WOW is the first solo studio album released by Wendy O. Williams in 1984 after her group, the Plasmatics, broke up . In 1982, KISS asked for Wendy and the Plasmatics to appear as a Special Guest on their tour. By the end of the tour with KISS it was clear that, although the formal notice that Capitol Records didn't come for another for six months, the relationship with Capitol was done. Gene Simmons approached Wendy and Rod about producing the next Wendy O. Williams album. So as to avoid any wasted time in legal issues with Capitol Records, it was decided not to use the Plasmatics name on the record at all and was simply called WOW, the initials for Wendy O. Williams. Gene Simmons felt it would give him the freedom he wanted to add more new players to the album. Wes Beech remained to play rhythm and lead and TC Tolliver, the drummer on Coup d'État, remained to play on the new album. Gene Simmons would play bass under the pseudonym of "Reginald Van Helsing", the only other n! ew player on the album was lead guitarist Michael Ray to solve the technical challenges that had been a problem for several albums and had come to a head with the more complex music of Coup d'Etat. Gene also pulled in the talents of Ace Frehley, on "Bump 'N' Grind" who hadn't played with KISS since leaving the band in 1982, Paul Stanley, on "Ready to Rock" and then-current Kiss drummer Eric Carr on "Legends Never Die" as guests. The record was released through Passport/JEM. Gene Simmons himself co
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