Photo Credit: Vinnie Vincent and Gene Simmons by KISSopolis (Facebook)
Former KISS guitarist Vinnie Vincent is selling his latest single for $225 in an effort to avoid bootlegging—despite fans “whining” about the price.
Vinnie Vincent, the musician who played guitar with KISS as “The Wiz” from 1982 to 1984, is charging a hefty sum for his latest single. But while he understands fans’ “bitching” and “moaning,” he still thinks the price is worth it.
The 73-year-old announced on Facebook earlier this month that he would be selling his latest single, “Ride the Serpent,” as a “very limited collection piece,” including a signed sleeve that’s hand-numbered and titled, for $225 (domestic) and $300 (international). Vincent added that he would only be making 500 copies of the single.
The musician explained that the high price was an effort to “protect my creation,” and added that he would be “waiting like a hawk” to take action against any bootleg copies.
“I understand the bitching, the moaning, the whining about price, but you must also understand that my situation is as such that my music is so desired that it will be targeted and taken away from me immediately, which I cannot/will not allow,” wrote Vincent. “I wish it was not this way, but I’m honored that it is… It’s a double-edged sword for me, but I sincerely hope that when you think it through, you will understand the dilemma I face.”
“It’s just too tiresome [to] deal with this type of imbecile who still unfortunately thinks that someone owes them something. Nobody owes them anything, especially me,” he added in another comment after explaining that he had turned off replies. “If they want my music, they can pay for it or wait a long time because they can get it bootlegged.”
Interestingly, the news comes several months after KISS legend Gene Simmons made headlines for offering the opportunity for a fan to be his personal assistant and roadie for a day—for a $12,000 price tag. That move also came with a large fan backlash, with fans stating KISS was looking for free work from fans instead of hiring actual roadies.
