Dee Snider claims that 'irreconcilable differences' are behind Mark Mendoza's absence from Twisted Sister reunion tour
Twisted Sister rocker Dee Snider has suggested that "irreconcilable differences" are the reason behind long-time bassist Mark Mendoza's absence from the band's 50th anniversary reunion tour next year.
Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider says that "irreconcilable differences" are behind Mark Mendoza's absence from the reunion tour.
The heavy metal rockers revealed on Wednesday (10.09.25) that they will be reforming for a world tour in 2026 in honour of their 50th anniversary and the frontman has suggested that a rift means that the long-time bassist won't be a part of the We're Not Gonna Take It band's reunion.
Speaking on SiriusXM's Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk, Dee said: "I can only simply say irreconcilable differences and leave it at that.
"I can't get into the weeds and I can't go down the path. And I won't. But irreconcilable differences. People change, and however it is, and I'm not saying he changed; maybe we changed whatever it is."
Mendoza's place on the tour will be taken by Russell Pzutto, a bassist very familiar to Twisted Sister.
Snider explained: "So in deciding who to use on bass, my bass player on the last two Dee Snider albums, For The Love Of Metal and Leave A Scar, was Russ Pzutto. And he was Mark Mendoza's bass tech, and a great bass player... So, he did an amazing job on those two albums.
"He was a great guy to tour with. The band all knew him from years of working with Twisted, and again, he seemed like a likely choice. As a matter of fact, one time he was Mark's choice to fill in for him.
"And one gig, it was in Belgium at Graspop, and Mark couldn't make it, and Russ stepped in and played with Twisted. So he actually has performed with Twisted once before."
The I Wanna Rock band – made up of Snider, Jay Jay French, Eddie 'Fingers' Ojeda, Joey Franco and Pzutto – will perform for the first time since 2016 on the reunion tour and the 70-year-old rocker has been inspired to get back on stage by the continued performances of music legends such as Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Mick Jagger.
Dee said: "It really was a milestone thing. I turned 70 years old in March. And milestones, they are what they are, but at the same time, they're reflection times for people.
"And me reflecting, I realised, wow, next year is 50 years since I joined Twisted Sister, since we became – me, Eddie and Jay Jay – became a band. And that's significant.
"And the offers kept coming in and the interest is there to have us reunite. And I called the guys up and said, 'What do you think?' I mean, almost as a challenge to each of us to say, 'One more time. Can we do it one more time?'"
Snider continued: "And certainly we've got people like McCartney and Jagger and Alice Cooper out there, and Ozzy (Osbourne) – may he rest in peace – and how can you say, well, I'm 70. I'm too old. So, the guys said, 'Seriously?' I said, 'Seriously. One more time. Let's do it one more time.'"
