TWISTED SISTER RISES AGAIN: SEBASTIAN BACH HELPS KICK OFF A WILD 50TH-ANNIVERSARY HOMECOMING IN NEW JERSEY

Aug 29, 2026

If there was ever any doubt that Twisted Sister could find a way to make its return to the stage as unpredictable as its 50-year history, those doubts were erased on August 28 at Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey. The band's improbable return began late last year, when original members Dee Snider, Jay Jay French and Eddie Ojeda announced plans to play a select number of dates celebrating five decades of Twisted Sister. That announcement alone was a surprise, considering the band had promised at its 40th-anniversary celebration in 2016 that it was officially retired. Then came the first plot twist. Earlier this year, Snider announced that health concerns, along with the encouragement of his family, would force him to step away. The tour was canceled, but a cryptic message telling fans to "stay tuned for further announcements" suggested that this story wasn't over. It wasn't. Within two weeks, Sebastian Bach was announced as the new vocalist, and the Twisted Sister machine was rolling again. For this first night, however, the band wasn't technically Twisted Sister. They were Bent Brother, the alter ego historically used for the band's warm-up shows. No elaborate makeup, wigs or costumes. No massive production. Just five guys in jeans, leather and T-shirts, standing on a stage in New Jersey.

And perhaps there was no better place to start this run than New Jersey, where the roots of Twisted Sister run exceptionally deep. Jay Jay French spent much of the evening reminding the audience that the band's history began in these very surroundings, recounting the days when Twisted Sister was grinding out six shows a week and gasoline cost 29 cents a gallon. He recalled the band's first-ever performance at the Satellite Lounge near Fort Dix, where a whopping 29 people showed up.

That's a long way from a packed Starland Ballroom. It's also fitting that Sebastian Bach was standing beside him. Bach came up through the same regional rock circuit with Skid Row in the late '80s, making this first show something of a homecoming for both bands and generations of New Jersey rock fans.

The excitement had been building for days, with drummer Joey Cassata and the band posting teaser clips from rehearsals on social media. Bach was clearly having the time of his life, even jokingly referring to the new entity as "Twisted Skidster." Jay Jay played along, pulling $20 bills from his wallet and handing them to Sebastian every time he said something nice about Twisted Sister, as if he were literally paying his new singer to keep complimenting the band. It was classic rock 'n' roll irreverence, and Bach's oversized personality fit the equation perfectly.

When the five musicians finally hit the stage, there was none of the usual concert-pageantry buildup. They simply walked out, tuned their instruments and started playing. No bullshit. "What You Don't Know (Sure Can Hurt You)" exploded out of the gate, followed by "You Can't Stop Rock 'n' Roll," and the tone was established immediately. This was a roughly 90-minute set that wasn't interested in wasting time. There were plenty of stops, but those moments were filled with stories, laughter and recollections rather than filler. Bach explained how he received the call to join the band, while Jay Jay humorously recalled Sebastian's youthful devotion to Twisted Sister, painting the band's logo on his jean jacket with White-Out and rattling off song titles at machine-gun speed. Jay Jay's response was essentially, "So was that a yes?" Bach's answer: "OF COURSE!" From there, the band tore through the catalog, mixing the MTV and radio staples with the heavier material that longtime fans know and love. "Shoot 'Em Down," "Tear It Loose," "The Beast," "We're Gonna Make It" and "Ride to Live, Live to Ride" reminded everyone that underneath the makeup and theatrical image, Twisted Sister was always a seriously heavy band. The songs sounded muscular, loud and alive, and Bach attacked them with every ounce of energy he could muster.

That brings us to the biggest question surrounding this reunion: Sebastian Bach. At 58, Bach had arguably the most difficult job on the stage. He was stepping into the shoes of Dee Snider, one of the most distinctive frontmen in heavy metal, and doing it with only a handful of rehearsals under his belt. But Bach has one enormous advantage: he knows this music, loves this era and has the vocal horsepower to make it work. More than once during the show, his enthusiasm bordered on that of a kid discovering his favorite band all over again. At one point, he essentially admitted as much, saying that being up there made him feel like he was 12 years old again. That genuine excitement was impossible to miss. He was bouncing, screaming, gesturing and working every inch of the stage. He also repeatedly reminded the crowd that what they were watching was five musicians actually playing: no computers, no artificial assistance and, in his words, "no fucking AI help." Eddie Ojeda, meanwhile, was the cool, quiet counterbalance, delivering the guitar work efficiently and looking every bit the veteran rocker. He even brought his adult daughter onto the stage to contribute backing vocals, particularly during the Skid Row material. And yes, there was Skid Row material.

Perhaps the night's biggest surprise came when Bach launched into "I Remember You," giving the audience an unexpected trip back to his Skid Row days. The song carried additional weight as it was connected to the upcoming 25th anniversary of 9/11 and the New York Steel benefit concert that followed the attacks, an event that famously brought Twisted Sister and Sebastian Bach together. It was a genuine full-circle moment.

The band also took time to remember people they've lost over the years, including Joey Cassata's brother and former bandmate Dave Z. There was plenty of humor surrounding Dee Snider's absence, too. Jay Jay told the crowd about texting Dee after hearing that he had recently broken his shoulder playing basketball with his kids. According to Jay Jay, Dee's response was essentially, "Oh, okay, yeah, I can cancel the tour now." The punchline? The tour had already been canceled. Whether the story was embellished for the stage or completely accurate, there was enough subtext to make you wonder about the dynamics behind the scenes. But whatever tensions may or may not exist, there was also genuine respect. Bach dedicated "The Price" to Dee and praised him for writing the songs and lyrics that made the entire evening possible. It was an important acknowledgment: Sebastian may have been wearing the microphone, but this was still very much Dee Snider's musical legacy being celebrated.

By the time the band reached the home stretch, there was only one way this could end. "I Wanna Rock." Then "We're Not Gonna Take It." The audience didn't need any prompting. These songs are embedded in the DNA of anyone who grew up with MTV, FM radio and the golden age of '80s metal. Before launching into the finale, Jay Jay acknowledged that the band had been on the fence about continuing after Dee's departure, the canceled dates and all the inevitable questions surrounding whether this whole thing should happen at all. But after 50 years, they wanted to celebrate Twisted Sister, and they were determined to find a way to do it. On this night, they did. There was no encore, and there didn't need to be. What we got instead was 90 minutes of loud, loose, funny and surprisingly heartfelt rock 'n' roll from musicians who looked like they were genuinely enjoying being together. Sebastian Bach brought the youthful enthusiasm and unmistakable pipes. Jay Jay French brought the history, attitude and stories. Eddie Ojeda brought the guitar firepower. Joey Cassata and Russell Pzütto kept the engine roaring. And somewhere along the way, a potentially strange experiment became a hell of a lot of fun.

Whether this incarnation of Twisted Sister lasts a handful of dates or becomes something more remains to be seen. But if opening night was any indication, the band's 50th-anniversary celebration is off to one hell of a start. As summer winds down, there was perhaps no better way to spend a Friday night than inside a classic New Jersey rock club, watching a legendary band rediscover its swagger—and proving once again that you can't stop rock 'n' roll.

Setlist