Joey Cassata is the newly appointed drummer for legendary heavy metal band Twisted Sister. He has opened up about his unexpected journey to joining the iconic group for their fall 2026 tour. Cassata revealed that he received the call to join the band without undergoing any formal audition process, a testament to his long-standing relationships within the rock and metal community.
“Yeah, it’s just so wild. It’s never what you’re expecting these things,” Cassata explained. “You work hard, you try to be a good guy in the industry, play good all the time, be one of those guys that people know they can depend on. And I’ve been friends with the Twisted camp for years. All those guys were on ‘Z Rock,’ the television series created by the Independent Film Channel focusing on Joey’s former band ZO2.”
The drummer elaborated on his deep connections to the band members through past collaborations. “The only one that wasn’t on ‘Z Rock’ or involved with ZO2 was late Twisted drummer A.J. Pero. Dee Snider, the now-ex-Twisted Sister singer, was on many guest appearances. Jay Jay French, the Twisted Sister guitarist, was on the original pilot. Sebastian, who’s now in Twisted, was on ‘Z Rock’. Eddie Ojeda, the Twisted Sister guitarist, was on ‘Z Rock’ in a guest appearance. Mark Mendoza, who’s a good friend of mine, filled in for the late David Z when he passed away. He did a couple of ZO2 shows with us. So it’s just an honor to be in that Twisted camp.”
Cassata’s admiration for Twisted Sister runs deep, stemming from his formative years during the height of the band’s popularity. “They were heroes of mine growing up. If you grew up in the ’80s with wrestling and rock and roll, seeing those Twisted Sister videos on MTV or anywhere you got to see them, Twisted was bigger than life back then. I was an SMFer—a hardcore Twisted Sister fan—and I loved them beyond belief. So to get that call to say, ‘Hey, would you wanna do this with us?’ I was blown away.”
The call came as a complete surprise, with no traditional audition process involved. “There was no audition. It was, ‘Hey, Joe, we would love you to do this with us. Are you available?’ And I was, like, whoop, like Kramer from ‘Seinfeld’, like, ‘What the hell just happened?’ This is one of those life-changing moments, and I’m so honored and humbled to be even thought of in the same breath as some of these legends.”
Cassata’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for Twisted Sister’s 2026 reunion tour. The band’s fall tour will feature Sebastian Bach on lead vocals. Bach is stepping in after founding frontman Dee Snider withdrew due to health concerns earlier this year. Snider gave his blessing for the tour to proceed with Bach as the replacement vocalist, allowing the legendary band to move forward with their anniversary celebration.
Drummer Joe Franco had originally been tapped for the dates and briefly drummed with the band in the mid-1980s. He became unavailable for the fall shows due to minor health reasons. Franco personally recommended Cassata as his replacement, recognizing the drummer’s credentials and industry standing. Cassata is known for his work with guitar legend Ace Frehley on Frehley’s final solo album “10,000 Volts.” He brought both technical proficiency and a deep respect for the band’s legacy to the position.
The fall 2026 tour has expanded to nine dates. It kicks off on September 4 in Palmer, Alaska, and concludes on December 11 in St. Petersburg, Florida. Three new stops were recently added to the original schedule: October 18 in Gary, Indiana at Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, November 14 in Charles Town, West Virginia at The Event Center at Hollywood Casino, and December 11 in St. Petersburg, Florida at Ferg’s Pavilion. The tour will also visit Salem, Oregon; Durant, Oklahoma; Puyallup, Washington; and two dates in Ontario, Canada, showcasing the band’s continued appeal across North America.
The complete lineup for the 2026 tour includes Sebastian Bach on vocals, guitarists Jay Jay French and Eddie Ojeda, bassist Russell Pzütto, and Cassata on drums. This configuration honors Twisted Sister’s legacy while bringing fresh energy to their performances. Tickets for the newly added shows went on presale on June 24, 2026. General sales began on June 27, 2026, allowing fans to secure their spots for what promises to be a memorable reunion of one of heavy metal’s most influential bands.
