Vinnie Vincent Invasion
Encyclopedia
Vinnie Vincent Invasion was an American
heavy metal
/glam metal
band formed in 1984 by former KISS
guitarist Vinnie Vincent
.
recruited bassist
Dana Strum
, who had also served as a talent scout of sorts in L.A.
, recruiting band members for the likes of Ozzy Osbourne
and Kiss
(in fact, he had been the one responsible for securing Vincent's place in Kiss in the first place, as well as Mark St. John
, the man that replaced Vincent in Kiss). Bobby Rock
came on board as the drummer
. With this nucleus of the band intact, the search was on for a lead vocalist
. Initially, they were very impressed with an audition tape they had received of a male singer, whose vocal style was very reminiscent of Led Zeppelin
's Robert Plant
. Unfortunately, however, this auditionee had neglected to leave a name or any form of identification on the tape. In the meantime, as the band attempted to track down this "mystery singer," they temporarily hired former Journey
singer Robert Fleischman
, who had also previously played with Vinnie Vincent in the band Warrior
and would later sing on some Vinnie Vincent solo music, to provide vocals on VVI's self-titled debut
album. This first record included material primarily in the style very au-courant glam metal bands of the era.
Very shortly thereafter, the identity of the elusive "mystery singer" was revealed to be Mark Slaughter
, when he finally successfully contacted the band. At this point, Fleischman promptly exited the band to make way for the new lead singer. During the Slaughter-Fleischman transition, a video was produced for the song "Boyz Are Gonna Rock" from their debut album, featuring Slaughter as the vocalist, while lipsyncing over Fleischman's vocal track. With Slaughter now on board, the band released their second album, All Systems Go in May 1988. This album featured one of the group's best-known hits, "Ashes to Ashes," as well as a song called "Love Kills," which appeared on the A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master
soundtrack the same year.
Later in 1988, the band was released from their contract with Chrysalis Records
. Having grown annoyed with what they perceived to be Vincent's domination of the project, Slaughter and Strum immediately left to form the band Slaughter
, with whom they would have several hits. Bobby Rock has played as a touring drummer for Slaughter, but wasn't in the initial line-up; after VVI broke up, he briefly joined Nitro
and later Nelson
, then went on to play as a session musician with other bands.
Subsequent to the band's release from their Chrysalis contract and the resultant split of Slaughter and Strum to form Slaughter
, Vincent reunited with original VVI vocalist Robert Fleischman and recorded the unreleased album "Pyro Messiah" (aka Guitars From Hell).
A tribute album entitled "KISS MY ANKH: A Tribute To Vinnie Vincent
" was released by SplitScreen Entertainment on August 27, 2008. The album consists of new recordings of songs from Vincent's careers with Kiss
and the Vinnie Vincent Invasion. Featured artists include Steve Brown of Trixter
, Troy Patrick Farrell
of White Lion
, T.J. Racer of Nitro
, Sheldon Tarsha of Adler's Appetite
, Chris Caffery
of Savatage
and Trans-Siberian Orchestra
, Ryan Roxie
from the Alice Cooper
band and rock & roll comic C.C. Banana
, who performs a parody of the Kiss
song "Unholy" (rewritten as a roast of Danger Danger
vocalist Ted Poley
).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
/glam metal
Glam metal
Glam metal is a subgenre of hard rock and heavy metal that arose in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the United States, particularly on the Los Angeles Sunset Strip music scene...
band formed in 1984 by former KISS
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
guitarist Vinnie Vincent
Vinnie Vincent
Vincent John Cusano, better known as Vinnie Vincent, is an American guitarist from Bridgeport, Connecticut and songwriter known for his brief membership in the band Kiss.-Replacing Ace Frehley in Kiss:...
.
Biography
Initially forming the band in the mid-80's, VincentVinnie Vincent
Vincent John Cusano, better known as Vinnie Vincent, is an American guitarist from Bridgeport, Connecticut and songwriter known for his brief membership in the band Kiss.-Replacing Ace Frehley in Kiss:...
recruited bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Dana Strum
Dana Strum
Dana Strum is the bassist of heavy metal band Slaughter. Before that, he was in Vinnie Vincent Invasion together with fellow bandmate, Mark Slaughter...
, who had also served as a talent scout of sorts in L.A.
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, recruiting band members for the likes of Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
and Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
(in fact, he had been the one responsible for securing Vincent's place in Kiss in the first place, as well as Mark St. John
Mark St. John
Mark Leslie Norton , better known as Mark St. John, was a guitarist known for his brief work with the rock band Kiss.-Prior to Kiss:...
, the man that replaced Vincent in Kiss). Bobby Rock
Bobby Rock
Bob Brock is a Los Angeles based rock drummer. He was a student of the Berklee School of Music in Boston, Massachusetts and has worked with several bands....
came on board as the drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
. With this nucleus of the band intact, the search was on for a lead vocalist
Lead vocalist
The lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
. Initially, they were very impressed with an audition tape they had received of a male singer, whose vocal style was very reminiscent of Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
's Robert Plant
Robert Plant
Robert Anthony Plant, CBE is an English singer and songwriter best known as the vocalist and lyricist of the iconic rock band Led Zeppelin. He has also had a successful solo career...
. Unfortunately, however, this auditionee had neglected to leave a name or any form of identification on the tape. In the meantime, as the band attempted to track down this "mystery singer," they temporarily hired former Journey
Journey (band)
Journey is an American rock band formed in 1973 in San Francisco by former members of Santana. The band has gone through several phases; its strongest commercial success occurred between the 1978 and 1987, after which it temporarily disbanded...
singer Robert Fleischman
Robert Fleischman
Robert Fleischman is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer.Fleischman is perhaps best known as the short-lived lead singer for the rock group Journey in 1977 between the group's albums, Next and Infinity...
, who had also previously played with Vinnie Vincent in the band Warrior
Warrior (band)
-History:Warrior is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California formed in 1982.As was the case with contemporaries Ratt and Rough Cutt, the group's core - guitarists Joe Floyd and Tommy Asakawa, bassist Rick Bennett and vocalist Parramore McCarty - was made up of San Diego, CA...
and would later sing on some Vinnie Vincent solo music, to provide vocals on VVI's self-titled debut
Vinnie Vincent Invasion (album)
Vinnie Vincent Invasion is a 1986 album by Vinnie Vincent Invasion. The album was listed number 8 on Kerrang!s list of hard rock albums in 1986. The same magazine listed the album number 100 on their list of 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums of All Time.The album peaked at No. 64 on the Billboard Pop...
album. This first record included material primarily in the style very au-courant glam metal bands of the era.
Very shortly thereafter, the identity of the elusive "mystery singer" was revealed to be Mark Slaughter
Mark Slaughter
Mark Allen Slaughter is an American singer and musician. He is one of the founders of hard rock band Slaughter, and he also has worked as a voice actor and composer...
, when he finally successfully contacted the band. At this point, Fleischman promptly exited the band to make way for the new lead singer. During the Slaughter-Fleischman transition, a video was produced for the song "Boyz Are Gonna Rock" from their debut album, featuring Slaughter as the vocalist, while lipsyncing over Fleischman's vocal track. With Slaughter now on board, the band released their second album, All Systems Go in May 1988. This album featured one of the group's best-known hits, "Ashes to Ashes," as well as a song called "Love Kills," which appeared on the A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master
A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master
A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master is a 1988 American slasher film and the fourth film in the Nightmare on Elm Street series. The film was directed by Renny Harlin.-Plot:...
soundtrack the same year.
Later in 1988, the band was released from their contract with Chrysalis Records
Chrysalis Records
Chrysalis Records was a British record label that was created in 1969. The name was both a reference to the pupal stage of a butterfly and a combination of its founders names, Chris Wright and Terry Ellis...
. Having grown annoyed with what they perceived to be Vincent's domination of the project, Slaughter and Strum immediately left to form the band Slaughter
Slaughter (band)
Slaughter is an American heavy metal band formed in Las Vegas, Nevada by lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist Mark Slaughter and bassist Dana Strum. The band reached stardom in 1990 with their first album, Stick It to Ya which spawned several hit singles including "Up All Night", "Spend My Life", "Mad...
, with whom they would have several hits. Bobby Rock has played as a touring drummer for Slaughter, but wasn't in the initial line-up; after VVI broke up, he briefly joined Nitro
Nitro (band)
Nitro was an American glam metal band that formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California in 1987. Formed by vocalist Jim Gillette and guitarist Michael Angelo Batio, the band released two studio albums – O.F.R. and Nitro II: H.W.D.W.S. .-History:Nitro was officially formed in 1987 after the...
and later Nelson
Nelson (band)
NELSON is a American hard rock band founded by singer/songwriters Matthew and Gunnar Nelson . NELSON featuring the twin lead front men had a No. 1 hit in the United States with " Love and Affection" during the week of September 29, 1990...
, then went on to play as a session musician with other bands.
Subsequent to the band's release from their Chrysalis contract and the resultant split of Slaughter and Strum to form Slaughter
Slaughter (band)
Slaughter is an American heavy metal band formed in Las Vegas, Nevada by lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist Mark Slaughter and bassist Dana Strum. The band reached stardom in 1990 with their first album, Stick It to Ya which spawned several hit singles including "Up All Night", "Spend My Life", "Mad...
, Vincent reunited with original VVI vocalist Robert Fleischman and recorded the unreleased album "Pyro Messiah" (aka Guitars From Hell).
A tribute album entitled "KISS MY ANKH: A Tribute To Vinnie Vincent
Kiss My Ankh
-Name:The album title is a play on words, combining the phrase "Kiss My Ass" with a reference to the Egyptian nature of Vinnie Vincent's Kiss character .-External links:***...
" was released by SplitScreen Entertainment on August 27, 2008. The album consists of new recordings of songs from Vincent's careers with Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
and the Vinnie Vincent Invasion. Featured artists include Steve Brown of Trixter
Trixter
Trixter is an American hard rock band from Paramus, New Jersey. The band achieved moderate success in the late 1980's and early 1990s but disbanded for several years as glam metal lost mainstream popularity...
, Troy Patrick Farrell
Troy Patrick Farrell
Troy Patrick Farrell is an American drummer who has played in bands including White Lion, Pretty Boy Floyd, John Corabi and Michael Aston's Gene Love Jezebel....
of White Lion
White Lion
White Lion is an American/Danish hard rock/heavy metal band that was formed in New York City in 1983 by Danish vocalist Mike Tramp and American guitarist Vito Bratta. Mainly active in the 1980s and early 1990s, the band achieved double platinum status with their #8 hit "Wait" and #3 hit "When the...
, T.J. Racer of Nitro
Nitro (band)
Nitro was an American glam metal band that formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California in 1987. Formed by vocalist Jim Gillette and guitarist Michael Angelo Batio, the band released two studio albums – O.F.R. and Nitro II: H.W.D.W.S. .-History:Nitro was officially formed in 1987 after the...
, Sheldon Tarsha of Adler's Appetite
Adler's Appetite
Adler's Appetite, previously Suki Jones, is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2003. As of 2011, the lineup consists of Patrick Stone , Michael Thomas , Lonnie Paul , Chip Z'nuff and Steven Adler...
, Chris Caffery
Chris Caffery
Chris Caffery is a heavy metal guitarist who is best known for his work as a member of Savatage and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra...
of Savatage
Savatage
Savatage is an American heavy metal band founded by the brothers Jon and Criss Oliva in 1978 at Astro Skate in Tarpon Springs, Florida.-Early days :...
and Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Trans-Siberian Orchestra is an American progressive metal band founded in 1993 by producer, composer, and lyricist Paul O'Neill, who brought together Jon Oliva and Al Pitrelli and keyboardist and co-producer Robert Kinkel to form the core of the creative team. Since then, TSO sold nearly 8...
, Ryan Roxie
Ryan Roxie
Ryan Roxie Ryan Roxie Ryan Roxie (born in Sacramento, California, December 1, 1965 is an American guitarist/singer-songwriter currently residing in Stockholm, Sweden. He is the founding member of Roxie 77 and probably most well known for his guitar work with Alice Cooper, Slash, Casablanca, Dad's...
from the Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
band and rock & roll comic C.C. Banana
C.C. Banana
C.C. Banana is an improv comic who performs while wearing a large yellow banana costume. Originally inspired by maverick Poison guitarist C.C. DeVille, he has since taken on a life and career of his own. C.C...
, who performs a parody of the Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
song "Unholy" (rewritten as a roast of Danger Danger
Danger Danger
Danger Danger is an American glam metal band, formed in 1987 in Queens, New York. Despite enjoying moderate success in the U.S. with their debut album Danger Danger, the band vanished from the radar due to legal problems and changes in its line-up....
vocalist Ted Poley
Ted Poley
Ted Harris Poley is a rock singer and drummer most famous for being in the band Danger Danger.-Biography:...
).
Band members
- Vinnie VincentVinnie VincentVincent John Cusano, better known as Vinnie Vincent, is an American guitarist from Bridgeport, Connecticut and songwriter known for his brief membership in the band Kiss.-Replacing Ace Frehley in Kiss:...
– guitars, backing vocals (1984–1989) - Dana StrumDana StrumDana Strum is the bassist of heavy metal band Slaughter. Before that, he was in Vinnie Vincent Invasion together with fellow bandmate, Mark Slaughter...
– bass guitar, backing vocals (1984–1989) - Bobby RockBobby RockBob Brock is a Los Angeles based rock drummer. He was a student of the Berklee School of Music in Boston, Massachusetts and has worked with several bands....
– drums (1984–1989) - Mark SlaughterMark SlaughterMark Allen Slaughter is an American singer and musician. He is one of the founders of hard rock band Slaughter, and he also has worked as a voice actor and composer...
– lead vocals (1986–1989) - Robert FleischmanRobert FleischmanRobert Fleischman is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer.Fleischman is perhaps best known as the short-lived lead singer for the rock group Journey in 1977 between the group's albums, Next and Infinity...
– lead vocals (1984–1986) - Hirsh Gardner – drums, backing vocals
- Jimmy Waldo – keyboards, backing vocals
- Gary Shea – bass guitar
Discography
- Vinnie Vincent InvasionVinnie Vincent Invasion (album)Vinnie Vincent Invasion is a 1986 album by Vinnie Vincent Invasion. The album was listed number 8 on Kerrang!s list of hard rock albums in 1986. The same magazine listed the album number 100 on their list of 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums of All Time.The album peaked at No. 64 on the Billboard Pop...
(1986) - All Systems Go (1988)
- Pyro Messiah aka Guitars From Hell (1990; unreleased)
External links
- http://doublev.forumco.com
- Interview with Vinnie Vincent Invasion bass guitarist Dana Strum on Anarchy Music