Twisted Sister was one of the most popular and influential hair metal bands of the 1980s, best known for hits like “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and “I Wanna Rock.” The band formed in 1972 and enjoyed great success until they disbanded in 1987. However, Twisted Sister later reunited and went on several more tours before announcing in 2016 that they were retiring for good. Fans have continued to wonder if the band will ever get back together and go on tour again.
Background on Twisted Sister
Twisted Sister was originally founded in 1972 by guitarist Jay Jay French. The band went through several lineup changes in the 1970s before settling on a classic lineup of French, vocalist Dee Snider, guitarist Eddie Ojeda, bassist Mark Mendoza, and drummer A.J. Pero. After building a following in the New York and New Jersey club scene, the band achieved mainstream success in 1984 with their third studio album Stay Hungry.
Stay Hungry included Twisted Sister’s two biggest hits – “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and “I Wanna Rock.” The album sold over 3 million copies in the US alone. The band became famous for their over-the-top glam metal look of outrageous costumes and makeup. Their music videos for “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and “I Wanna Rock” received heavy rotation on MTV and made them rock stars.
After Stay Hungry, Twisted Sister released one more studio album, Love Is for Suckers, in 1987 before disbanding later that year. They cited exhaustion from heavy touring and tensions within the band as reasons for the split.
First Reunion and Tours (1997-2016)
In 1997, Twisted Sister’s classic lineup reunited for a concert tour titled Twisted Forever. The tour was a success, proving the band could still draw big crowds who loved their classic hits. They continued to reunite for occasional festival shows and tours over the next two decades.
In 2001, drummer A.J. Pero left the band for medical reasons. He was replaced by former Motley Crue drummer Rikki Rockett. In 2003, the band released a new album Still Hungry featuring re-recorded versions of their classic songs. The band did a 2004 summer tour promoting the album.
In 2015, Twisted Sister embarked on their 40th anniversary tour titled Forty and F**k It. Tragically, A.J. Pero died of a heart attack while on tour that year, and was replaced for the remainder of the dates by Mike Portnoy. After this tour concluded, Twisted Sister announced the Forty and F**k It tour would be their last and that they would be disbanding.
Reasons for Retirement
When Twisted Sister announced their retirement in 2016, they cited several factors that went into the decision:
- Their age and the challenges of sustaining the level of high energy shows they were known for
- The death of A.J. Pero and difficulty finding a permanent replacement drummer
- Desire for the members to explore other projects and business ventures outside of music
- Feeling that they went out on a high note with successful final tours
Vocalist Dee Snider stated that Twisted Sister “wants to go out on top, out in a blaze of glory.” Guitarist Jay Jay French emphasized that they were permanently retired and there was “no chance whatsoever” of them touring again. On their final tour, the band destroyed their instruments and costumes on stage to signify the definite end to the band.
Can Fan Demand Bring Them Back?
Even with the band’s insistence that their retirement is permanent, some fans still hold out hope for one more reunion tour. Bands like The Eagles, Kiss, and Motley Crue have had ‘final’ tours only to eventually hit the road again years later. Could fan demand possibly convince Twisted Sister to tour again?
According to concert industry experts:
- Nostalgic reunion tours can be extremely lucrative for bands in the later stages of their career
- Comeback tours often sell out quickly by tapping into older fans’ renewed interest
- Younger generations discovering a band’s music also creates new demand
Twisted Sister still have a very devoted fanbase who would undoubtedly buy tickets to see them perform their classic glam metal hits again. The chance to make millions on reunion shows could persuade them to reconsider retirement. However, the band would need to overcome obstacles like replacing drummer A.J. Pero and getting themselves back in proper touring shape in their 60s.
What Band Members Have Said Recently
In interviews over the past few years, Twisted Sister’s members have provided some insights on their stance toward ever reuniting:
- Dee Snider – Expressed he’s focused on new solo projects but hasn’t completely ruled out Twisted Sister performing again someday. He’s more open to doing one-off shows vs. a lengthy tour.
- Eddie Ojeda – Stated the band won’t tour again but hasn’t discounted occasional one-off shows. He also has no interest in touring as Twisted Sister without the other classic members.
- Mark Mendoza – Agreed that the band can’t realistically do a full tour again but is open to special festival appearances. However, he said Twisted Sister is finished in terms of new music.
- Jay Jay French – Has been the most adamant that they will never reunite for any shows. French insists the band will forever stay retired.
So a compromise full-scale reunion tour seems unlikely. But there appears to be at least some willingness among most band members to consider doing some special one-off festival performances if the opportunity arose.
Likelihood of Twisted Sister Touring Again
Given the factors and input from band members, here is an assessment of the likelihood of Twisted Sister touring again:
Scenario | Likelihood |
---|---|
Full-scale reunion tour | Extremely Low |
One-off reunion shows | Moderate |
Mini-residency in Las Vegas | Low |
Special guest appearances | High |
TV reunion performance | Moderate |
Based on this assessment, a full reunion tour is extremely unlikely given the band’s ages, Dee Snider’s solo focus, and reluctance from Jay Jay French.
One-off festival appearances or special guest appearances seem to be the most plausible scenarios. Several bands like Motley Crue and Guns N Roses have taken that approach in recent years after their ‘final’ tours.
The band could also be open to a televised reunion performance for a special event or awards show. But Twisted Sister doing a lengthy Las Vegas residency is improbable since they have resisted that big of a commitment.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Twisted Sister is largely expected to stay retired from touring. While fans may long for the band to reunite, the logistics and commitment of a full tour make that unrealistic. However, there is a possibility the band members could agree to selective one-off performances or appearances in the future.
Nothing is guaranteed though, given Jay Jay French’s hard stance against reuniting and the band’s desire to preserve their legacy and go out on top. Barring an extremely lucrative offer, Twisted Sister will likely avoid trying to recapture the magic of their prime and remain retired. Their days of touring may be done, but their iconic songs will live on for generations to come.