Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider is assuring his fans that he is not facing death amid his recent resignation from the legendary glam metal band.
The Astoria, Queens native — born Daniel Snider — addressed speculation about his announcement that he was permanently departing the group after fifty years due to a series of health conditions.
“I’m not dying!” he shared on the latest episode of “The House of Hair” radio show. “No, not never; I mean, we’re all dying, but not immediately.”
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Dee Snider performs with Twisted Sister in Las Vegas in 2006. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The band, known for the 1980s hard rock headbangers “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and “I Wanna Rock,” announced on Feb. 5 that shows scheduled between April 25 in Sao Paulo and through the summer were scrapped following the “sudden and unexpected resignation” of Snider.
The international 50th anniversary trek would’ve been the first for the reunited band in a decade.
Snider, 70, later explained that a “lifetime of legendarily aggressive performing” had taken a toll on his physical health, revealing he had been suffering from degenerative arthritis.
“The idea of slowing down is unacceptable to me,” he wrote. “I’d rather walk away than be a shadow of my former self.”
On “The House of Hair,” he cleared up speculation that he was at death’s door that had swirled since the announcement of his departure.
“My announcement about canceling the tour for health reasons, problems with my heart, arthritis, things like that, the rumors have run wild that I am on my deathbed. I am not. I just can’t do those things that I did in my 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and even 60s. Alright? Otherwise I’m alive and well. I’m enjoying life,” Snider explained on Saturday.
He also added that fans “won’t see me on the stage kicking ass like I used to, because that will mess me up” after sharing that he was offered to “just go out on stage and lay back,” which didn’t feel right.
“I don’t want you to see me up there being less than you expect me to be,” Snider said.