17 Musicians Who Secretly Performed on KISS Albums

If you wish to know who performed which devices on a KISS album, the liner notes will in all probability not let you know the whole story.

“Quite a lot of the Kiss data, they means issues are executed is that typically the devices that you just suppose are members of the band will not be members of the band in any respect, or the member of the band you suppose is enjoying the instrument,” Gene Simmons explains within the band’s 2005 e-book KISS: Behind the Masks.

Beneath you can see a listing of 17 musicians who secretly carried out on a number of of the band’s studio albums, together with three guitarists who would later wind up formally becoming a member of Kiss.

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After all, to keep up the band’s mysterious picture, none of those visitor musicians had been listed on the unique credit for the albums on which they carried out. “They needed to make it seem to be the group is enjoying all the pieces,” Lou Reed and Alice Cooper guitarist Dick Wagner (who performed on two KISS albums) defined in Behind the Masks. “So at that individual level of their profession they didn’t actually need to give credit. I’m positive in the present day they’d really feel in another way. There’s at all times a sense of ‘It will be good in the event that they gave me credit score.’ However to say that it made me loopy, no. I had lots of enjoyable with them. They’re nice guys, it was enjoyable to hang around with them.”

Dick Wagner
Destroyer (1976), Revenge (1992)

Dick Wagner, who had labored with Bob Ezrin on basic albums by Lou Reed and Alice Cooper, was recruited by the producer for some secret contributions on KISS’ 1976 album Destroyer.

He may be heard on “Beth,” “Flaming Youth,” “Nice Expectations” and to Ace Frehley’s excessive displeasure, performing the solo on “Candy Ache.”

“I had executed a solo on ‘Candy Ache’ and it was okay,” Frehley recalled in Behind the Masks. “I mentioned, ‘Perhaps I’ll are available tomorrow and take one other shot at it.’ As an alternative… Once I first performed the file again, I’m going, ‘That’s not my fucking solo! What the fuck is that this shit?’ I known as Gene and tore him a brand new asshole. He gave me some bullshit saying, ‘We tried to name you however we couldn’t discover you.’ one among many bullshit tales, lies, lies, lies.” (Frehley’s solo was restored for 2012’s Destroyer: Resurrected reissue.)

When Erzin teamed up with KISS for a 3rd time on 1992’s Revenge, he known as in Wagner as soon as once more for the solo on the ballad “Each Time I Have a look at You.”

Jimmy Maelen
Love Gun (1977)

Jimmy Maelen was a extremely standard studio musician, enjoying percussion for everyone from Roxy Music, Peter Gabriel, Dire Straits, Madonna, Duran Duran and David Bowie. His conga enjoying added an unique dimension to “Nearly Human” from 1977’s Love Gun.

Ray Simpson of the Village Folks
Love Gun (1977)

Simply as Tommy Thayer wasn’t the primary Spaceman in KISS, Ray Simpson wasn’t the primary cop within the Village Folks. He took over the function and lead singing duties within the standard disco band in 1979, two years after showing as a backup singer on Love Gun‘s “Tomorrow and Tonight.”

Bob Kulick
Alive II (1977), Unmasked (1980), Killers (1982)

Bob Kulick auditioned for the job as KISS’ lead guitarist again in 1972. Although he was overwhelmed out by Ace Frehley, the remainder of the band had been impressed sufficient by his work to ask him again when Frehley was unavailable to file new songs for the studio aspect of 1977’s Alive II.

In 2018 Kulick instructed UCR he had no drawback holding his contributions a secret. “On this circumstance, being pals with Gene [Simmons] and Paul [Stanley], it was essential to me that once they mentioned ‘This needs to be between us and us solely,’ that I’m going to maintain my phrase. It’s all about integrity, and that’s how I’m capable of maintain going.”

Kulick was introduced again for extra work on 1980’s Unmasked and 1982’s Killers. He was additionally employed, and this time credited, as lead guitarist on Stanley’s 1978 solo album, and crammed that function on Stanley’s 1989 solo tour. His youthful brother, Bruce Kulick, finally received the job Bob had initially gone after, serving as KISS’ lead guitarist between 1984 and 1996.

Anton Fig
Dynasty (1979), Unmasked (1980)

With Peter Criss recovering from a nasty automotive accident – and usually at odds along with his soon-to-be-former bandmates – Anton Fig was introduced in to play drums for all however one music on 1979’s Dynasty, after having performed on Ace Frehley’s 1978 solo album.

Fig additionally carried out each music on 1980’s Unmasked.

“[Criss] had damaged his arm or one thing like that. It took about 10 days to file all my drum tracks. I used to be below the gun, however we labored actual exhausting and all the pieces went very easily,” Fig recalled in Behind the Masks. “I received paid $10,000 or $15,000 on Dynasty, and on Unmasked I received $20,000. Not dangerous for 10 days’ work.” Eric Carr took over for Criss starting with 1981’s ‘Music From ‘The Elder.‘

Holly Knight
Unmasked (1980)

Anton Fig’s Spider bandmate Holly Knight additionally appeared in an unaccredited function on 1980’s Unmasked, performing keyboards on the album after bumping into Gene Simmons at their supervisor’s workplace.

Desirous to have proof that she had performed on the file, in 2017 Knight instructed SleazeRoxx.com that she xeroxed and saved her royalty checks: “I nonetheless have them!”

She would go on to have a extremely profitable songwriting profession, co-authoring hits corresponding to Aerosmith’s “Rag Doll,” Pat Benatar’s “Love is a Battlefield,” Tina Turner’s “The Finest” and KISS’ “Cover Your Coronary heart.”

Allan Schwartzberg
Music From ‘The Elder’ (1981), Animalize (1984), Asylum (1985)

After enjoying on Gene Simmons’ 1978 solo album, studio drummer extraordinaire Allan Schwartzberg – who’s performed on all the pieces from James Brown’s “Funky President” to Tony Orlando and Daybreak’s “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Around the Ole Oak Tree” and Peter Gabriel’s “Solsbury Hill” – was often known as in to assist KISS out with particular songs or overdubs.

“We began enjoying ‘I’ and Eric [Carr] had simply joined the band and could not cop the texture so we had to make use of Allan,” Simmons mentioned of Schwartzberg’s work on 1981’s Music From ‘The Elder.’ “Eric simply could not play that really feel and he was devastated.”

Vinnie Vincent
Creatures of the Night time (1982)

Ace Frehley stop KISS after 1981’s Music From ‘The Elder,’ however with the band’s industrial fortunes already in free-fall the group tried to maintain the information quiet, leaving his face on the quilt of 1982’s Creatures of the Night time whereas secretly changing him with quite a lot of guitarists.

The comparatively unknown Vinnie Vincent wound up enjoying on six of the songs and co-writing three tracks. He would up being chosen as Frehley’s alternative for the tour in assist of Creatures of the Night time, though persona conflicts would see him exit the group after only one extra album and tour.

Steve Farris of Mr. Mister
Creatures of the Night time (1982)

Three years earlier than his band Mr. Mister had two chart-topping hits with 1985’s “Damaged Wings” and “Kryie,” guitarist Steve Farris was briefly within the operating to interchange Ace Frehley in KISS.

After auditioning for the group he was peppered with a collection of questions: “They mentioned, ‘Will you dye your hair black?’ ‘Positive.’ Are you able to put on excessive heels?’ ‘I will give it a strive.’ … For a pair weeks I assumed I is likely to be the brand new guitar participant,” he instructed Tone-Discuss.

The solo he performed for the music “Creatures of the Night time” throughout his audition wound up getting used on the file – with out being credited, in fact – however finally KISS determined to go along with Vinnie Vincent as an alternative.

Mike Porcaro of Toto
Creatures of the Night time (1982)

Paul Stanley and Eric Carr are the one two members of KISS to carry out on the title monitor from Creatures of the Night time. Along with Steve Farris’ beforehand talked about lead guitar work, the duo had been joined by Toto bassist Mike Porcaro on the monitor. Speak about a missed alternative for a supergroup.

Robben Ford
Creatures of the Night time (1982)

Jazz-fusion guitar hero Robben Ford described his time with KISS because the weirdest gig of his profession. The Yellowjackets member performed the solos on “I Nonetheless Love You” and “Rock and Roll Hell.”

He instructed D’Addario (as reported by Guitar Participant), “I spent 9 days within the studio with Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. And that was somewhat uncommon. That entire scenario there was somewhat uncommon. I’d heard lots about their tales and was enjoying music that I do not play, and I by no means hearken to.”

Jimmy Haslip
Creatures of the Night time (1982)

Jazz fusion bassist Jimmy Haslip, who was within the short-lived band Blackjack alongside Michael Bolton and Bruce Kulick, discovered himself welcomed into the world of secret KISS collaborators as the results of a breakup.

In a 2008 interview he recalled Creatures of the Night time producer Michael James Jackson calling him late one night time.

“He sounded actually determined and he mentioned to me that he had a deadline to have the album prepared in about three days and Gene Simmons refused to play his bass components as a result of he had simply broke up with Diana Ross and he wasn’t in a temper for that stuff! He requested me if I’d be considering coming by the studio and lay down some bass tracks for the album. Once I entered the studio… at about 12 midnight… they had been all there… Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Vinnie Vincent…in one other room was Eric Carr with Steve Ferris and I feel there was additionally Bob Kulick in there. I feel that each single one who was within the studio that night time was utilized by KISS for a recording session.”

Rick Derringer
Lick it Up (1983)

After secretly acting on KISS’ Creatures of the Night time, Vinnie Vincent formally changed Ace Frehley as KISS’ lead guitarist on their subsequent album, Lick it Up. He quickly discovered himself on the opposite aspect of the equation when his solo for the opening monitor “Exciter” was switched out for one carried out by Rick Derringer.

“I do not suppose Gene and Paul preferred what I performed on the music, and I did.. I liked it,” Vincent defined in Behind the Masks. “I that that it was one among my finest items and it angered me fairly a bit, as a result of I wasn’t instructed about it till after it was executed.”

In the identical e-book, Paul Stanley stands by the choice: “Moments like this had been tough for Vinnie, however the perspective all of us maintained was that the standard of the file would at all times be the precedence somewhat than anyone’s ego.”

Bruce Kulick
Animalize (1984), Psycho Circus (1998)

After Vinnie Vincent’s acrimonious departure, KISS chosen Mark St. John as their third lead guitar participant. Bruce Kulick, who’s brother Bob had secretly performed on a number of Kiss albums by that time, knew it was a nasty match. “I had respect for Mark St. John,” Kulick instructed UCR in 2014, “and I used to be very shocked they selected him [as their new guitarist], as a result of he was into Allan Holdsworth, an excellent guitar participant. He was into John McLaughlin. He was into these extra very fusion-jazz shredders, that I used to be like, ‘That is not KISS!’”

Positive sufficient, St. John rapidly drove Paul Stanley loopy along with his flashy type and incapability to copy the identical solo twice. Kulick was known as in to supply uncredited solos for 2 songs on 1984’s Animalize.

After a medical situation pressured St. John off the street, Kulick turned KISS’ new lead guitar participant, a place he held for 12 years earlier than the group reunited with their unique lineup. Even then, Kulick wasn’t executed with KISS.

After Stanley and Gene Simmons determined Ace Frehley and Peter Criss weren’t up for recording a brand new album, Kulick was introduced in to play bass and / or guitar for 5 tracks on 1998’s pseudo-reunion album Psycho Circus.

Jean Beauvoir
Animalize (1984), Asylum (1985)

With Gene Simmons largely absent from the classes for 1984’s Animalize resulting from his pursuit of a profession in Hollywood, Paul Stanley recruited his good friend and former Plasmatics bassist Jean Beauvoir to play three songs (“Get All You Can Take,” “Beneath the Gun” and “Thrills within the Night time,” the latter of which he additionally co-wrote) on the album.

The next 12 months Beauvoir co-wrote and carried out on the Asylum singles “Who Desires to be Lonely” and “Uh! All Night time.”

Tommy Thayer
Scorching within the Shade (1989), Psycho Circus (1998)

After Gene Simmons produced two Black ‘N Blue albums, he stayed in contact with the band’s guitarist, Tommy Thayer. The duo co-wrote “Betrayed” and “The Road Giveth and the Road Taketh Away” for KISS’ 1989 album Scorching within the Shade. Because the band determined so as to add overdubs to their unique demos as an alternative of utterly re-recording the songs, Thayer’s guitar may be heard on these two tracks.

“‘Betrayed’ ended up being the B-side of the one ‘Without end,” Thayer instructed The Story of Rock and Roll Radio (as reported by Bravewords). “That was a giant music – it was a High 10 file. I did not have any cash on the time, and sooner or later I went to my mailbox and there was a verify from the publishing firm for $25,000. I could not consider it.”

Thayer additionally served as the key main lead guitarist on KISS’ 1998 in-name solely unique lineup “reunion” album Psycho Circus, and completely changed Frehley in 2000.

Kevin Valentine
Scorching within the Shade (1989), Revenge (1992), Psycho Circus (1998)

Identical to Tommy Thayer, Donnie Iris and the Cruisers drummer Kevin Valentine first labored on a KISS file through Scorching within the Shade demos – though he was working with Paul Stanley, not Gene Simmons, on the tracks “King of Hearts” and “You Love Me to Hate You.”

When Eric Singer needed to briefly depart the studio throughout classes for 1992’s Revenge Valentine got here in to play on the music “Take It Off.” “I am positive if Eric had time, they might have executed some extra takes and it could have been fantastic, however he needed to go,” Valentine instructed Bravewords.

He was then known as in to carry out on all however one music on 1998’s Psycho Circus, however later admitted he most well-liked Criss’ work on the monitor “Into the Void.” “Honestly, I prefer it greater than the stuff I performed on as a result of it sounded just like the early unique KISS stuff.”