Review & Photography by Kimmarie Erickson for MPM
What do you get when you combine two iconic rock and roll legends on one stage? The answer, of course, is Twisted Sister with Sebastian Bach on lead vocals at the Hard Rock Casino in Gary, Indiana, on Oct 18th 2026. As you all know, unless you have been living under a rock, original singer Dee Snider retired from high-intensity touring due to degenerative arthritis and knee issues. Snider gave Bach his full blessing to take over. Bach made his live debut with the band (sometimes billed under the alter ego Bent Brothers) on August 28, 2026, at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey. I know skeptics are wondering if Bach could fill the shoes of one of the O.G.’S of Rock and roll, but I never had any doubts. I mean, those naysayers obviously have never seen Bach perform live, or ever.
The house lights dimmed, and AC/DC’s It’s a Long Way to the Top spilled out of the huge sound system; the air was thick with anticipation. Drummer Joey Cassata took his rightful place on the drummer riser, the spotlights fixed onto the illustrious Sebastian Bach, and the crowd went berserk. The current lineup, along with Bach, is original guitarist Jay Jay French and Eddie Ojeda, bassist Russel Pzutto, and Joey Cassata on drums, opened with What You Don’t Know from Twisted Sister’s 1982 debut studio album, Under the Blade. For those of you playing along at home, this is the song that the band opened every show with in their early touring days. Sebastian welcomed the crowd, and there was no doubt that he was in his element. You Can’t Stop Rock and Roll was next in the setlist. Jay Jay French and Eddie Ojeda proved that their ability to shred like they were still 20 years old was still intact; they nailed the blistering distorted guitar parts. Bach sang the anthemic favorite as if he was present when it was written. The old-school favorite, We’re Gonna Make It followed, one of my favorite TS tunes that the band brought out of live show retirement, much to the elation of die-hard fans.
Next, Bach slid into the intro of The Kids Are Back like he was sliding into home plate for the winning run of the World Series. He seamlessly conquered the megahit, owning each note. Shoot ‘ Em Down led into Destroyer, which obviously is one of Bach’s favorite songs to perform with TS. Bach moved in unison with the gigantic cyborg on the screen behind him. Bach never fails to deliver his over-the-top showmanship every chance he gets.
The second half of the set featured Tear in Loose, Like a Knife, and Ride to Live. Each with high energy and impeccable guitar mastery by Ojeda and French. Bach then captivated the crowd to the point that a stillness washed over them as he started talking about the one and only Dee Snyder and the backstory of my favorite T.S. song, “The Price.” The intro started, and I can tell you I have never felt more connected to a room full of strangers than at that moment. The venue reverberated with Bach’s perfect tone and pitch as he started the first verse of the colossal hit. I watched in awe as every single person, young and old, sang each word. I have been a journalist for a long time, and this moment tops anything I have ever witnessed. Bach performed with his very soul, pouring out every ounce of his essence.
Have you ever thought during a show that there was no way it could get better? That was what was in my brain once the last notes of The Price landed. I was blessed enough to be side stage, and I watched as an acoustic guitar was placed out onto the stage. That could mean only one thing: Bach was going to perform Skid Row’s monster hit, I Remember You. I felt like I was in a dream, literally. Bach sang as exquisitely and precisely as the first time I saw him perform it in 1992. Not many performers can consistently hit each note and give 100% each time they perform. I have seen Bach probably a dozen times live, and he never fails to uphold the high bar he set throughout his career. Eddie Ojeda’s daughter, Melody Mortal, joined the guys on stage during this song, adding even more magic. One of the most notable things I remember from that night was the symbiosis between French, Bach, and Ojeda. Honestly, the ease and natural banter they exhibited on stage made it seem like they had known each other forever. I can honestly say that when the choice was made to have Bach take over lead vocals, it was a match made in Rock and Roll Heaven.
The Intro to I wanna Rock flooded the sound system, and the crowd became even more frenzied. Bassist Russel Pzutto proved he very much belonged with the other big dogs on that stage that night, driving the beat, creating urgency and energy. I am usually not surprised at concerts; this was not the case when the intro to Youth Gone Wild started. Another quintessential member of Bach’s acclaimed musical repertoire, the musicians of Twisted Sister all owned their parts like they had been playing this song for decades. The night was wrapping up; the energy in the packed room was electric with anticipation. French and Bach were exchanging some quick repartee. Drummer Joey Cassata attacked his snare with the iconic two-bar intro, and the pandemonium began as We’re Not Gonna Take It ascended onto the crowd. It was a controlled riot, but a riot nonetheless. Bach, Ojeda, French, and the rest of the guys served up the most phenomenal live performance I have ever witnessed. I still get goosebumps when I think of being part of that once-in-a-lifetime moment. Bach pulled a budding rock and roll lifer onto the stage, and he got to experience the rush of being onstage during this final banger of the night.
I am prepared to pull no punches here: Sebastian Bach was the only choice to take over for Dee Snider; I will die on this hill. If you are hesitant to go see Twisted Sister because you think “it is just not the same without Dee,” you are just being absurd. Don’t you love Twisted Sister unconditionally? If you said yes and you have not made plans to go to one of the remaining Twisted Sister shows, then you need to reassess your loyalty. Dee gave his blessing for Bach to step in, as did Jay Jay and Eddie, so you should too. Twisted Sister has been around for 50 years, yep, 5 decades. They are the Godfathers of 80’s Rock; they wrote songs that are the soundtrack to our youth. Now is the time to buy those tickets and relive the glory days when music was real and raw, not AI and Auto-Tune. This show was 100% live, with no backing tracks. The sound guy is a legend in his own right and mixed the band with precise accuracy. What are you waiting for? Life is way too short not to experience Twisted Sister live again.
