Nearly two years after Twisted Sister’s one-off reunion at the Metal Hall of Fame in Agoura Hills, California, bassist Mark “The Animal” Mendoza shared an update about his current relationship with his bandmates. Speaking on the Rockstrap podcast, Mendoza revealed that he and the other members of the band, including Dee Snider (vocals), Jay Jay French (guitar), and Eddie Ojeda (guitar), maintain a close friendship. “The guys in the band, we all talk. We’re all good friends. We talk often,” Mendoza said, adding that despite the absence of late drummer A.J. Pero, the remaining members stay connected. “Obviously, A.J.’s not around anymore, ’cause if A.J. were there, it’d be five of us.”
Mendoza went on to explain that they still have a group text where they joke and reminisce, sharing moments of humor. “The four of us — Dee, Jay Jay, Eddie, and myself — we have a group text message, and once every two months or so, somebody says something idiotic to somebody else, and it’s like a nuclear war,” he laughed. “The stuff that goes on, I sit here and I read it and I get in on it and you start crying. It is so funny.”
As for the possibility of more Twisted Sister reunion shows, Mendoza was cautiously optimistic but stressed that there were no current plans. “We’ve said never say never. That’s the song. Never say never, never say never,” he remarked. “There’s no talk of it now, but you never know what’s gonna happen in the future.” While he hinted at the possibility of performing again, he acknowledged that it would depend on various factors, including the health of the band members. “I think as long as the four of us can get on stage and perform and nobody else dies, which, you know, God forbid, I don’t wanna see that happen, there’s a slight chance.” Mendoza also joked, “And just like you say, somebody’s gonna need money [laughs], and we’re gonna have to play. [Laughs] And it ain’t me. [Laughs]”
Earlier this year, Dee Snider was asked by The Hook Rocks! podcast about the possibility of Twisted Sister reuniting for special performances. He reflected on the increasing demand for reunions in the rock world, saying, “As a result of all the bands retiring and dying, the offers get bigger and bigger for the holdouts to come back.” While Snider reaffirmed that the band has no plans to return, he left the door slightly open. “We retired in 2016, I think it was. So we’re on eight years now of not playing, with no intention of coming back. But — my father, he says, ‘Everything before the word ‘but’ is bullsh*t — but at some point, you’ve gotta say, ‘Well, how can I say no to that?'”
While Twisted Sister’s reunion may not be in the immediate future, the bond between the members remains strong, with the possibility of future performances still lingering in the air.
