Twisted Sister vocalist Dee Snider is getting a little sick of bands announcing farewell tours and either sticking around forever, or constantly coming back.
During a Q&A session at the Rock City Music Company in Livonia, MI for his novel Frats, Snider said he's not interested in doing shows anymore because he doesn't want fans to see him "age out." Snider then gets on the topic of bands that won't go away, giving credit to Blue Öyster Cult for at least having a sense of humor about it.
"I didn't lose the passion for the music. I didn't lose that at all. My last two albums, Leave A Scar and For The Love Of Metal, were stronger and sort of Dee resurging. I lost the willingness to get old on stage. I don't want you guys to watch me age out.
"I read a review once that said — and it was actually a positive review about the Twisted reunion, which was ages ago now — but it said, 'When a band reunites and they're good, it makes you feel young again. But when they're bad, it makes you realize how old you have gotten.' And people were coming to see Twisted and coming to see me and people were smiling.
"But I know… Look, I'm not a bitcher and moaner, but I've had knee surgery, shoulder surgery, throat surgery, neck surgery… I can't lift my arms up. It hurts when I throw the horns. Fuck! It's not supposed to hurt… So I'd rather walk off with some dignity and leave you guys with a positive memory, saying, 'We wanted more,' than to overstay your welcome and say, 'Gee, when is this guy gonna get off the fucking stage, man?'
"I see people singing 'Crazy Nights' and they're not so crazy anymore. I'm not gonna name names. I always bitch about people who retire, sell us the 'No More Tours' shirt — Ozzy — and then come back a few years later, 'We love you, we love you.' That's bullshit. And people say, 'Well, that's fucked up.' No — stay forever, man. Stay forever. We don't want you to leave. Just don't do a three-year farewell tour — Scorpions — and then say you changed your mind. 'Cause you haven't played every place? No, you've played every place — twice.
"Blue Öyster Cult have 'On Tour Forever' jackets. Forever. God bless 'em. You do it, I'm not gonna be on tour forever. I'm gonna walk off into the sunset, waving and smiling."
Twisted Sister played their farewell tour in 2016 and only reunited once for their 2023 Metal Hall of Fame induction.
