Vinnie Vincent

    Considered by some to be the savior of KISS, Vinnie Vincent joined the group during one of its most tumultuos periods.  After Losing Peter Criss in 1980, and with Ace Frehley's increasing substance abuse problems, KISS had to be careful in introducing yet another band member to fans.  Initially used as a ghost musician on the Creatures of The Night album in 1982, Vincent was later hired as a full-time member despite the on-going denial from Paul and Gene that Ace was out of the band.  The music produced while Vincent was in the band is some of KISS's strongest ever.  However Vincent has long been reported to be a troubled person with an ego that is difficult to contain and bizarre actions.  His onstage antics and behind-the-scenes behavior caused too many problems for the band and after completion of the Lick It Up tour, Vincent was fired from the band.
    As far as his post-KISS career goes, Vincent would form the highly successful Vinnie Vincent Invasion in 1986 and release 2 albums with that band.  However after that, his output was extremely limited and despite an independently released EP in 1996, he has not been heard from since despite a rather brief songwriting stint on KISS' 1992 album, Revenge.  In January 1998, Vincent's ex-wife, Anne-Marie Cusano, disappeared from her home and her body was not found until late 2000.  A drifter and convicted sex-offender was charged with the murder.