Former Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach, who is currently touring with Twisted Sister as Dee Snider’s replacement for their reunion tour, recently discussed his feelings about performing the first shows of the tour and addressed whether he felt nervous taking over Snider’s role during an appearance on Rock 100.5 The KATT.
Bach shared his thoughts on how the initial shows have gone, highlighting specific performances in Alaska, Portland, and New Jersey.
“They’ve been incredible,” Bach said. “I think the best one was Alaska State Fair [on September 4], which was the biggest crowd they said they’ve ever had there, which was a huge outside venue. Portland [Oregon State Fair] was great as well, but it was kind of rainy that day, but it was still great. And Jersey [the first show on August 28 at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville] was really special.”
When asked if there were any nerves about taking on the frontman role, Bach explained that his anxiety does not stem from the performance itself, but rather from the audience filming the shows.
“When you say, ‘Are there nerves?’ The nerves that I get as a singer is not really the show,” Bach explained. “It’s the fact that every single person is holding up their phone and filming it. And before I get to my hotel room, the whole show is being dissected and analyzed. And no musician likes that. It really sucks. Thank God I’m talented as f*ck.”
He further discussed the challenge of delivering a high-energy performance while being constantly recorded.
“It’s not a worry, but if you wanna put yourself in my shoes… I’m just saying my job is to go out there and go crazy, go nuts and bring all the energy I got. At the same time, recording perfect videos. [laughs] It’s two different things. It’s two different things.”
Bach also addressed the use of a drum shield on stage, explaining how it helps him manage his vocal performance.
“Some people say, ‘Why do you have a drum shield around the drums?’ ’Cause you’re filming the fucking show. And I have to sing as good as I can, and I don’t have a volume knob that goes louder than the cymbals. So, guess what you get? You get a drum shield. That’s what you get.”
He went on to express his dedication to performing Twisted Sister’s classic tracks, particularly “The Price,” and emphasized that the band is performing everything in its original key.
“And I’ve seen some videos that are great. I’ve seen a, a bunch of them. I gotta tell you, I was really determined to do the song ‘The Price’ as best I could, because that melody and the lyric really means a lot to me, and I think it’s an incredible song,” Bach said. “And we’re doing the whole set in the original keys of the original recordings. There’s not one song that’s tuned down. We’re not changing the keys. The whole set, including ‘The Price’, is the original key. We don’t have any tapes.”
Bach’s involvement came after Twisted Sister’s planned comeback was reshaped by Snider’s departure. The band’s 2026 shows were organized as a 50th-anniversary tour, with Bach taking over lead vocal duties for the scheduled performances.
The reunion was initially expected to feature Snider, but the singer later stepped away from the project because of health concerns. Snider described his decision as the result of “health challenges” that prevented him from continuing with the live performances.
The change was significant because the tour was set to mark Twisted Sister’s first major tour in a decade. The band initially canceled its 2026 dates after Snider’s unexpected retirement from live performance before later moving forward with a revised lineup.
The band ultimately continued with guitarists Jay Jay French and Eddie Ojeda, while Bach assumed the role previously held by Snider. The new arrangement allowed Twisted Sister to proceed with its anniversary shows after the original plans were disrupted.
The early performances have now given Bach an opportunity to establish his interpretation of the material while honoring the arrangements associated with the band’s classic era. His comments about maintaining the original keys also underline the vocal demands of the set and the expectations surrounding the reunion.
