Jay Jay French recently addressed Twisted Sister’s decision to cancel their 2026 reunion tour due to Dee Snider’s health issues and hinted that the band might consider a future without Snider. He shared his thoughts in a video posted on Instagram.
The guitarist reflected on the band’s 50-year history and explained the difficult decision to cancel the planned dates.
“Today is the actual 50th anniversary of the day that Dee auditioned in the band. 1976. Here’s the diary entry. ‘Danny Snider’ — he wasn’t Dee yet — ‘auditions for Twisted Sister’, February 7th, 1976,” French said. “For the last 50 years, me and [Twisted Sister guitarist] Eddie [Ojeda] have stood side by side with Dee, not with hundreds of shows, but with thousands of shows.”
French drew a comparison to sports to explain Snider’s current situation and the band’s decision.
“You know the cliché in sports, when a great sportsman retires, they say he left it on the field. Well, I can tell you when it comes to Dee, he left it on the stage. He gave everything his all, and his body is now telling him, ‘I can’t give you anymore,'” he continued. “When someone tells you that, you have to accept it and you have to move on. So please understand this was a tough decision, but we had no other choice but to cancel these dates.”
The guitarist also addressed the band’s uncertain future while expressing gratitude to their fanbase.
“As far as the future of Twisted Sister is concerned, Eddie Ojeda and I will have conversations in the next couple of weeks to discuss what, if any, options exist for us to continue,” French said. “Until then, just know that the SMFs [an abbreviation for ‘Sick Mother Fucker’, which is what Twisted Sister fans are affectionately called] around the world are the thing that kept us alive and kept us going. We love you guys and we will do everything we can to always live up to your expectations as fans, ’cause nobody understands fandom more than us. We appreciate everything that you’ve ever done for us and hopefully we’ll see you again in the future. Thank you.”
The cancellation affects what would have been a significant milestone tour for the heavy metal band. The tour marked five decades since Snider first joined the group.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the planned 50th anniversary concerts included shows starting April 25 in São Paulo. The tour was meant to celebrate the band’s remarkable journey from their formation in the mid-1970s to becoming one of the most recognizable acts in heavy metal history.
Snider’s health challenges have been mounting over recent years. Metal Sludge noted that the 70-year-old vocalist suffers from degenerative arthritis that has required several surgeries over the years. This condition limits him to performing only a few songs at a time while experiencing significant pain. Recent medical checks have also revealed heart issues stemming from his intense performing style that defined Twisted Sister’s energetic live shows.
The frontman’s own words reflect his commitment to maintaining the band’s standards. “I don’t know of any other way to rock… I’d rather walk away than be a shadow of my former self,” Snider stated, as the Los Angeles Times documented.
The decision marks a potential end to one of heavy metal’s most enduring partnerships. French and Ojeda’s upcoming discussions about the band’s future will determine whether Twisted Sister can continue in any form without their iconic frontman. Snider’s distinctive voice and stage presence helped define the band’s identity for half a century.
