JAY JAY FRENCH ( twisted sister )

TWISTED SISTER’s Jay Jay French: "I Was One Of Many Guitar Players Who Auditioned For KISS"

TWISTED SISTER guitarist Jay Jay French was recently interviewed on Bulgarian radio station Tangra Mega Rock http://www.radiotangra.com/?page=stuff&id=42&lng=en , and put the longtime rumor to rest that he ever was in a band with Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons before they formed KISS. “I read that, and that is the most ridiculous mistaken fact that is really untrue. I can say this: I was one of many guitar players who auditioned for KISS, and I spent a couple of weeks practicing with those guys. They didn't have a name yet - they were not KISS, they weren't WICKED LESTER - and I was one of many but somehow, someway, that statement I just gave you has been misinterpreted, misprinted, miswritten - everything from 'I was a member of KISS' to whatever, and I never, ever said it. I auditioned for the band in June of 1972, and in September of 1972, they picked up Ace out of maybe 25 or 30 people, and when they picked Ace, I called them around that time just to say, 'Hey, how are you doing? What is going on?' They told me they hired Ace, and I went down to rehearsal and watched them when they first rehearsed with Ace, and he was perfect for this band.”
(Thanks KISSKollector.com)