Before the Thunder: A Conversation with Lew Linet - Ep671

Before the Thunder: A Conversation with Lew Linet - Ep671

From Decibel Geek Podcast by DBG Productions

May 29, 2026 · 1h 7m

About this episode

Lew Linet shares his experiences witnessing the evolution of Wicked Lester into KISS and the lessons of perseverance he learned along the way.

Before the fire, before the blood, before the bombs, the boots, the makeup, and the myth… there was a struggling New York band trying to find its way. This week, we go Before the Thunder with Lew Linet — the man who witnessed Wicked Lester evolve into KISS. He saw Gene Klein become Gene Simmons, Stanley Eisen become Paul Stanley, Peter Crisscuola become Peter Criss, and Paul Frehley become Ace. From the shelved Epic Records album to the early club grind at The Daisy, Lew was there before the world understood what was coming. This is the story of rejection, reinvention, and persistence — told by someone who saw the lightning strike before the thunder rolled. He later built a career in the automotive industry, carrying those early lessons in perseverance into the training work he still shares today. We hope you enjoy Before the Thunder: A Conversation with Lew Linet and SHARE with a friend! Decibel Geek is a proud member of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Contact Us! Rate, Review, and Subscribe in iTunes Join the Facebook Fan Page Follow on Twitter Follow on Instagram E-mail Us Subscribe to our Youtube channel! Support Us! Buy a T-Shirt! Donate to the show! Stream Us! Stitcher Radio…

People in this episode

Guest: Lew Linet

Topics covered

  • KISS
  • music history
  • band evolution
  • perseverance
  • automotive industry
  • interview

Keywords

  • KISS
  • Wicked Lester
  • Lew Linet
  • Gene Simmons
  • Paul Stanley
  • music evolution
  • New York band
  • perseverance
  • automotive career

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Epic Records, Decibel Geek, Pantheon Podcasts

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