Twisted Sister are officially preparing to hit the road again in 2026, but their comeback won’t feature longtime bassist Mark Mendoza.
Frontman Dee Snider revealed the news during a conversation with Eddie Trunk, explaining the absence simply as:
“I can only say irreconcilable differences and leave it at that. I can’t get into the weeds. People change — I’m not saying he changed, maybe we changed — but whatever it is, irreconcilable differences.”
Russell Pzutto Steps In
Filling Mendoza’s role will be Russell Pzutto, who has a long history with the band. Pzutto played bass on Snider’s solo albums For the Love of Metal (2018) and Leave a Scar (2021), toured with Snider, and even worked as Mendoza’s bass tech.
Snider noted that all Twisted Sister members have had backup choices in mind in case they couldn’t perform, and Pzutto was a natural fit:
“He did an amazing job on those two albums. Everyone in the band knows him from years of working with Twisted. In fact, he once stepped in for Mark at a festival in Belgium, so he’s already played with us before.”
Will Mendoza Ever Return?
Asked if Mendoza might rejoin for a one-off appearance, Snider kept his response cautious:
“I can’t imagine it right now. Things have happened that I don’t see being reconciled, hence the term ‘irreconcilable differences.’”
What Fans Can Expect in 2026
While the tour dates have not yet been revealed, Snider promised that the shows will feature more elaborate makeup and costumes than the band’s last run before retiring in 2016. His wife, Suzette Snider — Twisted Sister’s longtime makeup artist and costume designer — is already at work designing new looks.
“She’s not saying we should go back to what we wore in the ’80s, but she said, ‘I think you should pay homage,’” Snider explained. “Maybe age-appropriate — some lipstick on the teeth like your old aunt.”
As for the physical challenge of returning to the stage, Snider was clear:
“I can’t embarrass myself. I can’t disappoint people. I can’t disappoint myself. So I’ll be ready.”
With a promise of bigger stage shows, louder anthems, and classic Twisted Sister energy, the 2026 reunion tour is set to be one of the most anticipated rock events of the year.
