In a candid and emotional interview published today by Rolling Stone, DEE SNIDER has revealed the full extent of the health issues that led to his decision in February 2026 to cancel the planned TWISTED SISTER reunion tour and step away from live performing. The 71-year-old vocalist described a cascade of medical challenges that made continuing on stage impossible: severe arthritis in both hands that has made gripping a microphone painful, a hip replacement surgery he underwent in late 2025, a lingering knee injury that limits his mobility, and most seriously, a heart condition that his doctors have warned could be aggravated by the physical demands of performing.
"I didn't want to go out there and give people a lesser version of DEE SNIDER," he told the magazine. "I've seen too many guys do that, and it breaks my heart every time. The voice is still there — thank God for that — but the body just can't do what TWISTED SISTER requires. We are not a band that stands still on stage."
Perhaps the most surprising revelation was Snider's enthusiastic endorsement of SEBASTIAN BACH as his replacement for the fall tour dates that TWISTED SISTER members Jay Jay French and Eddie Ojeda are determined to fulfill. "I love Sebastian Bach! He has my full blessing," Snider said. "We had a long phone call, and we were both teary-eyed by the end of it. He understands what these songs mean, and he has the pipes and the energy to deliver them the way they deserve."
Snider emphasized that his departure from touring will not affect his other activities. He remains active in media, advocacy work, and voice acting, and hinted at a possible autobiography in 2027. "I'm not disappearing," he said. "I'm just passing the torch on the live side to someone who can carry it with honor."