Former KISS guitarist Vinnie Vincent recently slammed the band’s handling of his work, specifically addressing the song “Exciter” in a statement shared on Facebook.
The controversy sparked as a KISS fan praised Vincent’s original performance on the track. Vincent’s response revealed deep frustration with how his contributions were treated.
“No offense to the other KISS guitarists, but nobody else can pull off the ending to ‘Exciter’ like Vinnie did. Speed and precision,” the fan commented.
Vinnie Vincent responds
Vincent replied to the fan and expressed anger over changes made to his original work.
“Those two greedslime royally fucked the song by not using my original solo,” he said. “They compromised the song with an unfit garbled mess of tired riffs. That was my exit door. Bye and good riddance.”
The statement suggests that changes made to his guitar solo may have contributed to his departure from the band. Vincent’s comments emphasize the ongoing tensions between the guitarist and KISS leadership.
Vincent’s outburst reflects a long-standing history of conflict with KISS that dates back to his time with the band in the early 1980s. The controversy surrounding “Exciter” is just the latest chapter in a decades-long dispute over creative control and recognition.
Vincent joined KISS in late 1982, replacing founding guitarist Ace Frehley during the creation of the “Creatures of the Night” album and the subsequent “Lick It Up” tour. “Exciter,” a track from the 1983 album “Lick It Up,” was written by Vincent and Gene Simmons and features Vincent’s signature guitar work.
He was recognized for his virtuosic guitar skills and songwriting contributions, which helped revive KISS’s sound. However, his time with the band was marked by significant tension with band leaders Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley.
