Everything Music. Everything News. Everything live.

Dee Snider Cancels Tour & Resigns from Twisted Sister 2026

Alfred Nitsch, CC BY-SA 3.0 AT <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/at/deed.en>, via Wikimedia Commons
Alfred Nitsch, CC BY-SA 3.0 AT , via Wikimedia Commons

Dee Snider has officially resigned from Twisted Sister, bringing an end to his five-decade run as the band’s frontman and public face.

The announcement was made on February 5, 2026, when Twisted Sister confirmed the cancellation of its entire 50th anniversary reunion tour. The tour was scheduled to begin in April and would have marked the band’s first major run of shows in a decade. Guitarists Jay Jay French and Eddie “Fingers” Ojeda said Snider’s decision made it impossible for the band to continue with the planned dates.

Health Issues Drive the Decision

Snider, now 70, cited ongoing health challenges as the reason for his departure. In a statement released alongside the tour cancellation, he explained that years of high-intensity performances had taken a severe toll on his body. He revealed that he has been dealing with degenerative arthritis and has undergone multiple surgeries, limiting his ability to perform full sets. Medical evaluations also raised concerns about cardiac strain.

Snider said he could no longer deliver the level of performance he believes fans deserve.

“I do not know how to do this halfway,” he wrote. “I would rather step away than become a diminished version of what I have always given onstage.”

A Defining Voice in Heavy Metal

Snider joined Twisted Sister in the mid-1970s and became synonymous with the band’s image and sound during its rise in the 1980s. Songs like We’re Not Gonna Take It and I Wanna Rock turned the band into MTV staples and made Snider one of the most recognizable figures in heavy metal.

Twisted Sister officially retired from touring in 2016, though the band reunited for select appearances in subsequent years. The 2026 tour was intended as a celebratory return, marking the group’s 50th anniversary. With Snider’s resignation, those plans have now been abandoned.

Uncertain Future for the Band

In its statement, Twisted Sister said the future of the band remains undecided. All scheduled shows have been canceled, including international dates and festival appearances. The remaining members said they will take time to assess what comes next.

Fans and fellow musicians have responded with an outpouring of support for Snider, praising his honesty and his decision to prioritize health over legacy-driven obligations.

Snider’s exit closes the book on one of heavy metal’s most enduring frontmen and signals the definitive end of an era for Twisted Sister.

Related Stories

Rikki Rockett Explains Why He Waited to Publish Poison Memoir ‘Ghost Notes’

Poison drummer Rikki Rockett says he sat on his memoir ‘Ghost Notes: My Life In Poison’ for years so his late parents wouldn’t be embarrassed by its contents.

Gene Simmons Needs Four Tries to Nail First Pitch at Angels Game with Paul Stanley

Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley took the mound at Angel Stadium on August 15, with Simmons requiring four tries before he was happy with his throw.

Foo Fighters to Open for AC/DC in St. Louis, Stepping In for The Pretty Reckless

Foo Fighters announced they will step away from their Take Cover stadium tour for one night to open AC/DC’s September 8 show in St. Louis, taking over the slot previously held by The Pretty Reckless.

Vivian Campbell Says His Cancer Has Returned After Donor Transplant Failed

Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell says his Hodgkin’s lymphoma has returned after a donor stem cell transplant he received in January 2025 failed to hold, and he is now continuing treatment while staying active with the band, Last In Line and rally driving.

Neil Peart Documentary ‘No One’s Disciple’ Set for TIFF World Premiere

A new documentary on late Rush drummer Neil Peart, ‘No One’s Disciple,’ is set to debut at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 16, 2026, ahead of a CBC broadcast later that month.

Alex Lifeson Says Quitting Marijuana at 72 Sharpened His Focus Before Rush’s Fifty Something Tour

Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson has told Rolling Stone that he gave up marijuana at age 72, roughly four months before the band’s Fifty Something tour kicked off in June, saying the decision sharpened his memory and focus.

Beatles Biopic Cast Recreates Abbey Road Album Cover on Famous Crosswalk

Fan footage shows the stars of Sam Mendes’ upcoming Beatles biopics walking the famous Abbey Road crosswalk in costume, mirroring the band’s 1969 album cover.

Jonathan Cain Teases Possible Journey Reunion at Band’s Final Frontier Tour Finale in San Francisco

Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain says he’s hopeful for “a reunion of sorts” when the band’s Final Frontier tour closes out in San Francisco on November 28, 2026, even though Steve Perry has denied rumors he might rejoin the group.

Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts to Join Willie Nelson & Family for Two Shows Ahead of Farm Aid 2026

Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts have confirmed two co-headlining performances with Willie Nelson & Family in September, setting up a run into Farm Aid 2026.