The Vinnie Vincent Forum - Where Freedom Rocks!

From Gruno at KissFAQ. He has been really cool to me through PM's , so I don't think he'll mind if I shared this here. Great story and pictures:

Vinnie Vincent Invasion - Carvin Guitar Shop - Jan. 1988
Here is my 10th thread of photos recently retrieved from my personal 35mm negative & photo archive.

I almost forgot about these negatives until someone jarred my memory! Still, I am a bit fuzzy on if this was in fact January of 1988. I am confident that it is. The event was the grand opening for the Carvin Guitar Shop in Hollywood. The store is located across the street from Guitar Center. Besides, VVI, there were other musicians present: Steve Vai; Dweezil Zappa; Craig Chaquico (Starship); Gene Allen (Lizzy Borden); Vicki Peterson (Bangles)... and many more. I have tried to determine the exact date and I am sure it can be available by finding out directly via Carvin as to when their Hollywood store opened.

The majority of the festivities took place out back -- behind the store. The place was packed with so many fans of all musicians. Steve Vai was the big name of the day and when he arrived, the place became a menagerie of rockers scurrying to get autographs and photos with their favorites! Carvin tried to get all the musicians behind a table to sign autographs but the place was in pure pandemonium that they soon ditched that idea and the band members all came into the crowd and scattered throughout.

Vinnie and the rest of the band were in good spirits. They posed for photos and never stopped signing things. Mark was a gem as he revealed details of the "All Systems Go" album they had finished. Dana was his usual PR self -- I loved it! Bobby Rock was the only member I had not met previously, and he was so cool and accommodating. Vinnie did interviews and signed autographs on KISS and VVI items.

The one item I really wanted signed was my VVI poster. I kept it rolled until I got Bobby's attention by unfurling the side he was on. He could only see this huge image of himself and he had a store employee get me closer to them. I ended up being allowed behind the table and they all signed the poster better than I had hoped for. Bobby said, "I am going to put our band motto on here!" he wrote "Stay Hard!" -- yeah, go figure -- it is VVI!! I have kept this poster in near mint condition since 1988!

I didn't just stay around for VVI. We got photos with everyone there and autographs, autographs, autographs! Toward the end of the event, I was able to get VVI together for the only group pic of the day. I was determined to grab this photo op and I asked Bobby to help. He and Mark grabbed Dana and Vinnie (who was being interviewed) and we posed for the pic. At the last second my friend jumped into the pic (he asked me not to post his image so I have edited that out of the actual pic below).

All in all, a fantastic day! This was also, sadly, the last time I would get an autograph from Vinnie -- although I did buy his "Euphoria" EP that came autographed. When I saw him next, August 16, 1988 -- that was their last show and Vinnie was stone-faced walking into the Celebrity Theatre (Anaheim) from the tour bus. He never acknowledged any fans and never spoke a word. Mark, Dana and Bobby all stayed outside the backstage door (before and after the show) and we exchanged contact info. I became very good friends with Mark and Dana on that night and I am still friends with them to this day.

Ok, so now let the Vinnie fans go crazy with these never-before-seen pics. Let's hope Vinnie appears for a signing one day!

Cool thanks for sharing

Great article and pics.

Gold!!!

Another Poster (BlackDiamond77) at KissFAQ supplied this picture from the same event:

Killer pics... I used to have that poster of them in full VVI regalia in front of the silver circled wall!

I think I bought that poster last year from Ebay. Will be putting it up soon.

Great post & pics!! Thanks!!

Niiiiiiicccccccce!

Cool story. Cheers for posting.

Thanks for sharing with us, Poserboy

finish dead nothing better for my birthday find new stuff of the invasion

mark looks young love the blonde so cool vinnie looks great too

didn't realize ricky schroder was a VVI fan..

I think Rick was 45 years old in 1988.

PinkWiz wrote:didn't realize ricky schroder was a VVI fan..

Yes, many are not aware of the 'secret connection' between Ricky Schroder & the KISS family of Rock n' Rock. But Ricky Schroder was meant to in a theatrical release called 'Silver Spoons, the Rebal Years' (many compared it to a cross between Sliver Spoons the TV series & the movie 'Less that Zero') in which KISS wrote the title track for the movie, 'Silver Spoon'. Rumors at the time circulated that 'Hide your Heart' was going to be the motion movie sound track. [youtube][/youtube]
Sadly this project never saw the light of day.
Much like what should have happen to most of 'Hot in the Shade'

great pictures

although I did buy his "Euphoria" EP that came autographed. When I saw him next, August 16, 1988 -- that was their last show and Vinnie was stone-faced walking into the Celebrity Theatre (Anaheim) from the tour bus. He never acknowledged any fans and never spoke a word. Mark, Dana and Bobby all stayed outside the backstage door (before and after the show) and we exchanged contact info. I became very good friends with Mark and Dana on that night and I am still friends with them to this day.

This was the last gig Vinnie ever played and most like the last one he will ever play. August 16 1988. Unless the miming at the kiss expos is a gig, which i don't think it is.

Did he say what Mark and Dana said about the break up?

On August 16 , Many events have occured. Elvis died and so did Vinnie Vincent's career.

http://www.brainyhistory.com/daysdeath/ ... st_16.html
http://www.brainyhistory.com/daysbirth/ ... st_16.html
http://www.brainyhistory.com/days/august_16.html

4 songs plus speedball jamm and no gigs since august 16 1988 (none of the songs recorded to the high quality standard of VVI either). All this from a guy who said he saved kiss. he can't save himself but he did save kiss. hehe

To be Honest Vinnie got lucky with kiss, it was a case of good timing and we at the right place at the right time. If he had not met Gene back in '82 about songwriting collaboration we probably wouldn't even no his name. Gene believed in Vinnie when Paul didn't... And in the end Paul was right about Vinnie, he was a mistake. He wrote two great albums with kiss but his ego ultimately destroyed what could have continued to be some incredible collaborations for animalize or beyond. Vinnie has robbed both himself and his fans of his creative talent and it's very apparent that he will never release new music. He has no drive or direction to do so... He is content spending hours on the net trawling through our posts and chasing skirt...

Am I wrong Vinnie? Prove otherwise mate..we are waiting to hear from you

I really like Animalize, and a version with Vinnie, if it had come to be!!!!?????
Just the thought of it blows me away!

if i think back to '82 kiss didn't have a lot of options. A lot of the guitar players that were good back then were either way too young, not good songwriters or didn't look like rock stars. Vinnie was close in age, an unknown, somewhat looked like a member of kiss and could write and play. I really can not think of anyone who would have really fitted the bill. Eddie would have been good but no way would he just join someone elses band. As the 80s progressed more options opened up but for 82 it was tougher that maybe it seems.

these pictures will be from jan '88 around the same time as this picture

doublev2 wrote:if i think back to '82 kiss didn't have a lot of options. A lot of the guitar players that were good back then were either way too young, not good songwriters or didn't look like rock stars. Vinnie was close in age, an unknown, somewhat looked like a member of kiss and could write and play. I really can not think of anyone who would have really fitted the bill. Eddie would have been good but no way would he just join someone elses band. As the 80s progressed more options opened up but for 82 it was tougher that maybe it seems.

Interesting point. Hadn't thought of that. If they'd taken a year off and truly did an open audition and time to develop as a group through rehearsing and writing, the entire future could've been different. Instead they treated it like a normal business decision. Open position = hire headhunter to find qualified replacement.

Eddie's goofy smile would have given him away in a heartbeat as well!!!

doublev2 wrote:these pictures will be from jan '88 around the same time as this picture

Is that one of Vinnie's Finger Bang Photos?

I could back-up right onto that!

That dot neck Jackson may very well be one of the the original VVV's with a replaced fingerboard.

Years ago their was a picture of that dot inlay neck one with out the gaffer tape in pink around on the internet. I believe its the first ever made. Rick.any chance of asking Grover?

Kiss could not take a year off in 82, they were in bad financial straits. The 80's was a time to record and then tour to make some money. So the Creatures tour and album had to happen and they needed a gun on guitar. That gun was Vinnie but some left the safety off!

I like it when the safety is left off. It shows commitment. There is no turning back. That's why LIU & COTN were great albums. KISS had direction again. Sadly for VV, showing commitment has turned into 'he should be committed', like, to a mental ward.

It says 'Anal'

WTF IT SAYS ANAL...OH WOW

if my memory serves me well- and if the rumours were true- Kiss offered the spot to Punky meawdows, but he turned them down.Bruce did audtion for them,as Robbin Crosby, marq torien and Ritchie sambora, among others.

wow, robbin crosby? I can't see gene allowing somebody four or five inches taller than him in the band. I always thought that maybe that's why bruce wasn't offered the job after ace quit, because he's like an inch or two taller than gene. it's possible?

vvjunkie wrote:WTF IT SAYS ANAL...OH WOW

Strap on, anyone?

I got mine......hehe

I'm being so naughty

Punky Brewster?

I'm just saying the right thing to do would've been to take the time and rebuild the band properly. They were greedy...or needy...or just felt in dire straights so they took the easy way.

Now, if they HAD done the right thing, we most likely would've never known about Vinnie...never had the LIU album...never had the 2 VVI albums...so I guess Gene & Paul's anxiousness and greed paid off for us here at the VVFF.

if you read the ck lendt's book,it explains quite well the kiss debacle from 1980 to 1983

Just read one when he said he got hired by kiss the day they finished recording keep me comin. He was at the airport. This would mean he was hired way before the album came out. And the in the bath phone call was not real. I don't believe it.
I can not post it just yet as I am out in town but will later tonight.

Gonna check the story out with my kiss connections.

ankh wrote:if you read the ck lendt's book,it explains quite well the kiss debacle from 1980 to 1983

I have that one, but haven't read it since it came out in the 90s. Yeah, it was a real mess...and once again, all I'm saying is that they should've taken a step back, re-grouped, re-focused, clean house and "start from scratch" with a re-built band. That would've been the reasonable thing to do. Being in a rock band is rarely reasonable. Being in a juggernaut like KISS between 78-83 was probably the ridiculous opposite of reasonable.

Look at how they handled things after the "farewell tour". They took some time off. Re-built the group. Did some touring, built a feeling with eachother and THEN recorded a new album. The band is stable. The business is stable.

poserboy71 wrote:On August 16 , Many events have occured. Elvis died and so did Vinnie Vincent's career.

What happened on August 16?

The Invasion imploded.

Genebaby wrote:The Invasion imploded.

Not on August 16. Unless I'm missing something.

If someone is talking about the last tour date of ASG, then that was 10 days later.

doublev2 wrote:
This was the last gig Vinnie ever played and most like the last one he will ever play. August 16 1988.

I was just being playful with Dino's comment. I didn't bother to look it up because it was said in jest.

Ass Pimple knows ALL the dates. He's copied and pasted them again and again from his web sources, which are better than yours...damn right, they're better than yours...he can teach you but he'd have to charge.

I always loved this pic... it looks like they are about to board the "spaceship" heard at the end of Invasion!


we eeer we eeer we eeer we eeer we eeer we eeer we eeer we eeer we eeer we eeer we eeer...

....

^^^I'd fuck her^^^