Twisted Sister guitarist Jay Jay French recently shared his thoughts on the future of \u201980s metal music, offering a sobering perspective on the genre\u2019s twilight years in an interview with The Jacob Buehrer Show.<\/p>\n
French reflected on the physical challenges facing many of his contemporaries when asked about his feelings regarding Twisted Sister\u2019s reunion tour. He also discussed what that means for the era of music they represent.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, it just unfortunately happens that a lot of our peers are not doing well physically,\u201d French said. \u201cA lot of bands are basically falling by the wayside due to health issues. So unfortunately our genre of music is fading out and the whole metal \u201980s thing is fading out. In another couple years it will be gone.\u201d<\/p>\n
French drew a parallel between his generation of metal bands and the legacy of classic rock icons. He suggested that these tours represent a final connection to a bygone era.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo this will be the end of that era and another era will come up,\u201d he continued. \u201cMaybe the grunge era will come up but the Poison, M\u00f6tley Cr\u00fce, Twisted Sister, Judas Priest, you know, that whole, you know Black Sabbath era, it\u2019s all going. So it\u2019s like the Stones are the last connection to the Beatles. So people go see the Stones for better or worse whether you like them or not like them, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, we\u2019re the last bit of \u201980s, so there\u2019s a bit of that,\u201d French added. \u201cThere\u2019s a bit of bittersweet. But I\u2019m looking forward to it.\u201d<\/p>\n
French expressed optimism about the upcoming reunion performances despite the melancholic tone of his observations.<\/p>\n
French\u2019s comments come as Twisted Sister prepares for a significant milestone in their career. Blabbermouth reported that the band officially retired from touring in 2016 but announced a reunion for their 50th anniversary tour set to launch in 2026.<\/p>\n
The reunion will feature the core lineup of Dee Snider on vocals, Jay Jay French and Eddie Ojeda on guitars, Joe \u201cSeven\u201d Franco on drums, and Russell Pz\u00fctto on bass, replacing longtime bassist Mark Mendoza. 98 Rock noted that the band will mark their anniversary with global tour dates, starting notably at the Barcelona Rock Fest in July 2026.<\/p>\n
The band\u2019s history has been marked by both triumph and tragedy. Former Twisted Sister drummer A.J. Pero died in 2015 at age 55. This loss underscored the health challenges French referenced in his recent comments. The upcoming tour will see Joe Franco filling in on drums as the band celebrates five decades of their legacy.<\/p>\n
The current state of \u201980s metal tours suggests the scene remains vibrant despite French\u2019s somber predictions about the genre\u2019s future. Q94.5 All Rock highlighted that Twisted Sister\u2019s upcoming participation in major festivals like Barcelona Rock Fest 2026, alongside bands such as Accept, Helloween, and Powerwolf, reflects the continued vitality of the touring scene for legacy metal acts.<\/p>\n
Fan demand and a desire to celebrate five decades of their legacy drove the decision to reunite. This revival blends nostalgia with modern festival culture. It shows that \u201980s metal bands still draw significant audiences worldwide, even as the original architects of the genre acknowledge the inevitable passage of time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Twisted Sister guitarist Jay Jay French recently shared his thoughts on the future of \u201980s metal music, offering a sobering perspective on the genre\u2019s twilight … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3777,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3776","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"yoast_head":"\n