Former KISS Star Says He’d Rather Scrap His Long-Awaited Album Than Drop His $200-Per-Song Price Plan
via The Rock Experience with Mike Brunn / Youtube
Vinnie Vincent says he would rather shelve his long-awaited album Guitarmageddon than release it through traditional channels. The former KISS guitarist admits that outcome is becoming more likely, as he has yet to find enough buyers willing to support his expensive and unusual release model for the project.
In December, Vincent revealed a plan to sell the album one song at a time using individually signed and numbered CDs. Each track would cost $200 plus shipping, and every song would only be released after reaching 1,000 paid orders.
A Costly and Unusual Release Strategy
Vincent’s website listed 18 song titles, along with the promise of more material. If completed under this format, fans would need to spend at least $3,600 to own the full album. The guitarist said this approach was the only way he could protect his work in a modern music industry shaped by piracy and streaming.
Criticism quickly followed, with many fans questioning both the price and the logistics. Vincent responded by saying illegal downloading and low streaming payouts had made standard album releases financially pointless for artists like him
Vincent Refuses to Compromise
Over the holidays, Vincent addressed the backlash directly in a Facebook post. He acknowledged that reaching his sales targets seemed unlikely, but he made it clear he would not change course to make the album more accessible.
“There’s no money releasing a record like this with bootlegging thieves at my door. Unless I get compensated for my work, the album stays unheard,” Vincent wrote. “It comes down to this; if the fan support is not there which it does not appear to be, this record will not be released.”
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Standing Firm on His Decision
Vincent said he is fully prepared to keep the album locked away if his terms are not met. “Am I fine with that? Absolutely. 100%,” he continued. “It will be the greatest album of all time, never to be heard, never to be released.”
He added that fans who refuse to pay the asking price are only hurting themselves. “If people want my music, and think they’re punishing me by not buying it because of the price, it matters not to me. They’re the ones who will lose out.”
Comparing Himself to Rock History
Vincent also shared how highly he views the album’s quality. In his words, “Guitarmaggedon is one of the greatest rock albums of all time. I lived thru Meet the Beatles, Led Zeppelin II, (Jimi) Hendrix Are You Experienced, Jeff Beck Truth, Cream Wheels of Fire, Pink Floyd etc…”
He argued that those classic albums benefited from time and history. “The only difference is these albums are generation tested and have the benefit of fermentation of time,” Vincent wrote. “But as for impact and perfection from the first song to last, Guitarmaggedon is a classic.”
