Twisted Sister to Retire in 2016

This isn't exactly shocking news in light of recent events, but it's still a bummer.

TWISTED SISTER HONORS A.J. PERO WITH TRIBUTE CONCERTS ON THE EAST AND WEST COASTS, WELCOMES NEW DRUMMER
and ANNOUNCES FAREWELL SHOWS IN 2016 TO MARK 40TH ANNIVERSARY

New York, NY—It was with heavy hearts that Twisted Sister said goodbye to their drummer A.J. Pero, who passed away on March 20.

Today, Twisted Sister members Dee Snider (vocals), Jay Jay French (guitar), Eddie Ojeda (guitar), and Mark “The Animal” Mendoza (bass), have announced that world renowned drummer Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater, Adrenaline Mob, Winery Dogs) is the replacement for their brother A.J. Pero for all shows this year.

To honor Pero’s memory, two shows will take place on the east coast and west coast. The first, on May 30th at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, will be filmed for broadcast, DVD, and CD. The second, for the A.J. Pero family, is scheduled on Saturday, June 13 at The Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ.

Additionally, fulfilling all concert obligations that have been made for the remainder of 2015 (in several different countries), Twisted Sister want their fans to know all festival dates that they have been advertised as playing will happen.

Finally, Twisted Sister has made it official that 2016 will formally close the touring chapter of their illustrious and legendary career. The “Forty and F*ck It” farewell shows celebrates the band’s 40th anniversary with the core line-up of Snider, French, Ojeda and Mendoza.

Bummer. I guess they could still perform as the scaled-down Bent Brother if they wanted to. Dee's never going to stop performing in some aspect too.

I hope I have a chance to see the tour (their "tours" of late have been more like a loose succession of fly-in dates). It's a shame we likely won't get any new Twisted Sister music.

Too bad. I'd love to catch this tour, if they head my way.

Yea its too bad, but they mainly were doing two or three nighters and festivals, so not a big shock for anyone, like FF, especially considering current events that have happened

manny wrote:

Yea its too bad, but they mainly were doing two or three nighters and festivals, so not a big shock for anyone, like FF, especially considering current events that have happened

Exactly.

Oh, man I really wish these guys would come to a casino or something near me as I have never got to experience the Sisters live show in person.
I still can't believe this band hasn't anything new out since I was in high school. Damn! I really felt the reunion years ago would have stirred up the collective juices of Snider and French. Oh, well.

(begin shameless self promotion)

New post on my blog about the recent developments in the Twisted Sister camp:


http://fatfreddyscat.hubpages.com/hub/Twisted-Sister-Call-it-a-Career-1976-2016

(end shameless self promotion)

It seems like JJ French has been the one pushing for retirement. I think the other guys could go another 10 years doing festivals.

Fat Freddy wrote:

(begin shameless self promotion)

New post on my blog about the recent developments in the Twisted Sister camp:


http://fatfreddyscat.hubpages.com/hub/Twisted-Sister-Call-it-a-Career-1976-2016

(end shameless self promotion)

good write up. Some interesting tidbits I had long forgotten. Growing up in NY, I was very much aware of Twisted Sister and too young to see them. They usually played bars and clubs that served alcohol. I did end up seeing them. The bouncer allowed me to stand just inside the door and watch the show. Never did see them after they made it.

One thing that has baffled me is their re-recording of Stay Hungry. Never could understand why they would mess with the most success thing they ever did. The demo's included on the remaster more than illustrated the bands intent.

Thanx journeyman...I grew up in Jersey but was just a little too young to catch TS live back in the day... I've seen Dee live with Widowmaker and with the SMF's (his mid 90s Twisted "cover band"), which will have to do, I guess.

Now that I think about it, AJ Pero's then-current band (I believe they were called Father Time) opened the SMF's show I was at, and AJ jumped behind the drums with Dee's band to do "We're Not Gonna Take It"... that's close enough!!

I have to admit, I'd love to be there at the show
It'd be a such cool crowd - smiling metal-heads -
and to hear Dee singing, ' This is our right, this is our song "
or : ' AND THEN - Were never gonna stop' - ( Were Gonna Make It )
or : " GOD HELP YOU " !!! - ( Sin After Sin )
" Total style - Perfection in decay " ( Cant Stop R.R )
" There's nothing else that I would rather do " ( I Wanna Rock)
He had great lyrics - and that voice tone don't change !

Quote :

He had great lyrics

I'm a Twisted Sister fan, but I don't know if would stand behind this claim!

Troublezone wrote:

It seems like JJ French has been the one pushing for retirement. I think the other guys could go another 10 years doing festivals.

Even if they put TS to rest, I don't see Dee retiring. He'll still be cranking out music in some fashion till he's dead.

Quote :

It seems like JJ French has been the one pushing for retirement.

Jay Jay is 62 years old, Dee just turned 60, and Eddie "Fingers" Ojeda and Mark "The Animal" Mendoza are both 59.

French sez the band was already starting to discuss setting a potential "end date" for the band prior to A.J.'s passing. I would imagine his death just made the decision easier.

Shoot, if I were Jay Jay's age, I would rather spend my golden years with my family rather than continuing to run around the planet dressed like a deranged drag queen, too...

Fat Freddy wrote:

Shoot, if I were Jay Jay's age, I would rather spend my golden years with my family rather than continuing to run around the planet dressed like a deranged drag queen, too...

Be careful what you wish for. Senility brings some people to spend their golden years looking like deranged drag queens by default rather than choice.

Only Sister could get away with it at their age -
and they would look much more scarier on stage -
way more underground metal than, well, what KISS does with those 2 other guys.

Quote :

It seems like JJ French has been the one pushing for retirement.

I may have some insight into that...my brother met Jay Jay over the weekend at a bookstore in New Jersey, he was there as part of a so-called "New Jersey Rock Expo" tied into the release of a book about "Circus Circus," a 70s nightclub in NJ that Twisted played at frequently during their club days.

He sez Jay Jay gave a good talk about Twisted's early years but he also mentioned that his hearing is completely shot after all these years of playing at high volume, and his eyesight is apparently failing as well.

My brother bought a signed Under the Blade LP at a record show years ago but he was never sure if the sigs were genuine or not, so he'd brought it along to have Jay Jay take a look at it. He sez Jay Jay had to practically hold the record sleeve up to the tip of his nose in order to see it clearly but he was able to finally assure my brother that the sigs were legit.

So Jay Jay's, errr, sensory issues may have played a part in TS' "retirement" plans too.

Fat Freddy wrote:

Quote :

It seems like JJ French has been the one pushing for retirement.

Jay Jay is 62 years old, Dee just turned 60, and Eddie "Fingers" Ojeda and Mark "The Animal" Mendoza are both 59.

French sez the band was already starting to discuss setting a potential "end date" for the band prior to A.J.'s passing. I would imagine his death just made the decision easier.

Shoot, if I were Jay Jay's age, I would rather spend my golden years with my family rather than continuing to run around the planet dressed like a deranged drag queen, too...

Though I'm aware of what age they were most likely around, it's a little sobering to see their ages stated. Where has time gone? Though I'm in the most exciting stage of my life, since I was 16 years old, it's hard to comprehend that even I've lived what will be half of my life. That in itself makes me want to go out there in the world and do even more. Having said that, I think these guys have earned it and should enjoy their golden years. Hopefully all have other jobs, where money isn't a real issue.

Twisted Sister's last-ever gig in their home area of NY/NJ has been announced. They'll be part of the 2nd annual "Rock Carnival" festival in Lakewood, NJ, at the end of September. Also on the bill: Overkill, Ace Frehley, Tom Keifer, Dokken, Monster Magnet, and others "to be announced."



http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/twisted-sister-to-be-joined-by-overkill-ace-frehley-for-final-tri-state-area-shows/

Dang. If they added the newly-reunited Misfits to this thing, it would pretty much be the last concert I'd ever have to see. Haha

That's worth the price of admission just for TS, Overkill and Ace.

"Tom Keifer's Cinderella"? When did that happen?

Looks like a pretty bitchin' line-up though.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

"Tom Keifer's Cinderella"? When did that happen?  

Looks like a pretty bitchin' line-up though.

I noticed that too. Usually he's billed as "Cinderella's Tom Keifer," not the other way around. Maybe it's a typo. Either that or he's gone mad with power and seized the Cinderella name for himself.... and if that's happened, can "Eric Brittingham's Cinderella" and "Jeff LaBar's Cinderella Experience" be far behind?

We'll see what the fine folks at Pat's Dogs have to say about that.

^^ That clip will never get old. NEVER.