Twisted Sister is an American heavy metal band from Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey. Formed in late December 1972 as cover band Silver Star, the group changed its name to Twisted Sister in February 1973 and originally included lead vocalist Michael "Valentine" O'Neill, guitarists Jay Jay French and Billy "Diamond" Steiger, bassist Kenny Neill and drummer Mel "Starr" Anderson. The band took a short hiatus in December 1974, after O'Neill instigated a fight with Anderson and threatened to shoot the drummer. They returned early the following year with new vocalist Frank "Rick Prince" Karuba and guitarist Keith "Angel" Angelino (in place of Steiger), although both had left before the end of the year, with French and Angelino's replacement Eddie "Fingers" Ojeda taking over lead vocal duties temporarily before another short hiatus.

By February 1976, Twisted Sister had returned with new frontman Dee Snider and drummer Kevin John Grace. Tony Petri took over on drums a few months later. Neill left two years later in December 1978, with his place taken by Mark "The Animal" Mendoza. The band changed drummers three more times in the early 1980s, first when Richie Teeter replaced Petri in December 1980, followed by Joey Brighton in April 1981, and finally by Anthony "A. J." Pero in April 1982. The lineup of Snider, French, Ojeda, Mendoza and Pero released four studio albums between 1982 and 1985, before Pero left in 1986 to rejoin his former band Cities. He was replaced by Joey "Seven" Franco, who performed on the group's last album Love Is for Suckers before breaking up in early 1988, following Snider's departure in October 1987.

Twisted Sister reunited in 1998 to record "Heroes Are Hard to Find" for the film Strangeland, written and co-produced by Snider. The band reformed again to perform live for the first time in 14 years at New York Steel in November 2001, a benefit concert for organisations affected by the September 11 attacks. A more permanent reunion followed in 2003, spawning new studio recordings and live releases. The band retained the same lineup until March 2015, when Pero died of a heart attack while touring with Adrenaline Mob. Following the drummer's death, the band announced that it was to embark on a final tour before breaking up in 2016, enlisting Mike Portnoy to take over for (late) A.J. Pero. The final Twisted Sister show took place on November 12, 2016, in Monterrey, Mexico at the Corona Northside Rock Park Meeting Fest.

The band reunited on January 26, 2023 playing a 3 song set for their induction into the Metal Hall of Fame. The line up consisted of inductees Dee Snider, Jay Jay French and Mark Mendoza with Mike Portnoy filling in for inductee A.J. Pero and Keith Robert War filling in for inductee Eddie Ojeda. The band was scheduled to reunite again in 2024 for appearances at various Democrat political rallies in the 2024 election season.

The band announced their reunion in September 2025 for shows in 2026. The reunion would have marked the return of drummer Joey Franco, as well as new bassist Russell Pzütto. Mendoza was not included due to 'irreconcilable differences'.

On February 6, 2026, the band announced Snider's resignation on health grounds and the cancellation of the 50th anniversary tour. He was replaced by ex-Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach.

Members Current lineup ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsJay Jay Frenchall Twisted Sister releasesEddie "Fingers" OjedaRussell Pzütto 2025–present noneSebastian Bach2026–presentvocalsJoey Cassatadrums

Other members ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsKenny Neill1973–1978bassClub Daze Volume 1: The Studio Sessions (1999)Mel "Starr" Anderson1973–1975drumsnoneMichael "Valentine" O'Neill1973–1974lead vocalsBilly "Diamond" Steiger1973–1974 lead and rhythm guitarsKeith "Angel" Angelino1975 Frank "Rick Prince" Karuba1975 lead vocalsKevin John Grace1975–1976drumsTony Petri1976–1980 Dee SniderAll Twisted Sister releasesMark "The Animal" MendozaAll Twisted Sister releasesRitchie Teeter1980–1981 drumsnoneJoey Brighton1981–1982 Walt Woodward III1982 noneAnthony "A. J." Peroall Twisted Sister releases from Under the Blade (1982) to Come Out and Play (1985), and from Live at Hammersmith (1994) to A Twisted X-Mas: Live in Las Vegas (2012)Joey "Seven" FrancodrumsMike PortnoyMetal Meltdown: Live from the Hard Rock Casino Las Vegas (2016)Keith Robert War2023none

Timeline

Lineups PeriodMembersStudio releases 1973–1974Michael O'Neill – lead vocals Jay Jay French – guitars, backing vocals Kenny Neill – bass Billy Steiger – guitars Mel Anderson– drums 1974–1975Jay Jay French – guitars, backing vocals Kenny Neill – bass Mel Anderson – drums 1975Frank Karuba – lead vocals Jay Jay French – guitars, backing vocals Keith Angelino – guitars Kenny Neill – bass Mel Anderson – drums 1975Jay Jay French – guitars, vocals Keith Angelino – guitars Kenny Neill – bass Mel Anderson – drums 1975Jay Jay French – guitars, vocals Eddie Ojeda – guitars, vocals Kenny Neill – bass Mel Anderson – drums 1975–1976Jay Jay French – guitars, vocals Eddie Ojeda – guitars, vocals Kenny Neill – bass Kevin John Grace – drums 1976Dee Snider – lead vocals Jay Jay French – guitars, backing vocals Eddie Ojeda – guitars, backing vocals Kenny Neill – bass Kevin John Grace – drums 1976–1978Dee Snider – lead vocals Jay Jay French – guitars, backing vocals Eddie Ojeda – guitars, backing vocals Kenny Neill – bass Tony Petri – drums 1978–1980Dee Snider – lead vocals Jay Jay French – guitars, backing vocals Eddie Ojeda – guitars, backing vocals Mark Mendoza – bass, backing vocals Tony Petri – drums Under the Blade (1982) Live at Hammersmith (1994) Club Daze Volume II: Live in the Bars (2002) Rock 'n' Roll Saviors - The Early Years - (2016) 1980–1981Dee Snider – lead vocals Jay Jay French – guitars, backing vocals Eddie Ojeda – guitars, backing vocals Mark Mendoza – bass, backing vocals Ritchie Teeter – drums 1981–1982Dee Snider – lead vocals Jay Jay French – guitars, backing vocals Eddie Ojeda – guitars, backing vocals Mark Mendoza – bass, backing vocals Joey Brighton – drums Under the Blade (1982) 1982Dee Snider – lead vocals Jay Jay French – guitars, backing vocals Eddie Ojeda – guitars, backing vocals Mark Mendoza – bass, backing vocals Walt Woodward III – drums 1982–1986Dee Snider – lead vocals Jay Jay French – guitars, backing vocals Eddie Ojeda – guitars, backing vocals Mark Mendoza – bass, backing vocals A. J. Pero – drums, backing vocals Under the Blade (1982) You Can't Stop Rock 'n' Roll (1983) Stay Hungry (1984) Come Out and Play (1985) Live at Hammersmith (1994) Rock 'n' Roll Saviors - The Early Years - (2016) 1986–1988Dee Snider – lead vocals Jay Jay French – guitars, backing vocals Eddie Ojeda – guitars, backing vocals Mark Mendoza – bass, backing vocals Joey Franco – drums Love Is for Suckers (1987) 1988Disbanded 1988 (Reunion shows)Dee Snider – lead vocals Jay Jay French – guitars, backing vocals Eddie Ojeda – guitars, backing vocals Mark Mendoza – bass, backing vocals Joey Franco - drums 1988–1997Disbanded 1997 (Reunion shows)Dee Snider – lead vocals Jay Jay French – guitars, backing vocals Eddie Ojeda – guitars, backing vocals Mark Mendoza – bass, backing vocals A. J. Pero – drums, backing vocals 1997–2001Disbanded 2001 (Reunion shows)Dee Snider – lead vocals Jay Jay French – guitars, backing vocals Eddie Ojeda – guitars, backing vocals Mark Mendoza – bass, backing vocals A. J. Pero – drums, backing vocals Club Daze Volume II: Live in the Bars (2002) 2001–2002Disbanded 2002 (Reunion shows)Dee Snider – lead vocals Jay Jay French – guitars, backing vocals Eddie Ojeda – guitars, backing vocals Mark Mendoza – bass, backing vocals A. J. Pero – drums, backing vocals 2002–2003Disbanded 2003–2015Dee Snider – lead vocals Jay Jay French – guitars, backing vocals Eddie Ojeda – guitars, backing vocals Mark Mendoza – bass, backing vocals A. J. Pero – drums, backing vocals Still Hungry (2004) Live at Wacken: The Reunion (2005) A Twisted Christmas (2006) A Twisted Christmas - Live (2007) Live at the Astoria (2008) Live at the Marquee (2011) 2015–2016Dee Snider – lead vocals Jay Jay French – guitars, backing vocals Eddie Ojeda – guitars, backing vocals Mark Mendoza – bass, backing vocals Mike Portnoy – drums, backing vocals Metal Meltdown (2016) 2016–2023Disbanded 2023 (Reunion show)Dee Snider – lead vocals Jay Jay French – guitars, backing vocals Keith Robert War – guitars, backing vocals Mark Mendoza – bass, backing vocals Mike Portnoy – drums, backing vocals 2023–2025Disbanded2025–2026Dee Snider – lead vocals Jay Jay French – guitars, backing vocals Eddie Ojeda – guitars, backing vocals Russell Pzütto – bass, backing vocals Joey Franco – drums2026–presentSebastian Bach – lead vocals Jay Jay French – guitars, backing vocals Eddie Ojeda – guitars, backing vocals Russel Pzütto – bass, backing vocals Joey Cassata – drums

References

External links Twisted Sister official website