JJ French's Candid Memories from his Wicked Lester Audition! 🎸✨

JJ takes us back to the audacious days of Wicked Lester, sharing insights into his audition that shaped the iconic band KISS. Brace yourself for the controversy as JJ recalls the surprising moment when Gene Simmons urged him to remove his glasses, citing a striking reason. Unveil the untold stories that paved the way for one of the greatest rock bands in history!"
#rockhistory #jjfrench #wickedlester
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[@brockhowell2296]

Very impressed with JJ French's honest take. Usually it's the blame game, so n so was an asshole, this guy was drunk, etc. etc. Nope. JJ candidly said, I wasn't good enough, I wasn't ready. How humble.

[@crankjazz]

Great shout out for Slade.

[@johnnyrotten5507]

Paul Stanley's Ibanez Iceman was inspired by the lead singer's top hat - that's where Paul got the concept for a broken mirror light effect.

[@DMSProduktions]

BABEH BABEH BAAAABEHHHH! \m/

[@bobfalfa62]

JJ has always come across as a super grounded dude and class act.

[@steelandtree3133]

I worked at a small concert venue back in the 80s. Twisted Sister played there after Stay Hungry came out. Had a chance to talk to Jay Jay and Mark after the show. We talked about an hour/ hour and a half. Two of the coolest, most down to earth people I've ever met.

[@LIRocker87]

​@steelandtree3133 ......are you Mike Piazza from Island Trees?!!!!!

[@johnnyrotten5507]

he was courageous enough to admit that he wasn't as ace as Ace - pardon the pun - but I respect him for that.

[@louise_rose]

It's hilarious of course that Gene told him "That's too Jewish - you should change your name!" - but it's true that people could be self-conscious about such names. Almost ten years earlier, Simon and Garfunkel considered using stage names (they had once been around , of course, as Tom and Jerry) because their real names sounded...Jewish. Their producer Tom Wilson, who was black, became angry and pointed out that they were moving into a genre - folk rock and protest songs - that owed a great deal of its popularity to resonance with the black civil rights movement "and now you don't even want to be open about your *own* ethnic roots?". They agreed that he had a point and decided to stick with their own names.

[@ultralance]

It's very important to realize that Gene's birth name was Chaim Witz, which was changed to Gene Klein upon moving to America as a child, before professionally changing to Gene Simmons. With Paul's birthname of Stanley Eisen... they weren't hypocrites. lol

[@louise_rose]

@@ultralance Steel Stanley! :D Thanks for the extra info! "Chaim Witz" is certainly not a rock star name, anymore than Declan McManus (must have taken a lot of guts to change to Elvis Costello though, especially since the King was still alive when Declan took that name)

[@michaelracicot233]

It's funny that Gene now refers to his Schmeckel. Doesn't get any more Jewish than that

[@RastaSaiyaman]

To quote Garfunkel: "Simon and Garfunkel, it sounded like a name from a law firm!"

[@timothyrobinson1612]

​@@ultralance👍

[@Testing-123]

Too bad how so many non-musicians fail to see how essential ACE was to the success of that band. Too many people judge his value by the players who have come AFTER him (Van Halen for example).

[@MarkJohnson-ip2if]

Great point. Even today, Gene and Paul talk about how the fake Aces that replaced One-And-Only Ace are superior guitarists; but that’s not the point. Real Ace had magic in his fingers.

[@thebluesrockers]

@@MarkJohnson-ip2if Here's some news I gathered from a guy, about Tommy Square" and I thought you might get a kick out of this. @johnnyringo9759 8 hours ago Tommy's new album is called "10,001 Volts!!!"

[@rticle15]

@@MarkJohnson-ip2if if only Ace was more professional. Paul and Gene knew he was important. They fought to keep him despite his childish antics.

[@vistalite]

Ace’s solos on the first three records were really good. I believe he was one of the better players in rock during those years. There were flashes of great playing in the late-70s, too. I believe his solos hold up much better than the technical players who were popular in the 80s. I can’t remember one Mark St. John solo, but I could probably hum every solo from the first record in my sleep. Ace live is another story. Whether with KISS or solo, every time I saw him play it was embarrassingly awful.

[@thebluesrockers]

@@vistalite There's some great live performance of him from a few years ago. In fact it's the best that he's performed in decades. However, I agree with you when it comes to his live performances. He's either real good, decent' or awful. His vocals live seem to be always lacking quality and most of the time just terrible, But again a few years back there's some killer performances by him.

[@Jaggerbush]

That's cool. He was more than respectful.

[@wwltd3036]

Wow. KISS was my first favorite band. Twisted was the band of my pissed off early teen years. Ace and JJ were my guitar heros when I first picked one up, even had a conspiracy theory in my head that they might have been the same guy 😂 Just hearing this story for the first time. Too wild

[@tojorozombie]

At least David Roth just added the ‘Lee’ in between and had the balls to carry on with his family name.👍

[@johnnyrotten5507]

so he wasn't "entirely" brave about it, was he ?

[@The1nsane1]

@@johnnyrotten5507 Sorry dude, I don't think Lee disguises his Jewish heritage. His father was Nathan Lee Roth anyway.

[@JeffKopis]

Roth doesn't sound as Jewish as Eisen, Klein, Goldberg, Steinberg, Rosenbloom, or whatever.

[@j.g.junior9835]

Name, origin, and intention deceptions are essential tools...and have been for centuries.

[@metaphoria3]

Looks like he did alright judging from all the records on the wall sheesh 😎

[@banarne71]

Thanks for sharing this great story and your thoughts about Ace and the band. 👍🏻🇸🇪

[@JustinSmithPYRO]

AWESOME story. We'd never have, twisted sister though if JJ was in KISS.

[@j.g.junior9835]

Yeah that would've been great but you can't have everything😢

[@AndrewGrey22]

God, I was three years old in June of '72.

[@gun_toting_lefty]

I was 8 in '72. Didn't discover KISS till Destroyer.

[@newavatar2947]

Holy Moly I wasn't even born til May 73

[@user-rm9rp3no2j]

Me... 4 months of being 10 picked Kiss up from the very first LP just a little bit later as it came out.

[@mikeshelogowski434]

I was 2.

[@kevindeaton8105]

That was a great story...thank you for sharing this

[@matiasvuorimaa2894]

SLADE was original force of true rock band

[@isaiahmarquez9717]

Unfortunately for Slade, Slade didn’t do Slade as well as Quiet Riot did Slade.

[@matiasvuorimaa2894]

Problem was, that USA was not ready for Glam Rock. Witch was huge here in Europe@@isaiahmarquez9717

[@rockypupoxo]

Quiet riot were shit ...

[@gun_toting_lefty]

The "too Jewish" remark cracked me up. Love his attitude "I wasn't ready yet". That's cool! He got his real shot later.

[@jarilaitala7062]

Thanks. Great story👍

[@johnnyrotten5507]

Amazing - so nice to see and hear an honest perspective about KISS and their legacy.........throughout all of the early - mid 1980's, the more make up & pyrotechnics that Nikki Sixx used, the more he would claim that his inspiration was Steven Tyler........

[@kevinkaatz883]

When u watch the Kiss, 1974 or 5 SF show....in b&w....u could tell they were destined for stardom

[@JeffKopis]

Winterland. January '75, I believe. Before Dressed to Kill or Alive came out.

[@user-wc8em8zb7x]

Great Dialogue John! lol You are the best!

[@Scottocaster6668]

Good stuff, JJ is a cool guy. I still love his yellow/black striped Guild he used.

[@naz7t]

Thankfully Ace got the gig. And Twisted had Eddie Ojeda

[@wolfgangrittner6637]

what an honest, humble and great musician! I love his music as much as Kiss'es for sure!

[@TREEHUGGAH1]

much respect jj

[@AlmostReady504]

Very interesting. Enjoyed this story very much. Harkening back to an incredible time in Rock music: Bowie Mott the Hoople The NY Dolls Slade Alice Cooper KISS

[@jaysreview1]

We got to open up for twisted sister on their comeback with their Christmas album back in 2006 I believe. They were super cool and Dee Snider was great but JJ French was very knowledgeable and had a lot of advice when it came to the business side of music business. Very cool guy.

[@trance9158]

Great interview

[@Vicshade]

Great interview.

[@j.g.junior9835]

Yes. They have a very intense superiority complex and in group identity and solidarity. Things a few other groups are forbidden to have...all the while enduring unfounded projections and accusations of supremecy.

[@guitarplayerlp7018]

What a great story.

[@JeffKopis]

A 16 year old kid named Saul Hudson actually auditioned for KISS in 1983, after Ace left. Paul liked him and thought he had potential, but said he was just too young. We know him now as Slash.

[@HappyMachorino-bd8no]

But he was really too young. I can't imagine the administration office which would have given him a working license with KISS.

[@maga-hat709]

Slash wasn't 16 in 1983, he was 18. Nevertheless, three years later there was a meeting with Paul Stanley and GNR where they were talking about having Paul to produce GNR's debut album. Paul suggested re-writing one of their songs called Welcome To The Jungle and the band immediately showed him the door and the meeting was over. Paul didn't get that gig.

[@HappyMachorino-bd8no]

@@maga-hat709 Slash was 16. He said to Paul: "Next month I'll be 17". It must have been in June 1982. Paul remembers a "sweet kid". Paul knew that touring with a kid could have been a problem legally.

[@ggriffaw]

Lots of performers use stage names for a variety of reasons.

[@vistalite]

I had a group of friends in high school who were Jewish and a group of friends later in life who were Jewish. Both groups were almost obsessed with other Jewish people. They were always pointing out who was Jewish, who looked Jewish, and who was trying to hide their Jewish-ness. They were/are good friends, but I was never totally part of their inner-circle because I was one of their non-Jew friends. I couldn’t relate to their experiences.

[@boethius1812]

My mother was like that.

[@boethius1812]

My mother was like that.

[@boethius1812]

My mother was like that.

[@LIRocker87]

​@@boethius1812 yeah.....but was your Mother like that?????

[@razorsedge5145]

😂, i guess we'll truly never know. 😂​@@LIRocker87

[@JWD1992]

To be a Slade fan in the US in the 70s was definitely to be "in the know." They were mega-stars in the UK, but couldn't crack through in the US until "Run Runaway" in the 80s. Amazing band. Seems like a lot of their US fans formed bands. They inspired Cheap Trick's name.

[@toralm6974]

Interesting

[@Acejustforalaugh]

This guy is one cool cat ! 😊

[@totallyfrozen]

Amazing. This guys gives Ace Frehley more credit than Gene or Paul ever did.

[@JeffKopis]

JJ didnt have to work, travel, and live with him.

[@HappyMachorino-bd8no]

Paul gave enough credit to Ace in his book. Gene said in GUITAR WORLD: "I loved him". The only reason why Paul didn't say the same probably was: he was afraid it would sound "gay". But it's obvious that Paul loved him too. Also during the early Daisy concert, when Paul calls Ace: "Ace do you wanna boogie?". There is so much love in his voice. Ace likes to tell: "Paul told me, he knew right from the start that I was the right guy!" Ace is so proud.

[@bobthebear1246]

Honestly I didn't even know JJ French was Jewish!! Cool, though, since I am, too. 🔯🐻 I freaking love JJ French. He is SO upfront and honest, humble and forthright and just tells it like it is. No airs or pretensions, just the honest truth. So Kiss definitely changed his life for the better and it's so cool for him all these years later to come-out and admit that. JJ French is a stand-up guy. Love him.

[@gun_toting_lefty]

Isn't that amazing? He went there, shot his shot but for whatever reason didn't fit with their vision. No big deal. Saw them later on and actually GOT IT! Saw what they were shooting for, agreed with their vision, and it shifted his way of thinking and his own directon. [I didn't know he was Jewish either].

[@jeffgerek6180]

Jay is a great guitar player.

[@eddailey580]

Tip my hat to JJ not full of himself.

[@iluvj50]

Twisted Kisster.

[@maga-hat709]

No one is better than Ace for Kiss, so it wouldn't have mattered if it was Jimi Hendrix coming to that audition, they would've still picked Ace. Or at least should've.

[@HappyMachorino-bd8no]

Ace is proud telling in interviews:"Paul told me, he new immediately that I was the right guy".

[@paul_domici]

I think he would've been great in Kiss!!!

[@JeffKopis]

No. He would not. He even said so himself.

[@canisXsapien]

There was rumor going around in the early 80s that Jay Jay French was Ace Frehley

[@trance9158]

I'd heard that too!

[@samright4661]

I remember that rumor

[@stratmaster5]

Okay, it would be nice to know what all those awards were for. Looks like you did great for not being in Kiss.

[@JeffKopis]

How odd that he comes from a, quote, "Allman Brothers/Grateful Dead world". That is two very different worlds. In fact, it's two very different PLANETS!

[@WinterInTheForest]

Changing names was a tradition used to subvert an unknowing host. It's disingenuous and manipulative. Shows you how these people think.

[@Mozart1220]

It also keeps "Fans" from showing up at their door, and who wants to give a stranger a copy of your ACTUAL signature?

[@CaptainBlud84]

@@MichaelKerr71 Didn't claim to be.

[@j.g.junior9835]

Yes.

[@HappyMachorino-bd8no]

Why so negative? Changing names is typical for the American Dream. You arrive as an immigrant and become a free American. Characteristic for the film and the music industry. This is not manipulative, it's what made AMERICA.

[@JeffKopis]

Its because Gene and Paul know how YOU people think. They know Anti Semitism is rampant worldwide, and why fight that battle when it's already a long hard road to the top without that? It's called ASSIMILATION.

[@JimNedCreek]

I called J.J. French a 1 hit wonder and he called me an Anti-semite.

[@superdave452]

One hit wonder? Stay Hungry alone produced 3 hit songs for them.and they had a few more before they stopped making records. regardless of what you think of their last single and regardless of the fact that they didnt write it “ Leader of the pack” was also a hit.

[@j.g.junior9835]

It is a tactic to silence you...and any valid opinions or criticisms you may have.

[@HappyMachorino-bd8no]

And who are you to call someone an "One Hit Wonder"? Have you more hits? That's why I don't think it was because of this. He must have had another reason for his feelings.

[@JeffKopis]

Silly boy! He had TWO hits!

[@HappyMachorino-bd8no]

@@j.g.junior9835 It's not a "valid opinion" to call a musician a "One hit wonder". The devaluation of J.J.'s achievements, his success is personally insulting. @jimnedcreek may deny it (What did he exactly say? and the whole context is?). But he is still scornful and victimizes himself. Most likely he is jealous 🤢: "Why is this Jew a better musician than me?". J J. French (which words? Which context?) may be right. @jimnedcreek claims to be the "victim"? A clear sign for insincerity. That doesn't mean: "He IS an anti-Semit!" Only, from what he wrote🐍 I see this tendencies!

[@jukebox1138]

I’d rather play guitar in twisted than kiss

[@mikerivera7509]

Gene got a lot of nerve talking about someone looks

[@HappyMachorino-bd8no]

It's not about his private opinion. Gene had to make a business decision. Bob Kulick e.g. was talented. But he looked like a bank employee. That's not Rock'n' Roll.

[@mikerivera7509]

@@HappyMachorino-bd8no I think it was because he was bald AF

[@HappyMachorino-bd8no]

@@mikerivera7509 Yes, but he could have put on a wig. What he never could hide is his conservative look. That's not Rock'n' Roll. I watched Paul's solo concert in 1989. Bob Kulick (RIP) was on stage like a bank director. It's Paul's and Gene's business in KISS to find the right guy. Besides, Bob was really happy when Paul said "The fabulous Kulick brothers".

[@crissrails7539]

wrong,,, its because he’s homely

[@mikerivera7509]

Gene wish he could even clean the bathroom at Slade house

[@finnmcginn9931]

Monty's voice would blow Paul's wig off.

[@JeffKopis]

Right, cuz Slade has sold 120 million records, had 20 Gold albums, and toured for 50 years.

[@JeffKopis]

​@@finnmcginn9931"Monty"? It's Noddy Holder.

[@mikerivera7509]

@@JeffKopis but it doesn't matter, Slade was and always will be a better band. Nothing against KISS but Gene is always comparing them to acts like the Beatles etc. he needs to get a grip on reality

[@yeager1888]

They never made an album as good as the first New York Dolls album

[@JeffKopis]

Oh puhleeeez 🙄.

[@toddcampbell9044]

I love JJ. Screw Kiss. Long rock Twisted Sister

[@johnnyrotten5507]

without KISS, there would be no Twisted........sorry

[@metaphoria3]

Ironic u look like John Lennon with the glasses which is what they were going for

[@HappyMachorino-bd8no]

But too intellectual to rock! Paul and Gene then left Wicked Lester because they wanted a new direction: aggressive Hard Rock. An Intellectual LOOK simply didn't fit.

[@acb9896]

His actual name is Chaim Witz. I dont think you can get more Jewish than that.

[@HappyMachorino-bd8no]

I don't think it was only their choice. The record company, the manager, media consultant had to care about their image too. The vision was BIG. Not a minority band. Ace and Peter then represented the Christian majority. Masses of fans could identify with KISS. It's not only the music. And can you get more Italian than "Criscuoula"? But Peter Criss sounds like Rock'n' Roll.

[@Brutal_truthus]

Gene is a pos......10,000 volts kicks ass. Ace is the the real artist

[@samright4661]

JJ looked like John Lennon

[@johnnyrotten5507]

according to Gene, a very jewish John Lennon

[@HappyMachorino-bd8no]

And I thought he looks like Paul Stanley!

[@stephenedgecock]

this guy had one hit song and KISS had two...lol

[@smokesletsgo2374]

Twisted Sister had a ton of great songs and were fantastic live. Remember, hit song does not mean good song. If we go with that logic Britney Spears is better than Led Zeppelin

[@airdog1829]

Would have been a great guitarist for Kiss, and probably still in the band.

[@justinatest9456]

Kiss would have been nothing without Ace Frehley though. Of all the things that have come and gone for the band over the years, Ace's solos and riffs have always stood the test of time. Ace's solos were literally perfect - simple, but every note was perfect.

[@MarkJohnson-ip2if]

@@justinatest9456YES!!!

[@Mozart1220]

No one would have heard of KISS. For certain the LOGO would be different. It's always more about CHEMISTRY than sheer talent. ALL the Beatles had "talent, but with any difference in personnel, no one would have heard of any of them outside Liverpool.

[@airdog1829]

@@justinatest9456 Agreed and I like his new solo record. Better than any recent Kiss. Their songwriting took a nose dive after he left.

[@g-man-uz3gx]

Negative Ghost rider… JJ didn’t have the flash or Balls!!! He didn’t make it In Wicked Lester ! Much respect he would have never made it in KISS… Twisted Sister was much more his forte

[@petarticinovic2710]

He probably DID look too Jewish with the glasses on.😅

[@rticle15]

Gene was simply aware of how antisemitism in America affected careers.

[@WinterInTheForest]

Who do you think runs the music industry? Kiss and Twisted Sister were constantly promoted and made millions upon millions of dollars.

[@HappyMachorino-bd8no]

And Gene and Paul wanted to be representative. American. They worried that one more Jew in the band would make them a "minority" band.

[@LannieLord]

Your audio is bad / murky.

[@MABMGuitar]

They’re both too Jayish as far as I’m concerned.

[@tootsieshmutsie6428]

it was a cool interview but checking out some of the responses on the pg kinda creeped me out ( saying moronic sh*t about jews), not cool

[@johnnyrotten5507]

agree - On the contrary, I am very proud that Jewish people had the "balls" to head in this direction, musically. It's one thing for Alice Cooper to do it, but an overweight nerdy shmuck from Brooklyn / Queens is another thing !!! So grateful to Paul & Gene

[@derekdykeman9160]

Kiss was Gene,Paul,Ace and Peter Kiss was all the bands idea not just Gene and Paul's JJ is full of crap!

[@johnnyrotten5507]

he's right to a certain extent - Gene & Paul steered the proverbial ship - Peter & Ace were too apathetic /drunk / drugged at the time to care.

[@derekdykeman9160]

@@johnnyrotten5507 Regardless without Ace and Peter Kiss would never have been successful

[@j.g.junior9835]

Yeah...he is...but you can't blame him. He's a supremacist. And cattle are not allowed to be.

[@clutch2827]

I think I would have quit KISS after the first month of having to wear makeup.

[@HappyMachorino-bd8no]

But at McDonald's you would have to wear a uniform, too. Many companies in the working world expect this kind of "Corporate Identity".

[@superdave452]

I love JJ… such an underrated guy. He nor Twisted Sister get the credit they deserve. I could write a book on how and why TS are one of the greatest bands to ever exist

[@strangedays1966]

ok JJ

[@richardthompson6366]

TS found a lane and should have stayed in it but like so many they tried to prove something to someone and went into the ditch.

[@JeffKopis]

Not a widely held view, bud. You might sell 800 copies on Amazon.

[@richardthompson6366]

@@JeffKopis TS did sell about 3 million copies of Stay Hungry.

[@dicknarcowitz]

🤘🤘Great interview.