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

Before KISS

Before joining KISS Vincent was around many elastic, a virtually all popular existence Treasure (1978-1979).

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

He toured sustaining Dan Hartman, whose 1978 release Instant Replay produced an international single per equivalent title.

KISS Involvement

Vincent was brought inside as a ballad maker & uncredited studio replacement for Ace Frehley during recording for Creatures of the Night. He contributed to many songs on the album, including "I Love It Loud", & "War Machine". Vincent was chosen to replenish Frehley for good, & Factor changed his performing title to Vinnie Vincent. Paul Stanley created the Egyptian Ankh hieroglyphic for Vincent's makeup and persona. Based on data from C.K. Lendt, Vinnie never signed his locate The KISS Company.

Vincent's personality did non mesh swell by owning Stanley or even Gene Simmons, and he was number one fired from either KISS at a prevent of the Animals tour. He was rehired prior to recording began for Lick It Up, because Paul and Cistrin may not call for the recently guitar player on such short notice.

Lick It Higher marked a prevent of KISS' "makeup era", by using Vincent joining a b& around removing a makeup and elaborate costumes. Personality issues arose once more, & Vincent was fired ensuing a Lick It Higher tour. He was replaced by Mark St. John.

Rumour (numbers of of which are then unprintable) own circulated for years amongst KISS fan circles on verity understanding for Vincent's dismissal, sustaining at least a single band member refusing to comment, except to say that legally, it wasn't higher for discussion. Simmons stated within an locate many years in the future that Vincent's firing was for "unethical behavior", however he did non elaborate.

Later Career

When KISS, he formed Vinnie Vincent Invasion, which released 2 LPs: Vinnie Vincent Invasion (1986) and All Systems Go (1988).

He late rejoined KISS for songwriting on the 1992 album Revenge, for the songs Unholy and We Only Wanna. Vincent got an additional falling-out sustaining the b&, and later was dismissed from either a KISS task for a third instance.

By owning of these EP (Euphory, freed within 1998), and the recent video entitled Speedball Jamm, Vinnie Vincent has get one of a extra notable guitar players in history.

Legal Troubles

Vinnie Vincent sued KISS twice when existence fired for the 2nd instance inside 1984. A number 1 case (for $6 million) was filed around 1986, across royalties that Vincent believed he was owed for performance & songwriting. That lawsuit wwhen detected in favour KISS, as Vincent was determined to become the salaried employee of the band.

Within 1988, Vincent's $8 million locate Chrysalis Records (for 4 albums) was taken out of him because he overextended his credit line by using a label. A contract was transferred to Invasion members Dana Strum & Mark Slaughter, world health organization so formed a band Slaughter.

Vincent's 2nd lawsuit against KISS within 1992 (once again for $6 million) was for songwriting royalties & more claims. That lawsuit was dismissed because the total Vincent requested was excessive, & over again, he was encountered to keep around been a salaried employee of the band. A band has experienced there are no email by owning Vincent since a case.

Vinnie Vincent is today insolvent & wanting to find newly musicians & the newly label.

Trivia

Vincent was the staff songster for the television series Happy Days.

Lick It Higher is the simply case of Vincent appearing in the KISS album by image, & is the sole album in which he lean lead-guitar credit.

Aside from either songwriting credits under his given title, Vincent's involvement by owning recording for Animals of the Nighttime was saved a secret from either the general public for several years, by having Ace Frehley appearing on the handle of the original album. While a album was re-mixed & re-freed inside 1985 with a different handle (to reflect a band's roll vary & abandonment of their makeup & costuming), Vincent wwhen once again nowhere to become seen, as so-todays lead guitar player Bruce Kulick appeared on the cover.

Quotes

"I named Vincent Cusano, Vinnie Vincent. That's the only gift he's allowed. It's interesting that Vinnie hasn't changed his name back to Vinnie Cusano. Vinnie for the record was fired for unethical behavior, not because of lack of talent. The guy is very talented. He was unethical. He was fired." - Gene Simmons