"A.J. was out on tour with a band called Adrenaline Mob, and he had a massive heart attack in his sleep and we lost him," Snider told X17 on Saturday at Los Angeles airport, as he and his wife were returning from a vacation. "He was the first member of the band to die, and it's very sad."

Asked how the band would replace Pero, Snider replied: "You don't. I mean, will we continue to play? Probably, for his family. 'Cause his family will benefit from us playing, financially. It was all five original members of Twisted Sister, and he's the first one we lost. And the band is heartbroken."