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Ralph Viera (Dr.Fukk) from the band Thrash Or Die(http://www.facebook.com/thrashordie.fl) reviews Wicked Lester. New York-based rock and roll band that would later become known as Kiss. The band formed in 1970, under its original name Rainbow. Notable members were bassist Gene Klein and rhythm guitarist Stanley Eisen, later to be known as Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, respectively. In 1971 the band changed their name to Wicked Lester, and recorded an album for Epic Records, which was never officially released.

The sessions have been released in bootleg form as The Original Wicked Lester Sessions. Kiss eventually released three tracks from these sessions on their 2001 Box Set release. 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 new band in late 1972. With an emphasis on straightforward rock and roll plus theatrics, they became the hard rock band Kiss in early 1973
The origins of the band trace to 1970, when bassist Gene Klein and keyboardist Brooke Ostrander recruited lead guitarist Stephen Coronel, a childhood friend and former bandmate of Klein's. The 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 replaced by Tony Zarrella.
n early 1971, Rainbow played its first 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 came up with the name Wicked Lester, which Simmons liked because it was unusual. 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.
During their brief existence, Wicked Lester performed in public twice. The first show took place at the Rivoli Theatre in South Fallsburg, New York on April 23, 1971. The second, in late summer 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.[3] After a chance meeting with Electric Lady Studios engineer Ron Johnsen, Wicked Lester was given the opportunity to record some demos in late 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 that Stephen Coronel be fired and replaced with a better guitarist.

Coronel was replaced by session musician Ron Leejack, 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 followed a haphazard schedule, took nearly a year to complete. 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.
Paul Stanley - rhythm guitar, vocals (1970-1973)
Gene Simmons - bass, vocals (1970-1973)
Brooke Ostrander - keyboards (1970-1972; died 2011)
Stephen Coronel - lead guitar (1970-1971)
Joe Davidson - drums (1970)
Tony Zarrella - drums (1970-1972)
Ron Leejack - lead guitar (1971-1972)
01 "Love Her All I Can" (2:28) Stanley
02 "Sweet Ophelia" (2:56) Barry Mann/Gerry Goffin
03 "Keep Me Waiting" (3:04) Stanley
04 "Simple Type" (2:33) Simmons
05 "She" (2:54) Coronel/Simmons
06 "Too Many Mondays" (3:27) Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil
07 "What Happens In the Darkness" (2:59) Tamy Lester Smith
08 "When The Bell Rings" (3:11) Austin Roberts/Christopher Welch
09 "Molly" (aka "Some Other Guy") (2:23) Stanley
10 "We Want To Shout It Out Loud" (2:04) The Hollies