Wicked Lester, c. 1972. left to right: Ron Leejack, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Brooke Ostrander, and Tony Zarrella.

Wicked Lester was a New York-based rock and roll group. The group was formed (as Rainbow) in Summer 1970, and its most notable early members were bassist Gene Klein (later Gene Simmons) and rhythm guitarist Stanley Eisen (later Paul Stanley). In Spring 1971 the band changed their name to Wicked Lester, and in the fall of that year they recorded an album for Epic Records, which was never released. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Ron Leejack is the lead Guitarist for Wicked Lester. ... Chaim Witz (חיים וויץ), (born August 25, 1949 in Haifa, Israel), better known by his stage name Gene Simmons, is an Israeli-American hard rock bass guitarist and vocalist. ... Stanley Harvey Eisen (born January 20, 1952, Queens, New York) known by his stage name Paul Stanley, is an American Hard rock guitarist and vocalist for the rock band Kiss. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... Rock and roll (also spelled Rock n Roll, especially in its first decade), also called rock, is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. ... For other uses, see Summer (disambiguation). ... Year 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Deon Rexroat of Anberlin. ... Chaim Witz (חיים וויץ), (born August 25, 1949 in Haifa, Israel), better known by his stage name Gene Simmons, is an Israeli-American hard rock bass guitarist and vocalist. ... Stanley Harvey Eisen (born January 20, 1952, Queens, New York) known by his stage name Paul Stanley, is an American Hard rock guitarist and vocalist for the rock band Kiss. ... Look up spring in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the temperate season. ... Epic Records is an American record label, owned and operated by Sony BMG. // Epic was launched originally as a jazz and classical music label in 1953 by CBS. Its bright-yellow, black and blue logo became a familiar trademark for many jazz and classical releases. ...

Wicked Lester's music featured elements of rock and roll, folk rock, and pop. Simmons and Stanley, feeling that the group lacked a unifying musical vision, began forming a second version of Wicked Lester in late 1972. This second Wicked Lester, with an emphasis on more straightforward rock and roll, as well as on theatrics, became Kiss in January 1973.^[1][2] Rock and roll (also spelled Rock n Roll, especially in its first decade), also called rock, is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. ... Bob Dylans folk-rock album, Blonde on Blonde Folk-rock is a musical genre, combining elements of folk music and rock music. ... For other uses, see Pop music (disambiguation). ... Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in 1973. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... For the song by James Blunt, see 1973 (song). ...

History

Rainbow

The origin of Wicked Lester traces to Summer 1970, when bassist Gene Klein and keyboardist Brooke Ostrander recruited lead guitarist Stephen Coronel, a childhood friend and former bandmate of Klein's, to join their new band. This group took the name Rainbow shortly thereafter. Coronel recommended rhythm guitarist Stanley Eisen, who had actually been rejected by the group after a previous audition. Shortly after Eisen joined, Ostrander recruited drummer Joe Davidson, and the first Rainbow lineup was completed. Davidson's stay did not last long, and he was soon replaced by Tony Zarrella in Summer 1970.^[1][2][3] For other uses, see Summer (disambiguation). ... Year 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Deon Rexroat of Anberlin. ... A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. ... For the UK magazine, see Guitarist (magazine). ... Stephen Coronel is a guitarist and former member of Bullfrog Bheer, Wicked Lester, and Rainbow (not the famous Ritchie Blackmore band of the same name), three late 1960s/early 1970s prog-rock bands that later mutated into KISS. Categories: | ... For the comic book character, see Drummer (comics). ... For other uses, see Summer (disambiguation). ... Year 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In the spring of 1971, Rainbow played its first and only show, which consisted of two sets performed at Richmond Community College in Staten Island. After the show, the group discovered that there was already another band called Rainbow. They decided to drop the name, and quickly settled on Wicked Lester in Spring 1971. While the decision to change the group's name came partly out of a desire to avoid any potential legal issues, it also reflected Klein and Eisen's desire to start playing more original compositions.^[1] The College of Staten Island is one of the hybrid colleges of the City University of New York. ... This article is about the borough in New York City. ... Look up spring in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. ...

Wicked Lester

During their brief existence, Wicked Lester performed in public twice. The first show took place at the Rivoli Theatre in South Fallsburg, New York in April 1971. The second, during the summer of 1971, was at an Atlantic City, New Jersey hotel hosting a B'nai B'rith Youth Organization event. Not long after that show, the band suffered a major setback when they had all of their musical gear stolen.^[1] South Fallsburg is a hamlet (and census-designated place) in Sullivan County, New York, United States. ... This article is about the state. ... Map of Atlantic City in Atlantic County Coordinates: , Country United States State New Jersey County Atlantic Incorporated May 1, 1854 Government  - Mayor Bob Levy Area  - City  17. ... Bnai Brith Membership Certificate, 1876. ...

After a chance meeting with Electric Lady Studios engineer Ron Johnsen, Wicked Lester was given the opportunity to record some demos in the fall of 1971. Johnsen, who produced the demo tape, shopped it to a few labels, with no success. Eventually the tape was screened by Epic Records, who purchased the masters and agreed to fund the recording of a full album. One of the conditions, however, was the firing of Stephen Coronel.^[1][4] Electric Lady Studios, at 52 West 8th Street, in New York Citys Greenwich Village, is a recording studio originally built by the legendary Jimi Hendrix and designed by John Storyk in 1970. ... For other uses, see demo. ... Epic Records is an American record label, owned and operated by Sony BMG. // Epic was launched originally as a jazz and classical music label in 1953 by CBS. Its bright-yellow, black and blue logo became a familiar trademark for many jazz and classical releases. ... A master recording is an original recording, from which copies may be made. ...

Coronel was replaced by session musician Ron Leejack in Febuary 1972, and the group continued their efforts to finish the album. Some songs were completely re-recorded to accommodate Leejack's different playing style. The entire recording process, which adhered to a haphazard schedule, took nearly a year to complete.^[4] When the completed album was presented to Don Ellis, Epic's A&R director, he stated that he hated the album and was not going to release it. The next day, Wicked Lester manager Lew Linet requested and received the group's release from Epic Records.^[1] It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Sideman. ... Ron Leejack is the lead Guitarist for Wicked Lester. ... February is the second month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... In the music industry, Artists and Repertoire (A&R) is the division of a record label company that is responsible for scouting and artist development. ...

It was at this time that Klein and Eisen (now using the stage names Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley) decided that one of the reasons for Wicked Lester's lack of success was their lack of a singular image and musical vision. They made the decision to start a new version of the group, and began auditioning for a drummer in the fall of 1972. Soon after, Tony Zarrella left the original group. Ostrander, feeling that the band was going nowhere, quit. This was in September 1972]]. Ostrander went on to teach music retiring from Missisquoi Valley Union High School in Swanton, VT in 2007. ^[1] This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Whereas Wicked Lester's original sound was rooted in varied musical styles (folk and pop, for instance), when Simmons and Stanley decided to recruit new members, they also made the decision to focus on a more aggressive and simple style of rock and roll. The first new member added to Wicked Lester was drummer Peter Criss in September 1972, who had placed an ad in Rolling Stone. The new Wicked Lester, without a recording contract, began a strict and regular regimen of rehearsals.^[1] Folk music can have a number of different meanings, including: Traditional music: The original meaning of the term folk music was synonymous with the term Traditional music, also often including World Music and Roots music; the term Traditional music was given its more specific meaning to distinguish it from the... For other uses, see Pop music (disambiguation). ... Peter Criss (born George Peter John Criscuola--pronounced Chris-cola-- on December 20, 1945), is an American musician best known as co-founder, drummer, vocalist for the rock band KISS. Peter Criss established the cat character for his KISS persona. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the magazine. ...

In November 1972, the group arranged a showcase with Don Ellis, the Epic Records executive who earlier had rejected Wicked Lester's album. While one Epic executive, Tom Werman, was impressed by the power and theatrics of this new incarnation of Wicked Lester, Ellis once again turned them down. As Ellis was leaving, Peter Criss's brother (who was drunk) vomited on his foot.^[4]

In early December, Paul Stanley placed an ad in The Village Voice stating, "LEAD GUITARIST WANTED with Flash and Ability. Album Out Shortly. No time wasters please," rather than the historically incorrect "with Flash and Balls." The ad ran for two issues (December 7, 1972 and December 14, 1972) and the band had to run several sessions of auditions. One early audition was by the strange Paul "Ace" Frehley who showed up wearing different colored shoes. Frehley was asked back for a second audition and was a member of the band by Christmas 1972. Within a few weeks, the group had changed its name to Kiss and played their first concert on January 30, 1973.^[1] This article is about a New York newspaper. ... is the 341st day of the year (342nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 348th day of the year (349th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Paul Daniel Frehley (born April 27, 1951[1]), better known as Ace Frehley, is an American guitarist best known as a founding member and lead guitarist for the rock band Kiss. ... is the 30th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the song by James Blunt, see 1973 (song). ...

The unreleased album

The proper recording sessions for Wicked Lester's album, which began in November 1971 at Electric Lady Studios in Greenwich Village, took place during multiple sessions and were finished in July 1972. The album was a mixture of original material and covers, showcasing the group's eclectic style.^[4][2] Three of the songs recorded for the Wicked Lester album would later resurface as Kiss songs, with varying degrees of similarity: Electric Lady Studios, at 52 West 8th Street, in New York Citys Greenwich Village, is a recording studio originally built by the legendary Jimi Hendrix and designed by John Storyk in 1970. ... The Washington Square Arch Greenwich Village (IPA pronunciation: ), also called simply the Village, is a largely residential area on the west side of downtown (southern) Manhattan in New York City named after Greenwich, London. ... In popular music, a cover version, or simply cover, is a new rendition (performance or recording) of a previously recorded song. ...

• "We Wanna Shout It Out Loud" – A cover version of a song that was originally recorded by The Hollies in 1970. The chorus would serve as the inspiration for "Shout It Out Loud" from 1976's Destroyer, although the two songs are completely different in every other respect.
• "Love Her All I Can" – Written by Paul Stanley, this would resurface on 1975's Dressed to Kill. Both versions feature similar arrangements.
• "She" – Written by Gene Simmons and Steve Coronel prior to the formation of Wicked Lester, this was also re-recorded for the Dressed to Kill album. The melody and arrangement in the two versions are nearly identical, although the original had congas and a flute that the Kiss version did not.

The only part of Wicked Lester's album to actually be released, initially, was the cover art, which was used for The Laughing Dogs' debut album in 1979.^[1] CBS Records, who owned the rights to the album, remixed it and planned to release it in late 1976 to capitalize on Kiss's commercial popularity. Kiss and Neil Bogart, the president of Casablanca Records (Kiss's label), purchased the album from CBS for $137,500 and never released it. Eventually, Kiss bought Bogart's share outright.^[2][4] Three songs from the album ("Keep Me Waiting," "She," and "Love Her All I Can"), however, were released in 2001 as part of Kiss's five-disc box set. In popular music, a cover version, or simply cover, is a new rendition (performance or recording) of a previously recorded song. ... “Hollies” redirects here. ... Singles from Destroyer Released: March 1, 1976 Released: April 30, 1976 Released: July 28, 1976 Released: August 1976 Destroyer is the fourth studio album and fifth album overall by hard/glam rock band Kiss, released on March 15, 1976 in the United States. ... Dressed to Kill is a 1975 album from American hard rock group Kiss. ... Conga is a drum, a type of music, and a type of dance (Conga Line). ... ♠ This article is about the family of musical instruments. ... Columbia Records is the oldest brand name in recorded sound, dating back to 1888, and was the first record company to produce pre-recorded records as opposed to blank cylinders. ... Neil Bogart (February 3, 1943 – May 8, 1982) was an American record executive. ... This article is about Casablanca, the record label. ... The Box Set is a five-CD box set by American hard rock group KISS. It was released in 2001, and its contents span the groups career from 1971 (as the pre-KISS band, Wicked Lester) through 1999. ...

Band members

The 2nd Wicked Lester as a trio, December 1972; (l to r) Paul Stanley, Peter Criss, and Gene Simmons

Throughout the summer and fall of 1972, there were two versions of Wicked Lester in existence. Ron Leejack, who was hired to help complete the group's album, only made one public performance with Wicked Lester (at a showcase for Epic Records). The "new" Wicked Lester began as the duo of Simmons and Stanley, and became a trio with the addition of Peter Criss.^[2][3] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

Former members

• Paul Stanley – rhythm guitar, vocals (1970-1973)
• Gene Simmons – bass, vocals (1970-1973)
• Tony Zarrella – drums (1970–1972)
• Peter Criss – drums, vocals (1972–1973)
• Stephen Coronel – lead & rhythm guitars (1971–1972)
• Brooke Ostrander – keyboards, flute (1971–1972)
• Ron Leejack – lead & rhythm guitars (1972)

Stanley Harvey Eisen (born January 20, 1952, Queens, New York) known by his stage name Paul Stanley, is an American Hard rock guitarist and vocalist for the rock band Kiss. ... Chaim Witz (חיים וויץ), (born August 25, 1949 in Haifa, Israel), better known by his stage name Gene Simmons, is an Israeli-American hard rock bass guitarist and vocalist. ... Peter Criss (born George Peter John Criscuola--pronounced Chris-cola-- on December 20, 1945), is an American musician best known as co-founder, drummer, vocalist for the rock band KISS. Peter Criss established the cat character for his KISS persona. ... Stephen Coronel is a guitarist and former member of Bullfrog Bheer, Wicked Lester, and Rainbow (not the famous Ritchie Blackmore band of the same name), three late 1960s/early 1970s prog-rock bands that later mutated into KISS. Categories: | ... Ron Leejack is the lead Guitarist for Wicked Lester. ...

Audio sample

Image File history File links Keep_Me_Waiting. ...

Notes and references