Twisted Sister guitarist Jay Jay French discussed singer Dee Snider’s health challenges that led to his departure from the band’s planned 50th-anniversary reunion tour in 2026, speaking on 94.7 WCSX Radio.
French was asked about Snider’s decision to step back from the tour due to health concerns. He addressed how the band responded when Snider informed them he could no longer participate.
“You got health issues, well, nobody wants to put you in jeopardy,” French said. “So when people say, ‘Well, how do you feel about it?’ Well, what am I supposed to say, how do I feel about it? The guy can’t do it. If his doctors are telling him, ‘Don’t do it,’ if his family’s saying to him, ‘Please don’t do it, you’re putting yourself, your health, at risk,’ well, then you don’t do it. It’s that simple.”
French explained that he first checked on Snider’s wellbeing when news of his condition emerged. “So I understood. First, I said, ‘Are you okay?’ ’cause there was all these talks on how sick is he,” he continued. “He’s not end-of-life ill; he’s just end-of-career ill, like retired ball players or football players or whatever. He just couldn’t perform the way he wants to perform, the way he believes that the fans want him to perform.”
French then described what happened after Snider’s decision. “So he respectfully resigned, and we said, ‘Okay.’ And that conversation was dormant, and then Eddie [Ojeda, Twisted Sister guitarist] and I had dinner and he said, ‘Well, if we did, who would we get?’ And we kind of knew the answer to that. We kind of knew it.”
French’s comments came as the band discusses how to move forward with its 50th-anniversary reunion plans. The guitarist’s remarks shed light on how Snider’s health situation was handled by those closest to him in the band.
Snider’s withdrawal from the tour stemmed from degenerative arthritis spreading throughout his body, along with heart problems and hypertension. He relied on painkillers to manage the pain, but this approach created additional health risks to his liver, kidneys and other organs. When doctors discovered his hypertension and heart issues, he knew he had to stop performing.
His four children urged him not to return to touring for the sake of his health, which played a key role in his final decision. On February 5, Twisted Sister announced Snider’s “sudden and unexpected resignation” through guitarists Jay Jay French and Eddie Ojeda, and the band canceled all upcoming concerts.
In March, the band announced it would perform select shows with Sebastian Bach, the former Skid Row vocalist, taking over as lead singer. The announcement included a new version of the band’s 1983 anthem “You Can’t Stop Rock ‘N’ Roll” featuring Bach on vocals. Snider gave his blessing to the change and to the band’s decision to continue moving forward.
Snider posted a positive health update after stepping back from touring, revealing that his doctors were impressed by the improvements he had made. He said his heart condition had improved significantly, and as long as he avoided the physical demands of performing on stage, his aches and pains remained manageable.
