Sebastian Bach has officially stepped into one of hard rock’s most recognizable frontman roles, making his live debut with Twisted Sister during a performance at Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey, on August 28.
The band performed under its Bent Brother alter ego, but there was little disguising the significance of the night. Bach is temporarily handling lead vocals in place of Dee Snider, who has stepped away from performing because of health concerns.
For Bach, the assignment brings his career into contact with a band that helped shape him long before he became famous as the voice of Skid Row. He has credited his early admiration for Twisted Sister with influencing his own approach to being in a rock band.
That connection was reflected throughout the New Jersey show.
The set leaned heavily on Twisted Sister’s catalog, with songs including “Under the Blade,” “Burn in Hell,” “The Beast,” “The Kids Are Back” and “You Can’t Stop Rock ’n’ Roll.” The band also reached deeper into its history, bringing back “We’re Gonna Make It” for its first reported performance since 2013 and “Ride to Live, Live to Ride” for the first time since 2010.
Bach also brought a piece of his own musical history to the stage. The group performed the Skid Row favorites “I Remember You” and “Youth Gone Wild,” creating a natural crossover between two major names from different chapters of hard rock.
The evening included several emotional acknowledgments. “The Price” was dedicated to Snider, while “I Remember You” honored Dolly Parton, Tim Curry and late Twisted Sister drummer A.J. Pero.
By the closing stretch, the band was firmly back in anthem territory. “I Wanna Rock,” “Youth Gone Wild” and “We’re Not Gonna Take It” provided a finale built around songs that have remained staples of rock radio for decades.
Bach is expected to continue fronting Twisted Sister over the next several months while Snider remains away from the stage. The next scheduled performance for the Bach-led lineup is September 4.
For a singer who once looked to Twisted Sister as an example of how a rock band should operate, the New Jersey performance represented an unusual full-circle moment. Bach is no longer simply one of the musicians influenced by the band. For now, he is standing at the microphone helping carry its songs back onto the stage.
