Musicians - Vinnie Vincent

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	Musicians - Vinnie Vincent

Vincent John Cusano (born August 6, 1952, in Bridgeport, Connecticut), is a guitarist better known as Vinnie Vincent, and is most famous for his brief membership in the band KISS.

Before KISS

Prior to joining KISS Vincent was in several bands, the most popular being Treasure (1978-1979).

1976 - Kid Cashmir & Winnie LeCoux
1976 - HITCHHIKERS
1977 - TREASURE
1978 - LAURA NYRO
1978 - DAN HARTMAN
1979 - FELIX CAVALIERE
1981 - HEAT
1981 - CARMINE APPICE

He toured with Dan Hartman, whose 1978 release Instant Replay produced an international single by the same name.

KISS Involvement

Vincent was brought in as a songwriter and uncredited studio replacement for Ace Frehley during recording for Creatures Of The Night. He contributed to several songs on the album, including "I Love It Loud", and "I Still Love You". Vincent was chosen to replace Frehley permanently, and KISS bassist Gene Simmons suggested he change his performing name to Vinnie Vincent. Guitarist Paul Stanley created the Egyptian Ankh hieroglyphic for Vincent's makeup and persona. According to author C.K. Lendt in "The Making Of A Super Group", Vincent never signed his contract with The KISS Company.

On the Creatures Of The Night tour, which featured Eric Carr's drum riser in the shape of a tank turret, he was generally well-received by fans, though the slight similarity of his costume to Ace Frehley's "Spaceman" persona and the fact that Frehley was still pictured on the album cover could have misled some fans into thinking Vincent was, in fact, Frehley. Ace's departure from the band was not widely known in the United States due to the fact that KISS were at possibly the lowest point of their popularity in 1982. Also, Frehley, not Vincent, was in the video for the album's possibly best-known song, "I Love It Loud", though significantly the video shows Paul Stanley playing the guitar solo.

Vincent was referred to as "Vinnie 'Wiz' Vincent" by MTV VJ's at this time.

Vincent's personality did not mesh well with Stanley or Simmons, and he was first fired from KISS at the end of the Creatures tour. He was rehired before recording started for Lick It Up, when Simmons and Stanley could not find a new guitarist on such short notice, although British heavy metal magazine Kerrang! reported that late RATT guitarist Robbin Crosby had been considered for the slot. Gene Simmons has also stated in his biography, KISS And Make Up, that around this time Eddie Van Halen expressed interest in leaving Van Halen (due to personality clashes with then-vocalist David Lee Roth) and joining KISS. However, Simmons persuaded Van Halen to return to his band. At this time Vincent, again according to Simmons' book, started actively pushing to join KISS, despite misgivings Simmons and Paul Stanley had about his personality. He was taken into the band, and Stanley designed his "Ankh" makeup. Vincent originally wanted to use his given name, but this was vetoed by Simmons on the grounds that it sounded "too ethnic". Vincent then suggested the name "Mick Fury" but this was also disallowed.

Lick It Up marked the end of KISS' "makeup era", with Vincent joining the band in removing the makeup and elaborate costumes. Personality issues arose once again, and Vincent was fired following the Lick It Up tour. He was replaced by Mark St. John.

Rumors (many of which are unprintable) have circulated for years amongst KISS fan circles regarding the true reason for Vincent's dismissal, with at least one band member refusing to comment, except to say that legally, it wasn't up for discussion. Simmons stated in an interview several years later that Vincent's firing was for "unethical behavior", but he did not elaborate.

Later career

After KISS, he formed Vinnie Vincent Invasion, which released two LPs: Vinnie Vincent Invasion (1986) and All Systems Go (1988).

He later rejoined KISS for songwriting on the 1992 album Revenge, for the songs Unholy, Heart Of Chrome, and I Just Wanna. Vincent had another falling-out with the band, and subsequently was dismissed from the KISS project for a third time.

Thereafter, he has released an EP (Euphoria, 1998), and an album entitled Speedball Jamm.

Legal Troubles

Vinnie Vincent sued KISS twice after being fired for the second time in 1984. The first lawsuit (for $6 million) was filed around 1986, over royalties that Vincent believed he was owed for performance and songwriting. That suit was found in favor of KISS, as Vincent was determined to be a salaried employee of the band.

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Musicians - Vinnie Vincent

Before KISS

KISS Involvement

Later career

Legal Troubles

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