According to their official website, the Atlanta KISS Expo has announced that former KISS guitarist, Vinnie Vincent, will be their special guest, next year.
Vincent will be signing autographs and taking photos during the special VIP Meet & Greet on Friday, January 19th, 2018, as well as all day long at the Atlanta Kiss Expo on Saturday, January 20th, 2018.
The organizers state this will be Vincent’s first public appearance in almost twenty years, “We have worked long and hard to secure the legendary Ankh Warrior for the show, and he’s been absolutely awesome and is looking forward to meeting all of his fans.”
Vincent replaced lead guitarist Ace Frehley in 1982 and played with KISS for two years.
21 Responses
Good to see, let’s hope this works out as advertised.
Vinnie has been MIA for a while now, so is it real or “fake news” that he has been found and will actually make an appearance? I loved his contributions to KI$$ and his VV Invasion albums. I think his contributions on Lick It Up helped resurrect KI$$’ career. As a guitarist, though, I think he had to be “reigned in” a little while with KI$$, because I think VV can be a shredder guitar player…and I don’t think that’s what KI$$ needed for their music.
He had a cool character, Anhk Warrior, during the make up era of KI$$. And awesome that people identify with his character, even though he was in the make up era for a short period while the band was in a declining stage in its career.
Those clever Swedes!
Tell the world he’s a woman I now see is a perfect tactic to bring the recluse out of hiding.
Unless … it’s …. really …. true.
Always wonder what would’ve happened if Gene & Paul accepted Eddie Van Halen’s offer to join KISS in 1982. What kind of character Eddie would’ve created, how would his style have meshed with Gene’s, Paul’s and Eric’s. Could you imagine? On lead guitar – Eddie Van Halen! Would there even be a COTN or a Lick It Up? And if so, how different would those albums have been if it was Eddie instead of Vinnie. Anyway, the next KISS Expo should be very interesting, the return of Vinnie Vincent! Who’da thunk it after 20+ years?
Such a good “what if” question. I know a bit of a stretch, but the only quick comparison that comes to mind is Ritchie Kotzen when joining Poison. He TOTALLY elevated their musical acumen and this, 1) threatened the others’ egos because they could not keep up and/or stole their spotlights, 2) diminished Ritchie’s skill level making him frustrated or 3) both, leading to their short relationship. Perhaps this also would have been the case with EVH, Gene and Paul. Only speculating though…
While I am sure Kotzen’s talent, and musicianship, was possibly intimidating to the other members of Posion, it was ultimately the dipping of his pen, in Rikki Rockett’s fiancée’s inkwell, that led to his dismissal from the band. He broke the unwritten rule of “bros before hoes.”
The first time I saw Kiss live, Vinnie Vincent was installed as the touring lead guitarist. Eddie VH in Kiss; if you get a chance, listen to Trunk’s interview with Monk, that was never serious. How about an 80s Kiss record with Rock Soldiers, or Five Card Stud, and Shot Full of Rock….or Unmasked with Out of Control? I’ve made compilations where I am the producer and I take the best songs from Kiss and Peter’s and Ace’s subsequent records to make Kiss records. Every time I hear Paul’s and Gene’s songs, I always wonder what Peter and Ace are up to, and vice versa.
EVH may not have been serious about joining KISS, but I still wonder what if? I didn’t even know he was actually even considering it until I read it in the KISS box set. Would’ve been weird, to say the least, but all’s well that ends well.
I wonder what if he replaced KK Downing in Priest, or what if he joined Limp Bizkit? or what if Ronnie did a cover of Detroit Rock City? that would kick so much ass.
I hope one day Gene will release those demos with Eddie and Alex