Twisted Sister announced last Thursday, the 5th, the cancellation of their highly anticipated reunion tour celebrating their 50th anniversary . With shows scheduled at major festivals around the world, the reunion would have marked their return to the stage after a hiatus since 2016.
In a statement released through the band's social media , the cancellation occurred after vocalist Dee Snider faced health problems that prevent him from fulfilling the planned tour schedule. According to the statement, the decision was made jointly by the band members and the singer's medical team, prioritizing his full recovery. "I don't know any other way to proceed. The idea of slowing down is unacceptable to me. I'd rather retire than be a shadow of what I once was," confessed Snider.
Acid For Squares podcast , hosted by the singer's son, Cody Blue Snider , Dee Snider revealed in detail the series of health problems he has been facing. The musician deals with degenerative arthritis, which has led him to undergo several surgeries over the years.
“In recent months—or rather, in this last year—I’ve gone through some different experiences. I’ve had some health problems. I have arthritis in my shoulders, degenerative arthritis. I had a hip replacement because of excessive wear and tear on my joints, a result of my profession, which demands too much from my body. In addition, I also have hypertension, high blood pressure. And I’m not someone who simply accepts things passively. There are situations you need to accept—when a part of the body wears out and needs to be replaced, that’s pretty much indisputable. That’s when you’ve already passed the point of no return,” he confessed [transcription via Confere Rock ] .
Dee Snider also recently discovered that the level of intensity she dedicated to her life's work also affected her heart.
“But, in the case of the heart, this is linked to accumulated stress over time. While I work with doctors and take some medication to lower my blood pressure, when I analyze the situation, I think that perhaps there is something that can be done to reduce this stress. If I could slow down a little, perhaps I could help my heart recover. It needs to be this way, because the idea of using medication for the rest of my life—regardless of how proven or safe it is—bothers me. I have lived a drug-free life, a healthy life. So, the idea of being chained to a bottle of pills for the rest of my life is something that really disturbs me,” he said.
Dee Snider resorted to alternative medicine
The artist stated he was open to any alternative that could help him, including mushroom therapy, as long as it was conducted in a safe environment. Initially, he imagined undergoing the experience with the support of his family, but acknowledged having an emotional barrier built up over a difficult yet successful life. Therefore, he chose to seek guidance from RZ , an experienced shaman.
“If there is an alternative, if there is a way out of this, and if mushrooms are a possibility that can help in this situation, I am 100% in favor of trying. I imagined it would be natural for my family to accompany and guide me in this process. And I felt safe and protected in that environment. They also felt comfortable. […] My family felt that perhaps they weren't the ideal people to lead this with me. And, fortunately, our paths crossed with RZ's—who is an experienced and renowned shaman, specializing in working with mushrooms and guiding people on these journeys.”
Cody Blue Snider also reported that his father is not completely cured, but that the mushrooms are helping, as the experience is part of a layered process that involves confronting conflicts and delving into internal issues. The combination of herbal medicine, meditation, and therapy has helped reduce Dee Snider's emotional and physical problems.
“They say psychedelics won’t cure you; they’ll show you the way, and you’ll heal yourself. The medical community is full of medications, but, well, if herbal medicine cured you, why keep going back? Because it’s a path. It’s a process,” Cody revealed.
“My father had his heart checked, and the levels were still a little elevated. He wasn’t completely healed, but he started meditating. And when he meditates, his heart heals. The levels go down. My father is following his own path. He overcame the fear, he overcame the stigma, and he received a tool, as well as an experience, to heal his own heart and heal himself on his own. That’s what he’s doing now. No matter how far he goes—the path is up to him. No one can heal him. He can only heal himself. But he has already begun this journey, and we couldn’t be prouder.”.
READ ALSO: Poll: Which band do you most want to see at Bangers Open Air 2026?
