The Vinnie Vincent Forum - Where Freedom Rocks!

Hey Dino: How are you. Yeah, I did an interview with Vinnie for a project called Pro-Talk - a little audio tape that was put out by a company called REH Publications. I'm surprised you knew about it. I met Vinnie through my friend Jimmy Waldo. Jimmy was (is) keyboard player in a band called Alcatrazz. They've reformed with an amazing new singer and guitar player - watch for them. But Jimmy had worked with Vinnie before.

Vinnie is a funny guy. He put out that Vinnie Vincent Invasion album and it was the worst. He had pissed off his band - the one that went off to form Slaughter - and then put out the garbage with the VVI. Vinnie has to have things his own way. He thought he needed to be this over-the-top screaming player playing a million notes a minute. He can play that stuff but what he's really amazing at is more controlled playing ala Beck. He's an incredible songwriter and could have done something like a really heavy Bon Jovi.

I think Vinnie moved to Nashville but I'm not really sure. I think he still does sessions as a guitarist and may still be writing.

But I loved Vinnine. He was nice enough to sit down with me and do that Pro-Talk tape. He was holding a guitar and he was showing me his little licks - they were incredible. Vinnie just couldn't get out of his own way. He could have been a huge artist if he'd been willing to listen to other people.

Anyway, hope this helps, Dino. Be well.

Steven Rosen

metatron wrote:Personally I love the Invasion albums. They don't sound wrong or over the top fast to me. But that's what I'm into. And like Dino pointed out, some great violin masters played that fast. That was the style. Can't bag Vinnie for that. Think he was in some ways turning up the eXXXcitment. He was in KISS after all. Where do you go from that. Bigger, Faster Louder. 2 be played a Maximum Volume.

doublev wrote:No the interview was audio only in '88 or '87. I spoke to him in 2008. I was trying to find a copy of the interview on tape. I didn't post it as I didn't think it painted the best image of v, but now it seemed accurate some what. A lot of the old timers didn't understand that some great violin masters played that fast, it was just because it was present so over the top they didn't like it. Grover Jackson said just about the same story but a little stronger and he didn't like vvi either

Spacewig wrote:

doublev wrote:No the interview was audio only in '88 or '87. I spoke to him in 2008. I was trying to find a copy of the interview on tape. I didn't post it as I didn't think it painted the best image of v, but now it seemed accurate some what. A lot of the old timers didn't understand that some great violin masters played that fast, it was just because it was present so over the top they didn't like it. Grover Jackson said just about the same story but a little stronger and he didn't like vvi either

Did you ever find a copy of the interview?

shramiac wrote:So................spacewig ole buddy, ole pal! Any chance of an upload of the tape?? Ole buddy, ole pal!

shramiac wrote:So................spacewig ole buddy, ole pal! Any chance of an upload of the tape?? Ole buddy, ole pal!

Spacewig wrote:

shramiac wrote:So................spacewig ole buddy, ole pal! Any chance of an upload of the tape?? Ole buddy, ole pal!

I don't see why not. However, I'm extremely slammed with my business and work! I also travel A LOT with my job. (Like they say, you don't own the company,..the company owns you!) I'll do it for you guys when I manage to get some time off.

Vinnie Interview, "Pro-Talk" (Early 1987):
Vinnie interview with Steve Rosen, released on audio tape. Dates from the period that followed the end of the "Invasion" tour and release of "All Systems Go." It's losely broken up into the following sections, but does cover other questions not listed here...
1) What really happened with you and KISS?
2) The time between leaving KISS and releasing "Invasion"?
3) What you learned from KISS?
4) Was it a conscious reason not to use keyboards?
5) Was Hendrix someone you listened to? Influences?
6) Your style?
7) Carmine & The Rockers?
Recording with Carmine?
9) 1979/80?
10) Has your guitar sound changed?
11) Were you capable of playing like you did on "Invasion" with KISS?
12) Were you afraid to go out on your own after KISS?
13) Most guitar players write?
14) Mick Jones, Foreigner, song-writing & Vinnie's first recordings?
15) Promoting Vinnie and magazine lying?
16) Transformation from fusion?
17) The next record?

Spacewig wrote:I remember when Vinnie was asked if the feedback @ the beginning of "Boyz Are Gonna Rock" was a tribute to Hendrix. Vinnie said it was an accident.

doublev2 wrote:This is the one you need to scroll to at this site http://www.vinnie-vincent.com/multimedia/index.html By the way first lie in number one. Vv was not IN kiss 2 and a half years. 1 and a half at most.

doublev2 wrote:People who think vv shredding was nonsense don't listen to classical violin. No one goes to Lincoln center and comes out of a paganini concert saying perlman was shredding nonsense. Complete misunderstanding of vv. What didn't help was the glam look but if vv had been in a tux playing a classical acoustic that fast they would all be giving a standing ovation