Former KISS guitarist Vinnie Vincent has reignited his long-standing feud with the legendary rock band after publicly criticizing how they handled his work on the track “Exciter.” The guitarist’s fiery comments appeared in a Facebook post responding to a fan’s praise of his guitar performance.
The exchange quickly made waves in the rock community, revealing that old wounds between Vincent and KISS have yet to fully heal.
The Fan Comment That Sparked the Outburst
The controversy began when a fan shared a post praising Vinnie Vincent’s guitar work on “Exciter.”
“No offense to the other KISS guitarists, but nobody else can pull off the ending to ‘Exciter’ like Vinnie did. Speed and precision,” the fan wrote.
While many fans agreed with the comment, Vincent’s response was far from celebratory. Instead, he used the opportunity to voice frustration over what he saw as a betrayal of his original artistic vision.
Transcribed by Facebook — Vinnie Vincent Responds
“Those two greedslime royally f-cked the song by not using my original solo,” Vincent said. “They compromised the song with an unfit garbled mess of tired riffs. That was my exit door. Bye and good riddance.”
In this sharp statement, Vincent accused KISS leaders — widely assumed to be Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley — of replacing his original solo with an inferior version. He claimed the alteration “ruined” the track and ultimately motivated his decision to leave the band.
Although the language in his post was harsh, it reflected the deep creative frustrations that marked Vincent’s brief but memorable tenure with KISS in the early 1980s.
The Story Behind “Exciter”
“Exciter” appears on KISS’s 1983 album Lick It Up, which marked the band’s transition into its unmasked era. The album was both a commercial and artistic turning point — and Vincent’s contributions as a guitarist and songwriter were key to that shift.
However, despite his undeniable talent, Vinnie Vincent’s time with KISS was marred by creative clashes and personality conflicts. His perfectionist approach and strong opinions often clashed with the band’s leadership, particularly over production and songwriting decisions.
According to long-standing accounts, “Exciter” originally featured Vincent’s lead guitar work, but the final album version reportedly included parts re-recorded by Rick Derringer — a change that has been debated among fans and insiders for decades.
A Rift Decades in the Making
Vincent’s Facebook post adds another layer to the complicated relationship between him and his former bandmates. Since leaving KISS, he has frequently criticized Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, accusing them of minimizing his role in the band’s creative output.
Despite his short tenure, Vincent remains a pivotal figure in KISS history. He co-wrote several of the band’s key 1980s tracks, including “Lick It Up,” “I Love It Loud,” and “A Million to One.” Yet, his fiery departure in 1984 marked the beginning of decades of tension, lawsuits, and public disputes.
In this latest outburst, his anger seemed to stem not only from the “Exciter” solo itself but from the broader issue of creative control and recognition — themes that have long defined his relationship with KISS.
Fans React: Support and Division
The post sparked mixed reactions among fans. Many expressed support for Vincent, calling him one of the most technically skilled guitarists in KISS history. Others argued that revisiting decades-old disputes serves little purpose, urging the guitarist to focus on his own music instead.
Still, the controversy has reignited debate over how much of Vincent’s original work made it into Lick It Up and whether the band gave him the credit he deserved.
The Legacy of Vinnie Vincent and KISS
Though his time with KISS was brief, Vinnie Vincent’s influence on the band’s sound during a transitional era is undeniable. His high-speed, melodic guitar work and songwriting contributions helped define the band’s early 1980s resurgence — a period that remains a fan favorite.
However, his career since then has been turbulent, marked by long absences from the public eye, sporadic appearances, and controversial statements.
Even now, decades later, Vincent’s passion for his craft and resentment toward how his work was handled by KISS remain as intense as ever. The “Exciter” dispute may be just one chapter in a larger story — one fueled by ego, artistry, and the eternal question of creative ownership in rock and roll.
