In his first direct comments on the matter, Twisted Sister founder Jay Jay French has addressed the absence of longtime bassist Mark “The Animal” Mendoza from the band’s 50th-anniversary reunion, framing the lineup change not as personal drama, but as a pragmatic business decision. “Bands are like marriages, and things happen,” he said, explaining that sometimes a “realignment takes place… to keep your business moving.”
The confirmation that Mendoza, a key member of the band’s classic and most successful lineup, would not be part of the 2026 celebration has been a major topic of discussion for fans. Speaking in a new interview with Canada’s “The Metal Voice,” French offered a frank, business-first explanation while maintaining his long-standing policy of not airing the band’s dirty laundry.
He said: “It happens with bands. Bands are like marriages, and things happen. Listen, I was clear when I said this: me, Dee and Eddie have played through 10 different drummers and bass players. Most people don’t know this. We have never spoken about why someone is in and why someone is out. We never have… I had never spoken about them. My attitude is a realignment takes place, however way you have to do it to keep your business moving, and you make your business move. And that’s really all there is to it. And I don’t wanna bring in any more than that. People know what they know, and I have no reason to throw dirt on anything whatsoever. You make the move to keep the business moving forward, and it’s exactly what Twisted Sister has always done.”
French went on to defend the legitimacy of the reunion lineup, comparing Twisted Sister favorably to other 50-year-old legacy acts. “If you look at Judas Priest and you look at Mötley [Crüe] and you look at Aerosmith… how many people are left [that were there] originally? And the answer is one, two, three guys,” he argued. “In our case, we’ve got four original members of the band. And I’m really proud of that. And I’m proud of me, Dee and Eddie, let me tell you. We’ve been together shoulder to shoulder on stage for thousands of shows… And we’re gonna celebrate that one more time.”
While French focused on the business realities, frontman Dee Snider previously offered a more personal reason for Mendoza’s absence, citing “irreconcilable differences.” In a recent interview, Snider stated: “Things have happened that I don’t see being reconciled.”
The rhythm section for the 2026 tour will consist of bassist Russell Pzütto and returning drummer Joe Franco. With both French and Snider now having commented, the picture is clear: Twisted Sister is moving forward into its 50th anniversary with a realigned roster, a decision the founder views as a necessary step to keep the business of rock and roll on the road.
