Jay Jay French recently addressed questions about Mark Mendoza’s absence from Twisted Sister reunion activities. He shared his perspective on band lineup changes in an interview with The Metal Voice.
When asked about why Mark Mendoza was not part of the Twisted Sister reunion, French provided insight into the band’s approach to personnel decisions.
“It happens with bands. Bands are like I was clear when I said this. Me, Dee, and Eddie have played through 10 different drummers and bass players, right? Most people don’t know this,” French said. “We have never spoken about why someone is in and why someone is out. We never have.”
French emphasized the business aspect of maintaining the band’s operations while avoiding public disputes.
“My attitude is a realignment takes place for better word for however way you have to do it to keep your business moving and you make your business move. And that’s really all there is to it,” he continued. “And I don’t want to bring in any more than that. People know what they know and I have no reason to throw, you know, dirt on anything whatsoever. You make the move to keep the business moving forward and it’s exactly what Twisted Sister has always done.”
The guitarist also defended the band’s current lineup composition. He compared it favorably to other classic rock acts.
“If you look at Priest and you look at Mötley and you look at Aerosmith and you look at every one of these bands, how many people are left originally? The answer is one, two, three guys. We have four original members. We have 80% original,” French explained. “Joe Franco is back with us. He was one of our drummers. He played on our albums and toured with us. So, we have a very high percentage of original band members.”
French concluded by acknowledging the reality of the music business. He expressed respect for bands that continue touring regardless of their original member count.
French’s comments come as the band prepares for their highly anticipated return to the stage after years of retirement from touring.
98 Rock reported that Twisted Sister is preparing for a 50th anniversary reunion tour in 2026. This marks their first performances since retiring from touring in 2016. The reunion lineup includes frontman Dee Snider, French and Eddie Ojeda on guitars, Joe “Seven” Franco on drums, and Russell Pzütto on bass. Pzütto officially replaces Mark Mendoza in the band’s current formation.
The choice of Russell Pzütto as Mendoza’s replacement was not random. Ultimate Classic Rock noted that Pzütto had previously collaborated with Dee Snider on solo projects. This made him a familiar face within the band’s extended musical family. Meanwhile, Joe Franco’s return represents a full-circle moment for the drummer. He had played on the band’s 1987 album “Love Is for Suckers” and toured with them during that era.
The internal dynamics surrounding Mendoza’s absence have been addressed more directly by other band members. Blabbermouth revealed that Dee Snider acknowledged the door is unlikely to open for Mendoza to rejoin on this tour. Snider cited what he described as “irreconcilable differences.” This highlights that some internal issues remain unresolved between the bassist and other band members.
Despite the personnel changes, French has consistently emphasized that lineup realignments are a natural part of any band’s evolution. This is particularly true for groups with decades-long histories. The guitarist has reiterated that the remaining members wish Mendoza well in his future endeavors. They are focusing on moving forward with their current formation for the milestone anniversary celebration.
