In the 80's they didn't come any more glam than LA based VINNIE VINCENT INVASION Vinnie Vincent first came to prominence as being the guitarist who replaced Ace Frehley in KISS and helped record "Creatures of the Night", even though Ace is credited and pictured on the album it was Vincent that did the bulk of the guitar waork on the album. VV also helped record the "Lick It Up" album and was with the band when they first unmasked. KISS eventually kicked Vinnie Vincent out of the group because of overall arrogance.
Vinnie Vincent then formed his own group that bears his name. He recruited bassist Dana Strum, drummer Bobby Rock, and singer Robert Fleischman. Together they released the self titled album "Vinnie Vincent Invasion". The album has some crazy guitar work by Vincent and overall is a very good album, but didn't have a tremendous amount of success.
Unhappy with Fleischman's vocals they replaced him with Marc Slaughter and released "All Systems Go" This album was still very glam and the crazy guitar work was toned down to try and reach a broader audience. Another strong album that didn't have a tremendous amount of success either.
Slaughter and Strum both eventually left the band to form their own band Slaughter where they finally made a dent in the heavy metal market.
Vinnie Vincent Invasion would release one more album that had a very limited release.
In my opinion this band is one of the true most underrated bands of the 80's that you should check out if you're a fan of crazy guitar work and glam metal.
Posted by Brode (Member # 3732) on :
Wasn't Vinny Vincent actually crazy? I heard he was borderline Syd Barret, which would explain alot to be honest.
Posted by Richie (Member # 3527) on :
I followed them simply because I am a HUGE KISS fan, but to be honest, I wasnt impressed with the first album. 'All Systems Go' simply tore it up. Marc Slaughters vocals are still something to be matched up against. I got to see Slaughter here two years ago and he can still hit most of those glass shattering high notes. As far as anyoen ever hearing them, they had a song on All Systems Go that was featured as the title song on a Nightmare On Elm Street sequel (I think #3), called 'Love Kills". That song alone does the album justice.
Posted by mamamiasweetpeaches (Member # 1715) on :
About twenty years ago I read in a magazine that Vinnie Vincent looks like he has six hair-dos on one head. That always cracked me up. The other day one of the old Vinnie Vincent Invasion videos went on and my friend said "Who is that?" and I said "Does the lead singer look like he has six hair dos on one head?" she said "Yup" I said "Then its Vinnie Vincent Invasion". Wow...I waited twenty years to use that joke!
I had one of their albums and it only had one good song on it "NO SUBSTITUTE" then i also had one of their cassettes that had stuff like LOVE KILLS and ASHES TO ASHES on it. That one was actually pretty good. I always thought Marc Slaughter was cute. Sort of like a poor mans John Bon Jovi.
Posted by Sam Hain 666 (Member # 3150) on :
I still have to go with their first album as being my favorite, it had a more raw sound and some like I said earlier very very crazy guitar work from VV. The second album "All Systems Go" was a decent album but to me it seemed like they were trying to hard to get a hit single and it was overproduced in my opinion. Give me their first album any day.
Posted by Riptide (Member # 457) on :
I remember seeing clips of Mark Slaughter-Vinnie Vincent invasion era stuff. It was just full on crazy glam rock. Does anyone know if there is a best of cd on the market?
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
Haven´t seen one. Just buy the first two cd´s, good stuff!
Posted by mamamiasweetpeaches (Member # 1715) on :
Im glad someone bumped this as I havent thought about VVI in long time. I think I might also look for a Greatest hits or spring for some of their CDs. I remember when I was in college listening to their cassette on my walkman on the bus rides to school all the time.
I just remembered: one of their cassettes at the end had a hissing voice saying "Hey, tell all your friends about ussssssssssss" - which to me always sounded sorta desperate! Hahaha. But yeah, they were pretty much un-sung and never got that credit that the other better known hair bands got.
Posted by 80'sRocked (Member # 6979) on :
Good stuff....Vinnie and Mark
Love Kills from Nightmare on Elm Street 4 rocks big time....
Posted by Sam Rage Against The Hainchine (Member # 3150) on :
I actually prefer their stuff with Robert Fleischman as lead singer better. I thought that first album rocked much harder than their second album with Marc Slaughter on vocals.
Posted by imawalkingcorpse (Member # 1675) on :
Didn't Vinnie also star in some gay porn?
Posted by mamamiasweetpeaches (Member # 1715) on :
GETTTTT OUTTTTTTTT!
Theres no truth to that, is there? IS THERE???
Posted by 80'sRocked (Member # 6979) on :
quote:Originally posted by Sam Rage Against The Hainchine: I actually prefer their stuff with Robert Fleischman as lead singer better. I thought that first album rocked much harder than their second album with Marc Slaughter on vocals.
Fleischman is awesome too, both of the first two albums are great!
Vinnie Vincent was actually born Vincent John Cusano, in Bridgeport, CT....a city that I lived in for 5 years. I don't think those porn humors are true at all.
