Twisted Sister guitarist Jay Jay French has made a bold claim about Sebastian Bach taking over the band’s frontman role, sharing his thoughts in a recent interview.
French addressed the band’s decision to bring in Bach for upcoming shows following Dee Snider’s departure due to health challenges. He also responded to fans who have expressed skepticism about the move, drawing comparisons to other legendary bands that have continued performing with replacement vocalists.
“Sebastian really is the only person that could do it,” French said. “He’s the only larger-than-life guy with the chops and the stage presence to do it. And I called him and he was, like, ‘Yeah, man, I’d love to.’ … He’s so enthusiastic. I gotta love it. I love it. I love it.”
French also spoke about their rehearsal sessions, expressing full confidence in Bach’s abilities.
“We did eight hours of rehearsal [with Sebastian]. We did eight hours. He was amazing. He was amazing. So I have no doubts how great it’s gonna be.”
Turning to critics of the decision, French pointed to other iconic bands that have successfully continued with new members, arguing that the public ultimately decides what works.
“When people talk about what you can and can’t do, enough already. Here’s the bottom line… This is my comment about it. It’s either gonna work or it’s not gonna work. The public buys it or they don’t buy it. Right now [Lynyrd] Skynyrd is touring with nobody [from the original lineup] in the band. Right now Foreigner’s touring with nobody [from the original lineup] in the band. If you didn’t like the band, don’t go. But they are offering a product that is great.”
French went on to cite Queen and Journey as examples of bands that successfully moved forward with new singers.
“Queen — Freddie Mercury, greatest vocalist in the history of the world, can never be replaced. Guess what? They got a guy [Adam Lambert] from ‘The Voice’ [to replace him]. Steve Perry, greatest singer in the history of the world. Guess what? They got a guy [Arnel Pineda] from YouTube [to replace him]. I mean, what are you saying? YouTube, ‘The Voice.'”
He emphasized Bach’s credentials as a legitimate metal artist, distinguishing him from those replacement examples.
“I’m just saying, we got a guy whose pedigree is metal, by the way, who’s a legitimate artist with platinum records, by the way. Not an also-ran. A phenomenally talented human being. And, of course, now the public is gonna ultimately decide. They decide. If the public likes it, they like it.”
French concluded by reflecting on the band’s history and adopting a wait-and-see attitude toward the new chapter.
“That answer will unfold, the same way it unfolded in 2003 when the band reformed and we did the festival tour and did the six shows in 2003, and then all of a sudden the floodgates opened. The floodgates will open or they won’t open. The beauty of it is they don’t have to open. The beauty of it is you do it, you have fun, you put your best foot forward, you deliver the magic, and everything takes care of itself.”
The band’s trajectory with Bach has already shown promising signs. Fan demand drove a rapid expansion of their fall 2026 tour schedule, growing from a handful of dates into a nine-show run, with three additional dates added in June 2026.
The story behind the tour’s formation is rooted in an unexpected turn of events. In February 2026, Dee Snider announced his sudden and unexpected resignation from the band, citing health challenges that made it impossible for him to continue. The news forced the cancellation of the originally planned 50th anniversary reunion tour, including a scheduled appearance at Bangers Open Air 2026. Rather than shelve the entire project, French and fellow guitarist Eddie Ojeda moved quickly to keep the band’s plans alive.
Snider gave his blessing to the decision, expressing support for Bach stepping into the role. He stated that Bach is a true fan who will honor what he did with every show — a sentiment that carried significant weight for fans who had been uncertain about the transition.
The fall 2026 tour kicks off on September 4 in Palmer, Alaska, and runs through December. Newly added stops include Gary, Indiana; Charles Town, West Virginia; and St. Petersburg, Florida. Tickets went on sale to the general public on June 26, 2026, following a presale that launched two days earlier.
Ojeda echoed French’s confidence in Bach, noting that the former Skid Row frontman is probably the only person capable of replacing Snider vocally. Bach and the band share nearly a decade of chemistry dating back to 2016. With that foundation already in place, the public’s verdict remains the final piece of the puzzle.
