TWISTED SISTER frontman Dee Snider says bandmate AJ Pero didn’t have to die – and admits he’s angry at the late drummer, according to classicrock.com.
Pero suffered a fatal heart attack last month, and the band have since announced that they’ll wind up their touring career in 2016, with Mike Portnoy behind the kit.
Snider tells TMZ: “I’m going through a period of real anger about it. He was a great guy and I loved him dearly – but he had a history of heart disease.
“His family did. His father died in his early 60s of heart disease, and AJ never had himself checked out. When they did the autopsy he had 95 percent blockage. Advanced heart disease.
“He didn’t have to die, and I feel it’s basically irresponsible behaviour on his part.”
Snider underlines that Pero left two ex-wives, a girlfriend and four children, adding: “You have a responsibility as a parent, as an adult, to get yourself checked out. There’s no reason for people to die of heart disease in this day and age.”
In a separate statement the singer says: “AJ did not have a will and left behind a real mess of an estate to be sorted out. Now there’s in-fighting, mistrust and dissension among the family about how to handle life after AJ.
“This unfortunate situation should be a life lesson to take responsibility for the world we create, and will leave behind when we’re gone.”
Twisted Sister play two memorial shows in the coming months, with proceeds from the second to be given to Pero’s family to “help them out in the short term.”
The band announced details of the forthcoming shows via their official Facebook page:
New York, NY—It was with heavy hearts that Twisted Sister said goodbye to their drummer A.J. Pero, who passed away on March 20.
Today, Twisted Sister members Dee Snider (vocals), Jay Jay French (guitar), Eddie Ojeda (guitar), and Mark “The Animal” Mendoza (bass), have announced that world renowned drummer Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater, Adrenaline Mob, Winery Dogs) is the replacement for their brother A.J. Pero for all shows this year.
To honor Pero’s memory, two shows will take place on the east coast and west coast. The first, on May 30th at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, will be filmed for broadcast, DVD, and CD. The second, for the A.J. Pero family, is scheduled on Saturday, June 13 at The Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ.
Additionally, fulfilling all concert obligations that have been made for the remainder of 2015 (in several different countries), Twisted Sister want their fans to know all festival dates that they have been advertised as playing will happen.
Finally, Twisted Sister has made it official that 2016 will formally close the touring chapter of their illustrious and legendary career. The “Forty and F*ck It” farewell shows celebrates the band’s 40th anniversary with the core line-up of Snider, French, Ojeda and Mendoza.
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