Vinnie Vincent recently addressed fans’ concerns about the release of his new album ‘Judgment Day Guitarmageddon.’ He set a specific condition for releasing new songs in a statement shared on Facebook.
The statement came in response to a fan’s question about purchasing requirements and international shipping costs for the upcoming release.
A fan asked Vincent on Facebook about release requirements. The fan specifically mentioned concerns about expensive conversion rates and shipping costs for Australian fans and requested a guarantee that purchasing would result in receiving the new music.
“We are still a good ways from the 500 threshold for international. I’m not surprised,” Vincent responded. “$300 is a rough number to reach in these dark times. The economy is very bad everywhere.”
Vincent clarified his position on the release conditions while showing concern for fans’ financial situations.
“You are correct in that the music will remain unreleased if the threshold or thereabouts is not reached. I can’t give you purchase numbers, but I would strongly suggest IF YOU CAN’T AFFORD IT, DON’T STRAIN TO BUY IT,” he continued.
The musician emphasized his appreciation for fan support while prioritizing their financial well-being.
“I very much appreciate your faith in my music, but I also don’t want anyone financially suffering to make this purchase. If the threshold is reached the CD’s ship,” Vincent stated. “I will try and put up a second-generation CD snippet of RIDE THE SERPENT in the next few weeks.”
This latest release strategy reflects Vincent’s unconventional approach to music distribution. This approach has become characteristic of his post-Kiss career.
Guitar World reported that each CD is priced at $200. International sales need to hit a 500-unit threshold before shipping. Vincent’s career with Kiss began in 1982 when he joined as a session player on ‘Creatures of the Night’ and co-wrote key tracks like “I Love It Loud,” as Noise11 documented.
Vincent’s tenure with Kiss was notably brief but impactful. BraveWords noted that he was a member of Kiss from 1982 to 1984. During this period, he played a major role in reshaping the band’s sound at a moment of crisis. His departure from Kiss amid tensions over solos and contracts led him to form the Vinnie Vincent Invasion in 1984.
The guitarist’s current pricing strategy has drawn criticism from fans and industry observers. American Songwriter revealed that Vincent has defended his approach to selling music at what many consider staggering prices. He suggested that traditional fair market pricing belongs to “yesteryear.”
Vincent’s history of tying releases to fan pre-orders has become a recurring theme throughout his solo career. While most singers and bands have adapted to modern music distribution methods, Vincent has maintained his unique approach of requiring minimum purchase thresholds before releasing new material. This makes each album release contingent on fan commitment rather than traditional record label support.
