Vinnie Vincent recently commented on his past relationship with KISS. He addressed the band’s direction in a statement shared on Official Vinnie Vincent Invasion Facebook.
A fan’s observation about Vincent’s tenure with the legendary rock band prompted this statement. The fan had suggested that Vincent should have remained with the group after Ace Frehley’s departure.
“Gene and Paul knew real talent when they heard it,” Vincent said. “But they didn’t want to pay for real talent. So, they got what they deserved. A tribute band parody of themselves.”
Vincent’s perspective on the band’s creative and financial decisions is reflected in his comment. This remark follows his time as the group’s guitarist.
To understand the context of this statement, it’s important to examine Vincent’s history with KISS and the circumstances that led to his departure from the band. Vinnie Vincent joined KISS as Ace Frehley’s replacement in December 1982 after the founding guitarist exited the band, according to Wikipedia. Vincent played lead guitar on six of the nine tracks on Creatures of the Night (1982). He also co-wrote three songs for the album. He went on to play all the lead guitar tracks on the Lick it Up (1983) album, further establishing himself as a key creative force in the band’s sound during this period.
Vincent’s tenure with KISS was marked by significant creative and personal friction. Ace Frehley assessed that Vincent played too fast, was difficult to control, and doubled the length of guitar solos—characteristics that frustrated band leadership, as noted in Guitar Player Magazine. Vincent was dismissed from the band at the end of the Creatures of the Night tour due to personality clashes with Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. However, he was rehired before recording for Lick it Up began because the band couldn’t find a suitable replacement guitarist quickly enough.
The same personality issues resurfaced, and Vincent was fired following the Lick it Up tour in March 1984. An incident at a concert in Quebec involving excessive guitar soloing led to his dismissal, according to Wikipedia. Mark St. John replaced him, marking the end of his initial run with the band.
Despite the acrimonious departure, Vincent later reconnected with KISS as a songwriter on the 1992 album Revenge. He contributed to several tracks on the album. However, he fell out of favor again with Simmons and Stanley, who claimed Vincent resumed making excessive demands and behaving erratically. Vincent’s recent comments suggest that he continues to view his dismissal as a missed opportunity for the band. He believes that his departure ultimately diminished KISS’s creative output and authenticity.
