Current Status Summary
As of 2025, Twisted Sister is not an active performing band. The original lineup is reduced to one living member, Jay Jay French, who remains involved as a manager and occasional contributor. Three founding members—Dee Snider, Eddie "Fingers" Ojeda, and Mark "The Animal" Mendoza—are alive and still active in music or public life. However, two members have died: drummer A. J. Pero died in 2015, and bassist Joey "Seven" Franco (a later-era member) died in 2022. The band effectively disbanded after the 2016 farewell tour, with no current touring or recording activity under the Twisted Sister name.
Twisted Sister lineup history and milestone dates
| Member | Role | Status | Key dates and notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jay Jay French | Guitar, manager | Alive | Co-founded band (1972); only original living member as of 2025 |
| Dee Snider | Vocals | Alive | Frontman; active as solo artist and occasional Twisted Sister appearances |
| Eddie "Fingers" Ojeda | Guitar | Alive | Joined 1976; continues session and live work |
| Mark "The Animal" Mendoza | Bass | Alive | Returned for later reunions; involved in projects and interviews |
| A. J. Pero | Drums | Deceased | Died March 20, 2015; was a touring and recording member in the 1980s and 2010s |
| Joey "Seven" Franco | Bass | Deceased | Died 2022; late-era member who participated in reunion recordings and events |
Why the question persists
Because Twisted Sister entered a long hiatus after their 2016 farewell shows and have not released new material since, fans regularly seek confirmation about the current status of each member. Misinformation occasionally spreads on social platforms, so a clear, sourced status overview helps separate rumor from verified detail. Understanding which members are alive and how the lineup evolved supports accurate discussions about the band’s legacy and any future activity.
Member trajectories and roles
Dee Snider: frontman and public voice
Snider remains the band’s most visible figure. He has sustained a solo career, acted in film and radio, and engaged periodically with the Twisted Sister catalog through compilations and licensing. His ongoing presence in interviews and public events helps keep the band name in circulation.
Jay Jay French: operations and legacy stewardship
French co-founded the band and, after the final tour, shifted focus to management, branding, and curated performances. He clarifies lineup and timeline details in public forums and is often the point of contact for licensing and special event inquiries.
Eddie "Fingers" Ojeda and Mark "The Animal" Mendoza: continued activity
Both have participated in reunion shows and studio projects. They grant interviews that clarify historical details and occasionally contribute to tributes or reissues, providing continuity for the band’s recorded works.
Tracing the band’s timeline and leadership transitions
Twisted Sister formed in 1972 and solidified with the classic lineup—Snider, French, Ojeda, Mendoza, and Pero—by the early 1980s. The 1983 album Stay Hungry and the anthem "We’re Not Gonna Take It" defined their mainstream breakthrough. After the 2016 farewell tour, the band ceased regular activity. Subsequent member changes involved later contributors rather than a continuing original roster, which underscores why the question about who is alive remains relevant.
How to interpret "still alive" for legacy acts
For long-running catalog brands, "still alive" typically means at least one original founder remains engaged and the entity retains legal continuity for licensing. In Twisted Sister’s case, that translates to Jay Jay French stewarding the brand, Dee Snider remaining public-facing, and selected alumni maintaining participation in controlled appearances. The absence of ongoing recordings or touring under the main name signals a dormant but not extinguished legacy.
Quick reference: member status at a glance
- Jay Jay French — alive; original member; manager and steward
- Dee Snider — alive; lead vocalist; solo career active
- Eddie "Fingers" Ojeda — alive; guitarist; session and live work
- Mark "The Animal" Mendoza — alive; bassist; reunion participant
- A. J. Pero — deceased; drummer; passed 2015
- Joey "Seven" Franco — deceased; bassist; passed 2022
Key sources and context for ongoing relevance
This overview draws on official biographies, reputable news reports of member deaths, management statements, and reunion announcements. For legacy acts like Twisted Sister, treating "still alive" as a status subject to change over time helps readers interpret lineup shifts accurately and avoid outdated assumptions about activity or availability.
Bottom line
Twisted Sister is not currently active as a performing band. The question “is Twisted Sister still alive” is best answered by noting who among the founders and longtime members remains living, acknowledging those who have died, and recognizing that the group has not released new work or toured under the name since the 2016 farewell. Only one original member continues to operate and speak for the brand, ensuring that the catalog and legacy remain managed even without new recordings or shows.