtime collaborator with Snider’s solo band and former tech for Mendoza. “He played on both of my last solo albums and even filled in for Mark once at Graspop [Metal Meeting] in Belgium,” Snider said. “He was a natural choice.”

Drummer Joe Franco will also step in behind the kit, taking over for the late A.J. Pero, who passed away in 2015. Franco previously played with Twisted Sister during the Love Is for Suckers era in the late ’80s. Mike Portnoy, who had filled in after Pero’s passing during the band’s final run, is currently touring with Dream Theater and unavailable.

French addressed Mendoza’s exit in a statement to Rolling Stone, saying:

“Me, Dee, and Eddie have performed as Twisted Sister for nearly 50 years with 10 different bass players and drummers. The band has never discussed internal realignment before and has no intention of doing it now… We wish Mark well in his future endeavors.”

One More Time—Louder Than Ever

Twisted Sister’s original run ended in the late ’80s, but the band reunited in 2001 for the New York Steel 9/11 benefit concert and toured sporadically until 2016. Their last full reunion was a brief three-song performance in 2023 at the Metal Hall of Fame induction.

Though Snider admits performing takes a toll, he’s ready to face the stage again—on his own terms. “When I go out there, it’s the greatest moment in my life for 90 minutes,” he said. “But then I start thinking, ‘Oh no, I’ve gotta do this again tomorrow.’ I get manic. I obsess.”

This time, the schedule will be lighter and more balanced. “It’ll be one day of intensity instead of weeks of it,” he explained. “Suzette [Snider’s wife] never came out on the road because I was miserable. But now, after the show, we’ll enjoy wherever we are and relax.”

At 70, Dee Snider still refuses to go quietly—and if Twisted Sister’s upcoming run proves anything, it’s that real rock and roll never really retires.