Doug Aldrich

[I Am A FREAK]

I know he auditioned to replace Ace. Could he have been a good replacement for Ace, for you? (maybe he played on COTN) Just wonderin'

[sunsetsuperman74]

Yes because he's a very underated Guitarist. I thought he had fit in with Dio

[cgtrman]

In addition to being an incredible guitarist, Aldrich proved his songwriting skills in Whitesnake as well as Burning Rain and Dio. He is a great all-around musician.

[kiss-1976]

More of a team player than Vinnie. Better player imo as well. Who knows what trajectory the band would have taken had he been selected

[DeKiLaLoMa]

He was too young.

[B5Erik]

Wasn't he only 17 or 18 when he auditioned? He was really too young for the gig. If he had been 5 years older he would have had a good shot. He definitely would have been good for the band if he had been older.

I still think Punky Meadows was the best choice, but Gene's ego (and hurt feelings over a misunderstood comment) prevented that from happening.

[jannep17]

Wasn't he only 17 or 18 when he auditioned? He was really too young for the gig. If he had been 5 years older he would have had a good shot. He definitely would have been good for the band if he had been older.

I still think Punky Meadows was the best choice, but Gene's ego (and hurt feelings over a misunderstood comment) prevented that from happening.

Yeah, you don't want to place an 18 year-old in Kiss, to replace Ace Frehley.
Would have been a recipe for disaster.

Why didn't they have their eyes on Bruce already in 1982? Can't remember.

[lord71]

Wasn't he only 17 or 18 when he auditioned? He was really too young for the gig. If he had been 5 years older he would have had a good shot. He definitely would have been good for the band if he had been older.

I still think Punky Meadows was the best choice, but Gene's ego (and hurt feelings over a misunderstood comment) prevented that from happening.

What comment?

[B5Erik]

Wasn't he only 17 or 18 when he auditioned? He was really too young for the gig. If he had been 5 years older he would have had a good shot. He definitely would have been good for the band if he had been older.

I still think Punky Meadows was the best choice, but Gene's ego (and hurt feelings over a misunderstood comment) prevented that from happening.

What comment?

Gene offered Punky the gig, but Punky told him that he had committed to a recording project with Gregg Giuffria and had to complete that. Punky meant that he had to do that first, but Gene thought Punky was turning him down. Gene just walked out before Punky could explain more clearly.

[lord71]

Wasn't he only 17 or 18 when he auditioned? He was really too young for the gig. If he had been 5 years older he would have had a good shot. He definitely would have been good for the band if he had been older.

I still think Punky Meadows was the best choice, but Gene's ego (and hurt feelings over a misunderstood comment) prevented that from happening.

What comment?

Gene offered Punky the gig, but Punky told him that he had committed to a recording project with Gregg Giuffria and had to complete that. Punky meant that he had to do that first, but Gene thought Punky was turning him down. Gene just walked out before Punky could explain more clearly.

Okay. Interesting minutia. thanks.

[Thunderous_Lay]

He was good enough to play with Dio, Whitesnake and Glenn Hughes, so...

As an aside, I saw him live with all of the aforementioned artists and he never failed to impress.

Whitesnake, in particular, is just not the same without him.

[NHKISSFAN]

Never knew he had auditioned for KISS. Saw him with Whitesnake and Dead Daisies opening the FTR show. Absolutely phenomenal player. Was looking forward to DD touring with Glenn Hughes this year but.........

[Frehley's Vomit]

Wasn't he only 17 or 18 when he auditioned? He was really too young for the gig. If he had been 5 years older he would have had a good shot. He definitely would have been good for the band if he had been older.

I still think Punky Meadows was the best choice, but Gene's ego (and hurt feelings over a misunderstood comment) prevented that from happening.

Punky would have been a much better fit for Kiss than Vinnie.

[Elderguy]

How many great songs has Punky Meadows written?

[Tallbear13]

Doug would have been a good fit but the age difference stops that

[Crown Royal]

I wonder if this is the same guy I saw in Vegas a few years ago, playing in a 80s rock tribute show (can't remember the show name now).

He was really good, fun to watch, and great stage presence.

[Grand Classic]

Wasn't he only 17 or 18 when he auditioned? He was really too young for the gig. If he had been 5 years older he would have had a good shot. He definitely would have been good for the band if he had been older.

I still think Punky Meadows was the best choice, but Gene's ego (and hurt feelings over a misunderstood comment) prevented that from happening.

Punky would have been a much better fit for Kiss than Vinnie.

Maybe musically and in the long run, but Angel is pretty terrible when it comes to songs. He wouldn't have elevated the band in the way that Vinnie did. LIU benefited from the fact that Vinnie did much of the heavy lifting songwriting wise.

The crap that came after on Animalize, Asylum, etc until Unholy - pretty much confirms that Vinnie was the missing ingredient. Having said that, VVI is dogshit. Whatever his creative vision was for his own band was just awful.

[sunsetsuperman74]

Wasn't he only 17 or 18 when he auditioned? He was really too young for the gig. If he had been 5 years older he would have had a good shot. He definitely would have been good for the band if he had been older.

I still think Punky Meadows was the best choice, but Gene's ego (and hurt feelings over a misunderstood comment) prevented that from happening.

Yeah, you don't want to place an 18 year-old in Kiss, to replace Ace Frehley.
Would have been a recipe for disaster.

Why didn't they have their eyes on Bruce already in 1982? Can't remember.

What did his age have to do with anything? Ronnie James Dio hired Rowan Robertson when he was 17 to replace Craig Goldy in Dio for the Lock Up The Wolves LP. It just boiled down to talent, song writing and his attitude. If Gene and Paul's heads were more into replacing Ace at the time they could of had replaced him with a suitable replacement over the disaster that was Vinnie Vincent. They wouldn't have the regrets of having him in the band over someone who would have been a full team player.

[jannep17]

Wasn't he only 17 or 18 when he auditioned? He was really too young for the gig. If he had been 5 years older he would have had a good shot. He definitely would have been good for the band if he had been older.

I still think Punky Meadows was the best choice, but Gene's ego (and hurt feelings over a misunderstood comment) prevented that from happening.

Yeah, you don't want to place an 18 year-old in Kiss, to replace Ace Frehley.
Would have been a recipe for disaster.

Why didn't they have their eyes on Bruce already in 1982? Can't remember.

What did his age have to do with anything? Ronnie James Dio hired Rowan Robertson when he was 17 to replace Craig Goldy in Dio for the Lock Up The Wolves LP. It just boiled down to talent, song writing and his attitude. If Gene and Paul's heads were more into replacing Ace at the time they could of had replaced him with a suitable replacement over the disaster that was Vinnie Vincent. They wouldn't have the regrets of having him in the band over someone who would have been a full team player.

There's a big difference between Kiss and Dio.
Dio was a big deal in the heavy metal community, but with Kiss, you had the whole world (ok I exaggerate a bit) looking.
I think any 18 year-old who was drawn into that machine, would come out damaged on the other side.

[sneed78]

Wasn't he only 17 or 18 when he auditioned? He was really too young for the gig. If he had been 5 years older he would have had a good shot. He definitely would have been good for the band if he had been older.

I still think Punky Meadows was the best choice, but Gene's ego (and hurt feelings over a misunderstood comment) prevented that from happening.

Yeah, you don't want to place an 18 year-old in Kiss, to replace Ace Frehley.
Would have been a recipe for disaster.

Why didn't they have their eyes on Bruce already in 1982? Can't remember.

Bob pushed for them to hire Bruce after Ace but Gene didn’t “like his mustache”.

[sunsetsuperman74]

Wasn't he only 17 or 18 when he auditioned? He was really too young for the gig. If he had been 5 years older he would have had a good shot. He definitely would have been good for the band if he had been older.

I still think Punky Meadows was the best choice, but Gene's ego (and hurt feelings over a misunderstood comment) prevented that from happening.

Yeah, you don't want to place an 18 year-old in Kiss, to replace Ace Frehley.
Would have been a recipe for disaster.

Why didn't they have their eyes on Bruce already in 1982? Can't remember.

What did his age have to do with anything? Ronnie James Dio hired Rowan Robertson when he was 17 to replace Craig Goldy in Dio for the Lock Up The Wolves LP. It just boiled down to talent, song writing and his attitude. If Gene and Paul's heads were more into replacing Ace at the time they could of had replaced him with a suitable replacement over the disaster that was Vinnie Vincent. They wouldn't have the regrets of having him in the band over someone who would have been a full team player.

There's a big difference between Kiss and Dio.
Dio was a big deal in the heavy metal community, but with Kiss, you had the whole world (ok I exaggerate a bit) looking.
I think any 18 year-old who was drawn into that machine, would come out damaged on the other side.

Oh yeah I'm sure the World would have come to end. When Eric Carr joined the group the magazines stated that he was younger than Paul Stanley until years later it was revealed that he was born in 1950. Gene Simmons used to claim that he was born in Transylvania then it was revealed that he was born in Israel. The BIG KISS machine could have added a couple of years to Doug's age to keep up with the mystique and it wouldn't have mattered

[B5Erik]

Wasn't he only 17 or 18 when he auditioned? He was really too young for the gig. If he had been 5 years older he would have had a good shot. He definitely would have been good for the band if he had been older.

I still think Punky Meadows was the best choice, but Gene's ego (and hurt feelings over a misunderstood comment) prevented that from happening.

Yeah, you don't want to place an 18 year-old in Kiss, to replace Ace Frehley.
Would have been a recipe for disaster.

Why didn't they have their eyes on Bruce already in 1982? Can't remember.

What did his age have to do with anything? Ronnie James Dio hired Rowan Robertson when he was 17 to replace Craig Goldy in Dio for the Lock Up The Wolves LP. It just boiled down to talent, song writing and his attitude. If Gene and Paul's heads were more into replacing Ace at the time they could of had replaced him with a suitable replacement over the disaster that was Vinnie Vincent. They wouldn't have the regrets of having him in the band over someone who would have been a full team player.

There's a big difference between Kiss and Dio.
Dio was a big deal in the heavy metal community, but with Kiss, you had the whole world (ok I exaggerate a bit) looking.
I think any 18 year-old who was drawn into that machine, would come out damaged on the other side.

Oh yeah I'm sure the World would have come to end. When Eric Carr joined the group the magazines stated that he was younger than Paul Stanley until years later it was revealed that he was born in 1950. Gene Simmons used to claim that he was born in Transylvania then it was revealed that he was born in Israel. The BIG KISS machine could have added a couple of years to Doug's age to keep up with the mystique and it wouldn't have mattered

In Dio, Rowan Robertson's age and inexperience (not to mention naivete and immaturity, like all kids of that age) was kept under wraps because Ronnie steered the ship. In KISS Doug would have been expected to do a lot more, and he would have had to deal with the Gene VS Paul dynamic, not to mention the image machine that they were trying to keep running. KISS was a meat grinder that required someone with more maturity and experience. Hell, Vinnie didn't work out because of his personality deficiencies. Talent isn't enough.

[sunsetsuperman74]

Wasn't he only 17 or 18 when he auditioned? He was really too young for the gig. If he had been 5 years older he would have had a good shot. He definitely would have been good for the band if he had been older.

I still think Punky Meadows was the best choice, but Gene's ego (and hurt feelings over a misunderstood comment) prevented that from happening.

Yeah, you don't want to place an 18 year-old in Kiss, to replace Ace Frehley.
Would have been a recipe for disaster.

Why didn't they have their eyes on Bruce already in 1982? Can't remember.

What did his age have to do with anything? Ronnie James Dio hired Rowan Robertson when he was 17 to replace Craig Goldy in Dio for the Lock Up The Wolves LP. It just boiled down to talent, song writing and his attitude. If Gene and Paul's heads were more into replacing Ace at the time they could of had replaced him with a suitable replacement over the disaster that was Vinnie Vincent. They wouldn't have the regrets of having him in the band over someone who would have been a full team player.

There's a big difference between Kiss and Dio.
Dio was a big deal in the heavy metal community, but with Kiss, you had the whole world (ok I exaggerate a bit) looking.
I think any 18 year-old who was drawn into that machine, would come out damaged on the other side.

Oh yeah I'm sure the World would have come to end. When Eric Carr joined the group the magazines stated that he was younger than Paul Stanley until years later it was revealed that he was born in 1950. Gene Simmons used to claim that he was born in Transylvania then it was revealed that he was born in Israel. The BIG KISS machine could have added a couple of years to Doug's age to keep up with the mystique and it wouldn't have mattered

In Dio, Rowan Robertson's age and inexperience (not to mention naivete and immaturity, like all kids of that age) was kept under wraps because Ronnie steered the ship. In KISS Doug would have been expected to do a lot more, and he would have had to deal with the Gene VS Paul dynamic, not to mention the image machine that they were trying to keep running. KISS was a meat grinder that required someone with more maturity and experience. Hell, Vinnie didn't work out because of his personality deficiencies. Talent isn't enough.

Whatever..I forget how much KISS fans know more about the music industry than a actual musician who's had more experience than someone who hasn't. I've learned my lesson, Ty! Gotta love the wisdom of a forum. Gene and Paul need to hire you for your expert opinion

[B5Erik]

Whatever..I forget how much KISS fans know more about the music industry than a actual musician who's had more experience than someone who hasn't. I've learned my lesson, Ty! Gotta love the wisdom of a forum. Gene and Paul need to hire you for your expert opinion

Even Doug himself has said he wasn't anywhere near ready. Do you know more than Doug?

[Grand Classic]

Whatever..I forget how much KISS fans know more about the music industry than a actual musician who's had more experience than someone who hasn't. I've learned my lesson, Ty! Gotta love the wisdom of a forum. Gene and Paul need to hire you for your expert opinion

Even Doug himself has said he wasn't anywhere near ready. Do you know more than Doug?

Wasn't that him basically acknowledging that he was too young because that was the reason why he was passed over - more so than feeling that he didn't have the goods. He would have happily joined KISS if they didn't care that he was younger.

[Grand Classic]

Wasn't he only 17 or 18 when he auditioned? He was really too young for the gig. If he had been 5 years older he would have had a good shot. He definitely would have been good for the band if he had been older.

I still think Punky Meadows was the best choice, but Gene's ego (and hurt feelings over a misunderstood comment) prevented that from happening.

Yeah, you don't want to place an 18 year-old in Kiss, to replace Ace Frehley.
Would have been a recipe for disaster.

Why didn't they have their eyes on Bruce already in 1982? Can't remember.

What did his age have to do with anything? Ronnie James Dio hired Rowan Robertson when he was 17 to replace Craig Goldy in Dio for the Lock Up The Wolves LP. It just boiled down to talent, song writing and his attitude. If Gene and Paul's heads were more into replacing Ace at the time they could of had replaced him with a suitable replacement over the disaster that was Vinnie Vincent. They wouldn't have the regrets of having him in the band over someone who would have been a full team player.

There's a big difference between Kiss and Dio.
Dio was a big deal in the heavy metal community, but with Kiss, you had the whole world (ok I exaggerate a bit) looking.
I think any 18 year-old who was drawn into that machine, would come out damaged on the other side.

Oh yeah I'm sure the World would have come to end. When Eric Carr joined the group the magazines stated that he was younger than Paul Stanley until years later it was revealed that he was born in 1950. Gene Simmons used to claim that he was born in Transylvania then it was revealed that he was born in Israel. The BIG KISS machine could have added a couple of years to Doug's age to keep up with the mystique and it wouldn't have mattered

In Dio, Rowan Robertson's age and inexperience (not to mention naivete and immaturity, like all kids of that age) was kept under wraps because Ronnie steered the ship. In KISS Doug would have been expected to do a lot more, and he would have had to deal with the Gene VS Paul dynamic, not to mention the image machine that they were trying to keep running. KISS was a meat grinder that required someone with more maturity and experience. Hell, Vinnie didn't work out because of his personality deficiencies. Talent isn't enough.

Whatever..I forget how much KISS fans know more about the music industry than a actual musician who's had more experience than someone who hasn't. I've learned my lesson, Ty! Gotta love the wisdom of a forum. Gene and Paul need to hire you for your expert opinion

Erik is right. You are not.

[jannep17]

Wasn't he only 17 or 18 when he auditioned? He was really too young for the gig. If he had been 5 years older he would have had a good shot. He definitely would have been good for the band if he had been older.

I still think Punky Meadows was the best choice, but Gene's ego (and hurt feelings over a misunderstood comment) prevented that from happening.

Yeah, you don't want to place an 18 year-old in Kiss, to replace Ace Frehley.
Would have been a recipe for disaster.

Why didn't they have their eyes on Bruce already in 1982? Can't remember.

What did his age have to do with anything? Ronnie James Dio hired Rowan Robertson when he was 17 to replace Craig Goldy in Dio for the Lock Up The Wolves LP. It just boiled down to talent, song writing and his attitude. If Gene and Paul's heads were more into replacing Ace at the time they could of had replaced him with a suitable replacement over the disaster that was Vinnie Vincent. They wouldn't have the regrets of having him in the band over someone who would have been a full team player.

There's a big difference between Kiss and Dio.
Dio was a big deal in the heavy metal community, but with Kiss, you had the whole world (ok I exaggerate a bit) looking.
I think any 18 year-old who was drawn into that machine, would come out damaged on the other side.

Oh yeah I'm sure the World would have come to end. When Eric Carr joined the group the magazines stated that he was younger than Paul Stanley until years later it was revealed that he was born in 1950. Gene Simmons used to claim that he was born in Transylvania then it was revealed that he was born in Israel. The BIG KISS machine could have added a couple of years to Doug's age to keep up with the mystique and it wouldn't have mattered

I'm not talking about numbers, I'm talking about the actual person not being able to handle being in a band like Kiss.

[jannep17]

Wasn't he only 17 or 18 when he auditioned? He was really too young for the gig. If he had been 5 years older he would have had a good shot. He definitely would have been good for the band if he had been older.

I still think Punky Meadows was the best choice, but Gene's ego (and hurt feelings over a misunderstood comment) prevented that from happening.

Yeah, you don't want to place an 18 year-old in Kiss, to replace Ace Frehley.
Would have been a recipe for disaster.

Why didn't they have their eyes on Bruce already in 1982? Can't remember.

Bob pushed for them to hire Bruce after Ace but Gene didn’t “like his mustache”.

You'd think Gene would be aware of razors at this point in time.

[adamsebas]

C grade at best

[Elderguy]

C grade at best

Keep telling yourself that over and over again as you watch this.

[Frehley's Vomit]

Wasn't he only 17 or 18 when he auditioned? He was really too young for the gig. If he had been 5 years older he would have had a good shot. He definitely would have been good for the band if he had been older.

I still think Punky Meadows was the best choice, but Gene's ego (and hurt feelings over a misunderstood comment) prevented that from happening.

Punky would have been a much better fit for Kiss than Vinnie.

Maybe musically and in the long run, but Angel is pretty terrible when it comes to songs. He wouldn't have elevated the band in the way that Vinnie did. LIU benefited from the fact that Vinnie did much of the heavy lifting songwriting wise.

The crap that came after on Animalize, Asylum, etc until Unholy - pretty much confirms that Vinnie was the missing ingredient. Having said that, VVI is dogshit. Whatever his creative vision was for his own band was just awful.

Vinnie helped write some good stuff for sure, but his solos were screeching dreck and he was (still is) a nightmare to deal with (as evidenced by just about everyone who's had anything to do with him in any capacity). Punky was a more logical choice as far as his playing and his personality goes, hence my opinion that he would have been a much better fit for Kiss than Vinnie.

[caligari]

Punky would have been a great fit.
He had age, height, look, stage presence, showmanship, experience and common musical influences with Gene & Paul. Punky also knows how to play FOR THE SONG - just like Ace had done. Although not as prolific a song writer as Vinnie, I’m sure his cowrites with Gene and Paul would have been just fine. I can only guess, but I bet he would have provided the stability they lacked and he would have been in the band right up until the reunion.

[Grand Classic]

C grade at best

You don't have to like him or his style, but this is entirely delusional.

[Frehley's Vomit]

Doug's a terrific player. He might possibly have been too young and inexperienced at the time he auditioned for Kiss, but I'd have rather have heard him in the band than Vinnie Vincent.

[caveyspice]

I wonder if this is the same guy I saw in Vegas a few years ago, playing in a 80s rock tribute show (can't remember the show name now).

He was really good, fun to watch, and great stage presence.

Raiding the Rock Vault? Yes that was him. I saw that show at the Tropicana in 2015. Phenomenal guitarist!

[sneed78]

Wasn't he only 17 or 18 when he auditioned? He was really too young for the gig. If he had been 5 years older he would have had a good shot. He definitely would have been good for the band if he had been older.

I still think Punky Meadows was the best choice, but Gene's ego (and hurt feelings over a misunderstood comment) prevented that from happening.

Yeah, you don't want to place an 18 year-old in Kiss, to replace Ace Frehley.
Would have been a recipe for disaster.

Why didn't they have their eyes on Bruce already in 1982? Can't remember.

Bob pushed for them to hire Bruce after Ace but Gene didn’t “like his mustache”.

You'd think Gene would be aware of razors at this point in time.

I guess he only discovered them years later

[FanbAce1978]

Probably my favorite Dio guitar player.

[Thunderous_Lay]

Probably my favorite Dio guitar player.

Live, definitely.

[metaldad]

C grade at best

Probably never heard him play huh ?

[Farewell Tour 2030]

I wonder if this is the same guy I saw in Vegas a few years ago, playing in a 80s rock tribute show (can't remember the show name now).

He was really good, fun to watch, and great stage presence.

No, the guy you are thinking of is in Whitesnake now though. He also plays with Cher and played in Night Ranger too. Joel Hoekstra is his name.

[Hi I'm Witz]

Who was the guy who played in Wendy O William's band when she went solo? Did he audition? He would have been a killer replacement.

[Elderguy]

The guy that we think wrote the solo on It’s My Life?