Going through many of the comments on the Internet forced me to kick off KISS MY ASS. I’m so sad to read all the nonsense. None of us know the truth. We know what is published. Gene, Paul, Peter and Ace know the truth.
All this is not about hate or love, but about feelings. Most of the comments are from people not growing up with the “real” KISS. If Gene and Paul could choose, they’d prefer to keep the KISS company going with Peter and Ace.
There’s nothing right or wrong from a fan perspective. It’s not that anyone actually believe that Tommy is a good solid lead guitarist. It’s about the whole show. That’s what we all want. The show is on again, KISS in makeup in their 3rd era. There’s a reason why Gene and Paul is on stage with Eric and Tommy as “the catman” and “spaceman”. Because that’s what they want, and that’s what fans want.
Todays fans don’t care who’s behind the masks, if the guitar is good or any other thing. We want it loud, and that’s what they do again.
Personally I don’t support the current line-up basically because I see a copy of what used to be. Paul is the first to admit in basically all interviews; that he and Gene is trying to re-capture the magic of the 70′. There’s a reason for that, and that is because they know it worked then, they were great then plus after so many years, there’s a new crowd of young fans that’ll let’em relive golden times and once again have the money floating in.
Gene is a fantastic business man and has many good angles to it. He knows exactly how to make money. In order to do that, he’s bound to say only what is good for KISS, not for Ace, Peter or any other previous member – or fan for that matter.
Gene and Paul runs KISS as a business, and there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s people on contract, “do what you’re told and you may stay”. KISS is putting the words in our mouths, and we’re all (or many) eating it. Many of you associate Peter and especially Ace Frehley with “drugs and alcohol”. Well, truth is none of us know the facts.
Stop accepting everything you read, stop accepting KISStory currently being re-written by Gene and paul and not least the press. It’s business, and business don’t care about you. Business give you what you think you want. Feel and listen. if you like it, fine and if you don’t – that’s fine too.
KISS has always been Gene and Paul property and as far as possible, run their way, or no way. Nothing wrong with that either, but obviously hundreds more reasons as to why Peter and Ace left the band twice – it wasn’t alcohol! It was much more than that. Again, Gene and Paul would definitely prefer the original line-up. times have just changed, people grown up, people wanting to be innovative rather than playing the same old set and live in the past.
Some of you compare Sonic Boom with Psycho Circus. Don’t! This was a classic Gene and Paul approach recording albums – never together. That’s why the album didn’t catch what KISS does on stage. Sonic Boom definitely wasn’t done with all of them in the studio. I know they (Gene and Paul) say so, but hey…
Back to the feelings. I grew up with these guys since early 70′s and to me there can be only one line-up, but I still digg the shows. Eric and Tommy don’t have any “feels” to contribute with, the can only copy what was. Too bad because Eric is a great drummer, and surely has a lot to offer – if he was only allowed.
Don’t read and eat what is served in the press, cut the crap and stop bullshitting. Don’t piss on old members, and certainly not on founding members, because without them there would be no KISS. Without them, KISS wouldn’t be nominated for the Hall (political stuff, I know).
Sonic Boom 5/10 based on the fact, that I pretty much recognize all the guitar riffs from old KISS songs = not very innovative. An okay album though, good in my 2 year old Audi going 100, but anything would be okay after 11 years.
So far Psycho Circus is the best selling KISS album in its first week of release (110,000 copies compared to Sonic Boom’s 108,000), and that too was mostly because of the long wait and therefore the huge sales. The Sonic Boom sales will be based on the same strategy.
I wanna see the four brothers Gene, Paul, Peter and Ace in the Hall – all with that old gleam in their eyes.
Love ‘em and leave’em
The Elder
