Should Vinnie Have Gotten A Credit On FLAG?

[thattimeofyear87]

From "Behind The Mask":

"Fits Like A Glove"
Gene Simmons: "Fits Like A Glove" started with a guitar pattern I had. Then Vinnie stuck in the middle... "

Sounds like Vinnie contributed musically to the song, but no credit?

[poserboy71]

We have speculated for many years that Vinnie contributed more than he was given credit for.

[shramiac]

If Paul and Gene could change a lyric and get credit..............

[BigEd]

Paul put the letter "A" in the title of A Million To One and got a co-write for the song....Vinnie wrote it in his parent's basement while he was in Connecticut visiting !

[poserboy71]

Paul put the letter "A" in the title of A Million To One and got a co-write for the song....Vinnie wrote it in his parent's basement while he was in Connecticut visiting !

I believe that.

[doublev2]

The reason I know he didn't do anything of fits like a glove is he would have sued.

[MatthewF]

Paul put the letter "A" in the title of A Million To One and got a co-write for the song....Vinnie wrote it in his parent's basement while he was in Connecticut visiting !

I always suspected that when I heard that he sued them for song royalties. I imagine that is a common practice.

[doublev2]

Did he sue for Royalities? Please show me. I believe he mainly sued for not getting paid enough to tour.

Again, royalities are not paid by kiss but by label.

[doublev2]

its says it plain and simple that vv was not contesting Fits like a glove. Says he wrote 8 songs http://openjurist.org/264/f3d/936/vince ... individual BELIEVE ME if VV had written it he would be suing for it by name.

It appears that part of VV's royalties were given to kiss because he didn't renew. Taste of VV's own medicine when it comes to tricky contracts.

[doublev2]

he claimed that kiss forged his signature but failed to submit a sample

At this point in the proceedings, most of Cusano's remaining claims involved his post-petition "Revenge " compositions. KISS Defendants and Polygram moved for summary judgment in January 1999 on the ground that Cusano had been paid all sums due and owing. Cusano countered by alleging that his signature on agreements in which he purportedly assigned his interest in the "Revenge" compositions had been forged. The district court appointed a forensic examiner in March 1999 to determine the authenticity of the "Revenge" agreements. The court ordered Cusano either to submit a handwriting analysis report from the neutral examiner or to withdraw his dispute of the agreements and submit his opposition to the motion for summary judgment, limiting his arguments to the use of the "Revenge" compositions on the KISS album "Alive III" and two KISS videos. When Cusano failed to comply with the order by filing nothing, the court held that the "Revenge" agreements were valid and binding on Cusano and granted summary judgment for KISS Defendants and Polygram. This ruling resulted in the dismissal of all remaining portions of Cusano's claims 1 through 5 for open book account, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, and misrepresentation; and claims 9 and 10 for conversion and imposition of constructive trust.

[doublev2]

maybe be meant VV put in the solo? funny thing is sometimes solos i feel should get writing credit.

[PinkWiz]

Paul put the letter "A" in the title of A Million To One and got a co-write for the song....Vinnie wrote it in his parent's basement while he was in Connecticut visiting !

I could see this but Million sounds so much like other Paul ballads with the same chord patterns and phrasing (Magic Touch, Tears Are Falling, Thrills In The Night... even Love Gun) that it makes me think Eisen had a lot to do with the tune.

Maybe Vinnie was trying to write a "Paul-ish" type song?

[doublev2]

i agree. even if it was 100% vv which i doubt because i am sure paul wrote some lyrics, but they will never give vv sole writing credit on any tunes. To be honest i can understand that too. band almost failing and paying off ace and peter.

[doublev2]

if vv thinks he wrote these tunes without kiss then he would be smart to put out the demos. If he recorded million to one on his own then would be cool to hear just how much input kiss had.

[PinkWiz]

Exactly...

[doublev2]

and he would own the demos recorded without kiss. Vinnie said most l.i.u tunes were written during creatures tour so maybe he wrote a million to one on break? I still hear classic paul in it though. Shame it was never a single.

[1031]

Only the lyrics and melody constitutes a song credit legally. But this is up to the band, many share equally no matter what, some who ever worked on the song, some get writing credit but share the "points" on the song, some only get mechanical rights or credit. "Thats usually who played on the song.

Rarely does a guitar part constitute the melody unless its a instrumental. And here's why, Hum Bowies Fame does it follow the guitar part ? Hum most any Journey song same thing. Plus how would you differentiate most any country song in D C G .

Thats why it is very important to have this worked out ahead of time in a band or recording session on paper signed by all parties. Or you are left with the accepted definition when you go to court.

Today the smart thing to do as a guitarist is require a salary and a cut of ticket sales or touring profits. Then trademark your image and name. That way you don't have to worry about any recording costs or management issues. We are in a odd time where touring and image is worth more than the recorded song will generate income. At least for most bands, and if your playing in a band where the vocalist "is the band" or you pretty much know thats how its gonna play out.

A great example of this working out is the Bon jovi Sambora pissing match this last year, Sambora had a contract that guaranteed touring profits on that tour present or not. So he was in no hurry to make up.

[doublev2]

Very interesting. Good to know