On the Alive 35 tour currently on, the new line-up (or tribute band?) is seeing Thomas Thayer “playing” one of KISS’ biggest songs Shock Me (by Ace Frehley). Paul introduces the song but never credits Ace. It’s presented as Tommy’s song. Now that doesn’t exactly surprise me, it totally shocks me!
Gene and Paul are obviously not man enough to go something like: “Here’s an old Ace Frehley KISS clasic Shock Me…”
It’s embarrasing that Gene and Paul pisses (pardon my french) so much on Ace (and Peter too)! Perhaps what they really want is to keep Ace off the Rock Hall of Fame, hoping they can bring in only their paid dudes – here’s a buck so smile Eric, smile Thomas. Boy I hope Peter and Ace are both there when it happens.
The current line-up is a nice tribute band to KISS, and they do a great show and some okay copies of old classic KISS songs. However, I hate to see how they fuck up younger and newer fans’ minds. They go too far in my book. Let’s await Peter Criss’ book and get ready for some shocking honesty about who did what and why.
There aren’t many 80′ or 90′s songs in the set. The fact that the majority of the set is 70′s, and the fact that the contracted Eric Singer and Thomas Thayer (non-voters in the band!) are in the original character make-up, tells me that Gene and Paul admit the fact, that the circus will only work this way – by making it as much 70′s as possible. That’s when things worked, that’s why we love them, that’s why the Hall want’s them – the original line-up. Well fine, bring in the imposters – but don’t forget Eric Carr, Vinnie, Mark and Kulick!
The set and the characters by all founding members are highly needed in order to accomplish anything close to the 1970′s. And that’s what Gene and Paul aims at. They don’t seem to care about anyone – fans included!
If it weren’t for the original line-up, and if it weren’t for us – the fans – KISS would never exist! Gene, Paul…you seem to reeeeeeeally forget that. Oh, by the way, I did NOT buy Sonic Boom.
I love KISS, but I cannot endorse what they do today. It makes me put on the real stuff, and am dusting off some of the many rare editions in my home studio – uh all night!
Peter, and especially Ace Frehley are both hung out by Gene, Paul and the press for never being sober, team players, consistant or whatever they come up with. Well, the fact seems to be that Gene and Paul has always gone their way, and if someone wanted it different, they would work against each other. Examples..? There are hundreds… Eric Carr and Ace Frehley were against The Elder. Eric Carr didn’t get to play on many songs, but worked with Frehley on Dark Light and Escape From The Island. In my honest opinion, the best tracks on the record.
Mark St. John..? What really happened Gene and Paul? Vinnie..? same question!
I’m happy that Kulick was too clever not to even think of re-joining KISS. And Vinnie must be sitting around laughing his ASS off.
It seems that all members, founding members or not, who wanted to go down a different path than Gene and Paul simply had to go – sooner or later. Gene and Paul are the ones who lead KISS into disasters over and over again – not Ace, not Peter, not any other member. It was not because Ace or Peter didn’t show up in the studio – Gene and Paul had their way. Killers was released because PolyGram Records demanded it, and as a result of the very poor sales of The Elder. Psycho Circus was nothing but a contract, and laywers fighting behind the stage.
You new and/or younger KISS fans should just enjoy what you see and hear today, but in order to battle about history, get up early in the morning, and do NOT trust what you read. Research, and let’s talk KISS.
Yeah, at times I just have to let it all out. Digging deep down in KISStory, videos, ol’ interviews and other ol’ goodies, there are much more coming up that’ll tare apart what you fans (including Moi!) thought was the true KISStory…
Kissin’ Time
Your host Reinar
