Once great players that gone off the deep end and never really recovered

[Blazer]

Let's talk about the players that were victims of the Rock N roll lifestyle and sank in deep and never were able to get it back on track again.

I'll start with the guy who thought he'd achieved instant stardom when replacing a well known member of what was then the biggest metal band on earth.

Vinnie Vincent.

When Vinnie Vincent was hired by Kiss he brought the shred element in that band and a songsmith with kickass tunes which made all the difference in getting Kiss's credibility back on track with two KILLER albums "Creatures of the night" and "Lick it up" for a while Vinnie Vincent was the "hot new guy"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yptx5PX-VIs

Vinnie Vincent doing a solo during the 1984 "Lick it up" tour

However, Vinnie forgot the first rule: you have to pay your dues if you want to make it big. When Eric Carr replaced Peter Criss, Carr made himself loved by the fans by being humble, outgoing and accepting that the road to stardom would take small steps. Even now seventeen years after his death Eric Carr is remembered by Kiss fans as a true member of the band, one that paid his dues and enjoyed the merits.

Vinnie Vincent however went into instant-diva. Talked big about himself, treated fans and other bandmembers like shit, raring to living the life of a star before he even got on the road with Kiss. Gene Simmons described Vinnie in the "kiss exposed" documentary as the "Most self-destructive" person he knew.

As we all know now it wasn't Vinnie who would become the accepted Kiss guitarist, the one who was worthy of taking Ace Frehley's place, that honor went to Bruce Kulick.

So what is Vinnie doing now? Not much really except from making appearences at Kiss expo's where he appears donning the make up and acting like a star.

And as for his playing?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN5eJapEgfE

Forget it...

[Trem]

hmn, i always thought he sucked

[toejam]

I'll start with the guy who thought he'd achieved instant stardom when replacing a well known member of what was then the biggest metal band on earth.

Vinnie Vincent.

When was Kiss a metal band?

[VitaminG]

Lick It Up is a kickass tune? I was about 7 years old & listening to my dad's Cream, Meatloaf & Sabbath albums when the kid next door first introduced me to Kiss. I couldn't work out what all the fuss was about. The stuff I was already listening to was cooler by far, and they didn't resort to wearing goofy makeup and playing out "personaes". Plus their tunes were more interesting, had better guitar playing and seemed to me (even that age) to have more substance.

[pro-fusion]

You'd have to include Ace Frehley himself in that category, also.

I would also nominate Jake E. Lee and Tommy Bolin.

[fuel0707]

If I understand Blazer's question, I think he's talking about guys who rose to fame and then sank into obscurity. If that's the case, I wouldn't include Tommy Bolin in that group. Tommy hit big with Deep Purple, the James Gang (he replaced Joe Walsh) and Billy Cobham, among others, before OD'ing. So he didn't really have a chance to drift into years and years of obscurity. In fact, the night before he died, he opened for Jeff Beck.

[mrrs]

I've always respected Vinnie for his songwriting and arrangements, from the Kiss stuff to the Invasion albums.

Although his solos on the first Invasion album are a little "overboard" I still love the cd, but from everything I've read about him, he's a major douche.

[Bengal]

When was Kiss a metal band?

They weren't.

The first Vinnie Vincent Invasion album is a guilty pleasure for me. Sure there's all the talk of sped up solos and whatnot, but I still like that album. And I love his pink V's.

Syd Barrett is the one that comes to mind for me.

[markD]

peter green?

[eakinj]

Damn, Bengal beat me to Syd.

I'll have to say Pete Willis. His drinking got him kicked out of Def Leppard just before they really made it big with Pyro. I've heard rumors that he was in or formed a couple other bands after that but they didn't develope into anything (that I'm aware of)

I'd also give Steve Clark an honorable mention, but he didn't really live long enough to become obscure. What a shame, the real driving force of that band, one died from drinking (and other stuff) and the other got kicked out for drinking and other stuff.. I think Phil is an awesome player, I just don't think it has measured up under his control.

[MartinBarre]

Damn, Bengal beat me to Syd.

I'll have to say Pete Willis. His drinking got him kicked out of Def Leppard just before they really made it big with Pyro. I've heard rumors that he was in or formed a couple other bands after that but they didn't develope into anything (that I'm aware of)

I'd also give Steve Clark an honorable mention, but he didn't really live long enough to become obscure. What a shame, the real driving force of that band, one died from drinking (and other stuff) and the other got kicked out for drinking and other stuff.. I think Phil is an awesome player, I just don't think it has measured up under his control.

Excellent post. I agree! Steve and Pete were integral to the great stuff. Phil was a great deputy to Steve, but he's not turned it in really.

[Axewielder]

[toejam]

They weren't.

The first Vinnie Vincent Invasion album is a guilty pleasure for me. Sure there's all the talk of sped up solos and whatnot, but I still like that album. And I love his pink V's.

Syd Barrett is the one that comes to mind for me.

I always enjoyed the first VV Invasion album, too. And I love how he went from Robert Fleishman (ex-Journey) to Mark Slaughter who sounds exactly like Robert. :ROTF: My ex-wife had the second CD, but I never really could get into it.

I also have to agree about Syd Barrett.

[Downfall]

IMO there was never a point when Vinnie Vincent was actually that good, just that he could pick really fast and move his hand up the fretboard as fast. That Metal Phrasing video on the 'tube is hillarious.

Guys that spring to my mind are Jake E Lee, Michael Schenker, Bill Steer (Doing Carcass reunion this year).

[Larz]

Chris Holmes?