Kiss: Vinnie Vincent Opens Up About His Gender Identity — Rolling Stone

This article first appeared on May 9, 2023.Vinnie Vincent, former guitarist for Kiss (1982-1984), has spoken out about speculation surrounding his gender identity. The 65-year-old says it should remain a secret whether he feels like a woman or a man.

In an interview with “Noize In The Attic” (below), Vincent answers the question of whether he now lives as a woman: “Not that I know of.” But then adds: “If I went into that now, the mystery would no longer be there. And people love the mystery. Maybe I should say: ‘You decide for yourself,’ but then they would just keep talking.”

Vinnie Vincent, real name Vincent John Cusano, has two twin daughters. The mother of his children, AnnMarie Peters, was murdered after their divorce in 1998. The musician has now made peace with Kiss, who kicked him out in 1984 because of his exalted guitar playing.

At the Atlanta Kiss Expo in April 2018, he saw Gene Simmons, with whom he has also had a legal battle in the past, for the first time in two decades.

A New York campaign is currently dedicating West 23rd Street and 8th Avenue in New York to the band Kiss and renaming them. The cover photo of the album “Dressed to Kill” was taken on this corner in 1975, showing the four band members in suits. To unveil the campaign, the Planning Committee of Manhattan will hold a public event in New York on April 17. This is intended to give citizens the opportunity to ask questions and make suggestions. What the streets could be called is still up for discussion. There are no proposals for this yet.

“Dressed to Kill” came before the big hit

In 1975, Kiss produced their third studio album together with Casablanca Records

. The label was having financial difficulties at the time and wanted to save its existence with the album. In order to get it to LP length and sell it as quickly as possible, the record was stretched with longer breaks between songs. Casablanca Records boss Neil Bogart also produced the work himself to save costs.

The album didn’t bring in the desired sales, but at least it bridged the time until the band released their live album in September 1975

published. With “Alive!” Kiss had their big breakthrough as a rock band.

Both the quartet and Casablanca Records benefited from their success, allowing them to establish themselves in the music industry.

A special place

The location where photographer Bob Gruen shot the cover for “Dressed to Kill” in 1975 is symbolic of a time for the band in which the extent of their success was not apparent – ​​neither to the members nor to the public.

Bob Gruen on his Instagram account:

Interesting: The suits that Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons and Ace Frehley are wearing in the photo are borrowed. Only Peter Criss owned his own suit at this point.

If the streets on the corner of the “Dressed to Kill” cover photo are actually dedicated to the band, it would be a tribute to the band’s 50-year history.