Twisted Sister Cancel 50th Anniversary Shows After Dee Snider Steps Down Over Health Concerns

Heavy metal band Twisted Sister has canceled all planned 50th anniversary reunion shows for 2026 following the resignation of frontman Dee Snider, who cited ongoing and newly revealed health issues as the reason for stepping away from the band.

In a statement shared on the group’s official Instagram account, Twisted Sister confirmed that the decision resulted in the cancellation of all scheduled performances beginning April 25 in São Paulo, Brazil, and extending through the summer. The band added that the “future of Twisted Sister will be determined in the next several weeks.”

Snider’s departure was described by the band as a “sudden and unexpected resignation,” though his accompanying statement outlined a long history of physical strain stemming from decades of high-intensity performances. According to the post, Snider has been dealing with degenerative arthritis and has undergone multiple surgeries over the years, allowing him to perform “only a few songs at a time, and in pain.”

The statement further revealed that Snider recently learned that the physical demands of his career have also affected his heart. “The level of intensity he has dedicated to his life’s work has taken its toll on his heart as well,” the band wrote, adding that Snider can no longer perform with the same physical ferocity that defined his stage presence for decades.

In a personal message included alongside the band’s announcement, Snider addressed fans directly. “I don’t know of any other way to rock,” he wrote. “The idea of slowing down is unacceptable to me. I’d rather walk away than be a shadow of my former self.” He concluded by quoting Magnum Force (1973): “A man’s got to know his limitations.”

The canceled run was intended to commemorate the band’s 50th anniversary and would have marked Twisted Sister’s first tour since 2016, when they embarked on their officially billed farewell outing, the Forty and F— It tour. That tour was positioned as the group’s final run after decades as one of heavy metal’s most recognizable and theatrical acts.

The 2026 shows were set to feature the band’s core lineup: Snider, founding guitarist and longtime member Jay Jay French, and lead guitarist Eddie Ojeda. No replacement plans or alternative formats for the anniversary have been announced.

Twisted Sister rose to mainstream prominence in the 1980s with anthems like “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and “I Wanna Rock,” becoming emblematic of glam metal’s excess, defiance, and theatricality. Snider’s vocal power and confrontational performance style were central to the band’s identity, both musically and culturally.

At present, it remains unclear whether Twisted Sister will pursue any future activity without Snider at the helm.