The legendary heavy metal band Twisted Sister has officially unveiled its new touring lineup, fronted by former Skid Row vocalist Sebastian Bach, with their inaugural concert taking place Friday night, August 28, at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey. This highly anticipated performance marked a significant moment for both the band and its new frontman, signaling a new chapter for the iconic group.
Initially billed as a performance by "Bent Brother," an alter ego of Twisted Sister, the show’s promotion evolved to officially announce the debut live appearance of the band’s revamped touring ensemble. The lineup now features Sebastian Bach commanding lead vocals, alongside veteran guitarists Jay Jay French and Eddie Ojeda. Russell Pzütto takes on bass duties, replacing longtime member Mark "The Animal" Mendoza, and Joey Cassata steps in as the drummer, filling in for Joe Franco who was unavailable for the fall dates. This configuration is set to embark on an additional eleven shows throughout the fall season.
The setlist for the Sayreville concert, meticulously documented by Setlist.fm, offered a powerful blend of Twisted Sister classics and a few surprising additions, demonstrating Bach’s deep connection to the band’s catalog. The evening kicked off with "What You Don’t Know (Sure Can Hurt You)" and "You Can’t Stop Rock ‘N’ Roll," immediately igniting the crowd. The performance continued with fan favorites such as "We’re Gonna Make It," "Shoot ‘Em Down," "Tear It Loose," and "Destroyer." The band also delved into anthems like "The Kids Are Back," "Ride To Live, Live To Ride," and "Under The Blade," showcasing the raw energy that defined Twisted Sister’s early career. A particularly impactful moment came with the inclusion of "The Price," a song Bach has cited as a significant influence on his own musical development.
The setlist also featured a notable inclusion of Skid Row’s own anthems, with Bach performing "I Remember You" and "Youth Gone Wild." This inclusion underscored Bach’s dual role, honoring his past while embracing his new undertaking. The concert culminated with the universally recognized hits "I Wanna Rock" and "We’re Not Gonna Take It," leaving the audience in a state of electrifying euphoria. Video footage of the concert has since surfaced, capturing the high-octane performance and the palpable energy shared between the band and its audience.
A Deep Dive into the Genesis of a New Era
The transition to Sebastian Bach fronting Twisted Sister for these fall 2026 shows follows the departure of iconic vocalist Dee Snider, who stepped down due to health challenges. In a March 2026 interview with Meltdown of Detroit’s WRIF radio station, Bach articulated his profound connection to Twisted Sister, describing himself as a devoted fan whose admiration for the band predates his own musical career.
"I am a fan of TWISTED SISTER," Bach stated emphatically. "And I’ll tell you right now, I’m probably a bigger fan of TWISTED SISTER than anybody watching this. I love that band. I used to go see them whenever I could. And I really love the album ‘You Can’t Stop Rock ‘N’ Roll’ with songs like ‘The Kids Are Back,’ ‘Ride To Live, Live To Ride.’ I love the ‘Under The Blade’ album. I love ‘Shoot ‘Em Down,’ ‘Destroyer,’ ‘Tear It Loose.’ I mean, I love ‘I Wanna Rock,’ I love ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It,’ but there’s an earlier period of that band where they were one of the most ferocious rock bands that you will ever see. And if you saw them back then, you know what I’m talking about."
Bach further elaborated on the intensity he intends to bring to the stage, drawing parallels to the band’s early club days. "When they were a club band, they would come out there like a punk rock band or a total thrash metal band," he explained. "I mean, if you listen to their version of ‘It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll (But I Like It)’ by The Rolling Stones, it’s like a speed metal tempo… Well, that’s the kind of energy that I’m gonna bring. I mean, I’m not no spring chicken, but I still have a lot of energy when I get on the stage. And I’m going to give you guys fun and energy in TWISTED SISTER."
Acknowledging the significance of his new role, Bach expressed his enthusiasm: "I’m the lead singer of TWISTED SISTER," he declared. "How much fun is that to say? I love saying that, so I’m really looking forward to it. I will also say that I’ll never stop singing the [classic Skid Row songs] ’18 And Life,’ ‘I Remember You,’ ‘Youth Gone Wild,’ ‘Monkey Business,’ ‘Slave To The Grind’ – I’ll never stop doing that. So I’m not stopping my solo band. I’m continuing my solo band, but I’m doing shows with TWISTED SISTER that are bigger than my solo band. So it’s a step up for me. I’ll have a nicer dressing room and stuff."
Dee Snider’s Blessing and the "SMF Number Two" Legacy
The decision for Sebastian Bach to step into Dee Snider’s iconic role was a carefully considered one, rooted in mutual respect and Snider’s personal endorsement. During an appearance on SiriusXM’s "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" on March 3, 2026, Bach shared the emotional details of how he was recruited.
"Well, I have tears in my eyes right now," Bach confessed. "I am SMF Number Two. I was named that by Dee Snider. And I just have to say, I just got off the phone with Dee Snider. We talked for about 45 minutes, and we were both kind of getting teary eyed."
Bach further detailed his long-standing admiration for Twisted Sister, linking it to his own recent solo work. "I just put out a [solo] record called ‘Child Within The Man,’ and one of my favorite all-time bands is TWISTED SISTER," he explained. "And the music of TWISTED SISTER makes me feel like a child within the man. This is what I was talking about on my new record, how rock and roll music, it has a life of its own. You’re talking to a guy here – I used to go to school and I used to paint the TWISTED SISTER logo on the back of my jacket in liquid paper thinking that looked cool [laughs] – whiteout. [Laughs] So I am a real fan – I am a fan of this music, and that is really, number one, why I’m doing it. And also to honor the legacy of these songs. And I look at it like when Paul Rodgers came in [to sing] for QUEEN, or when [Guns N’ Roses frontman] Axl [Rose] came in for Brian Johnson [in AC/DC]. I am a fan of TWISTED SISTER and I always have been, and I love this music. I love it. I love ‘Tear it Loose.’ I love ‘Destroyer.’ I love ‘The Price.’ I mean, you talk about [classic Skid Row songs like] ’18 And Life’ and ‘I Remember You.’ Well, you know what? I locked myself in a room rehearsing to ‘The Price.’ And these songs are how I learned how to rock."
The conversation with Snider was particularly poignant. "I said, ‘I’m calling you in 10 minutes.’ He goes, ‘Okay.’ And I called him and he goes, ‘SMF Number Two.’ ‘Cause he’s always called me that. I’m a sick motherfucker. I’m a sick motherfucking fan of TWISTED SISTER. And he’s always called me Number Two. Of course, he’s number one."
Snider explained his decision to step down, citing medical advice. "And so I go, ‘Well, I guess I really am SMF Number Two.’ And then I asked him, what did the doctor say to him? And he’s, like, ‘No problem. I’ll tell you.’ He says that he has arthritis, that his knees are going out, and he has bone on bone. And the doctor said that he should not be jumping around. And he goes, ‘Well, that’s not an option,’ ’cause he wants to do the full show moving around and stuff, and the doctor said, ‘You can’t do it.’ So he said, ‘You have my full blessing.’ He goes, ‘I love you.’ I told him I loved him, and we were, like, teary eyed. And he told me that his family was crying when he said he couldn’t do the tour."
Snider also expressed a willingness to participate in future shows, a prospect that excites Bach. "I asked him, ‘Hey, you wanna come out and jam with us?’ He goes, ‘Yeah.’ He goes, ‘Yeah.’ So maybe he’ll be at some of these gigs on stage with us. Who knows? I don’t know if that’s gonna happen or not. But it’s tough getting older – it’s tough for everybody getting older, and I’m a lot younger."
Bach emphasized the importance of obtaining Snider’s approval. "That’s a sign of respect," he stated. "I respect Dee Snider, I respect Jay Jay French, I respect Eddie Ojeda, I respect [former Twisted Sister members] A.J. Pero, Mark Mendoza, the whole team. And I’ve always been a serious fan – like, really serious. I don’t just like the hits of TWISTED SISTER. I like ‘Like A Knife In The Back.’ I like the heavy TWISTED SISTER. And I love ‘I Wanna Rock.’ I love ‘The Price.’ ‘The Price’ is one of my favorite TWISTED SISTER songs. I love ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It.’ But the album ‘You Can’t Stop Rock ‘N’ Roll,’ I would probably say, is my favorite one."
Lineup Changes and the Enduring Spirit of Twisted Sister
The current touring iteration of Twisted Sister sees some significant personnel shifts beyond the vocal position. Russell Pzütto, who has previously toured with Snider’s solo projects, now occupies the bass position, taking over for Mark "The Animal" Mendoza. On drums, Joey Cassata, known for his work on Ace Frehley’s final original solo album, "10,000 Volts," has been brought in. Initially, Joe Franco, who had a brief stint with the band in the mid-1980s and was slated to perform in place of the late A.J. Pero (who passed away in 2015 at the age of 55), was expected to play. However, Franco’s unavailability for the fall dates led to Cassata’s involvement.
Jay Jay French, a founding member of Twisted Sister, addressed the band’s history of lineup changes during his conversation with "Trunk Nation." "In the 53-year history of the band, we’ve had 20 people who’ve been in and out of TWISTED SISTER," French noted. "We’ve had five singers, we’ve had three bass players, we’ve had four guitar players and we’ve had nine drummers. Half of them are dead. It’s a very tough business to be a drummer with TWISTED SISTER. But we had an amazing history of the band, and this is just a continuation of the history. And the thing is the music always survives. They said Steve Perry could never have been replaced in JOURNEY. And he was. That Freddie Mercury could never be replaced [in QUEEN]. And he was. And guess what? Baz is gonna be an unbelievable replacement."
French further clarified the current lineup: "So it’s me, Eddie Ojeda and Baz. Joe Franco had signed on for the summer, and he wasn’t available in the fall. And so Joey Cassata is gonna be on drums filling in for Joe, but if Joe Franco can make it, he definitely will. And Russ Pzütto, who has been our bass tech and has filled in for Mark in the past, will be playing bass. So Russ has been with the organization for years and years and years. He also played on Dee’s solo projects. So that’s basically the lineup."
A History of Mutual Admiration and the "Hair Metal" Debate
The camaraderie between Dee Snider and Sebastian Bach is not a new development. The two had publicly expressed their mutual admiration in 2020, following a spirited debate on social media regarding the term "hair metal."
"I love Sebastian Bach!" Snider wrote on X (formerly Twitter) at the time. "During the darkest period of my career, he stood tall as a Dee Snider fan when few would. I will always be grateful to him for not caring what was ‘cool’ at the moment and speaking our proudly for the things he loved. Thank you SMF#2!"
Bach responded in kind: "I love Dee Snider. I will always love the music he has made. No matter how much Dee sees himself as ‘hair metal,’ I will always see him on a much higher level than that implies. He is one of the greatest frontmen and vocalists of all time. Any corny label less than that is an insult."
This history of mutual respect provides a strong foundation for Bach’s current role within Twisted Sister, ensuring a continuation of the band’s legacy built on shared passion and understanding.
A Glimpse into Twisted Sister’s Recent Past
The recent reunion at the Metal Hall Of Fame in Agoura Hills, California, three and a half years prior to this article, offered a brief but potent glimpse of the band’s enduring appeal. At that event, Snider, French, Mendoza, and drummer Mike Portnoy were present for Twisted Sister’s induction. Eddie Ojeda was absent due to contracting COVID-19, with Keith Robert War stepping in for him. The band delivered a high-energy three-song set featuring "You Can’t Stop Rock ‘N’ Roll," "Under The Blade," and the iconic anthem "We’re Not Gonna Take It."
Twisted Sister’s original run concluded in the late 1980s. Following a hiatus of over a decade, the band reunited in November 2001 for the New York Steel benefit concert, a significant event aimed at raising funds for the New York Police And Fire Widows’ And Children’s Benefit Fund. This reunion marked the beginning of a new phase for the band, leading to subsequent tours and performances, culminating in the current chapter with Sebastian Bach at the helm. The Sayreville debut signifies not an end, but a powerful continuation, driven by a shared love for the music and a desire to keep the spirit of Twisted Sister alive for a new generation of fans.
