Kiss News

BY MIKE KERWICK

A few weeks ago, Eric Singer found a mirror in his dressing room. He took a moment to stare at the 52-year-old man in the red, white and black makeup, amused by his reflection.

Wow. This is great. I'm getting to do something I always wanted to do.

"I'm trying to learn to really appreciate those moments when you're in them," Singer said during a recent phone interview. "Rather than thinking, 'Oh wow, that's cool that I played with Brian May 12 years ago.' Or, 'That's cool that we're going to go play in Cleveland, my hometown, in another few weeks.' "

Enjoying the ride

Singer, three times a member of KISS, twice replaced by original drummer Peter Criss, knows there may be a moment when he relinquishes the reins a third time. So he tries to enjoy each appearance on "The Tonight Show." He soaks up those minutes when the band sits together in the dressing room, applying makeup.BY MIKE KERWICK

A few weeks ago, Eric Singer found a mirror in his dressing room. He took a moment to stare at the 52-year-old man in the red, white and black makeup, amused by his reflection.

Wow. This is great. I'm getting to do something I always wanted to do.

"I'm trying to learn to really appreciate those moments when you're in them," Singer said during a recent phone interview. "Rather than thinking, 'Oh wow, that's cool that I played with Brian May 12 years ago.' Or, 'That's cool that we're going to go play in Cleveland, my hometown, in another few weeks.' "

Enjoying the ride

Singer, three times a member of KISS, twice replaced by original drummer Peter Criss, knows there may be a moment when he relinquishes the reins a third time. So he tries to enjoy each appearance on "The Tonight Show." He soaks up those minutes when the band sits together in the dressing room, applying makeup.

And though the pyrotechnics and makeup offer challenges most bands never have to confront, he wouldn't trade this spot behind the drums.

"I always say the world keeps spinning whether you choose to participate or whether you choose to get off at some point," Singer said. "So you might as well participate."

Singer, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley and Tommy Thayer will bring their inimitable mix of music, pyro and onstage theatrics to two metropolitan area venues this month. The group still hasn't kicked open the door to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but the band has kicked open just about everything else.

Could it be that somewhere along the line KISS - the blood-spitting, fire-breathing, face-painting band from the '70s - became a piece of Americana? Like McDonald's or apple pie, if you believe Singer.

"I tell everybody, I don't care if you've never liked KISS - if you don't know their music or you don't like it - you've got to see KISS at least once in your life," Singer said. "And you will walk away going, 'That's a cool show and that's a great thing.' "

Younger audiences

The gig isn't without headaches. Singer admits that the costume is restrictive. He actually sweats less, which may not be a good thing, because the makeup closes up his pores. And don't get him started on the pyro ...

"I like the pyro as long as they have the bombs blowing up farther away from the stage," Singer said, "cause when they're on the stage, they are so damn loud and it kills my ears."

The explosions may be getting louder, but Singer said the crowds are getting younger and younger.

"There's literally little kids, 3, 4, 5 years old, up to adults and grandparents," Singer said. "So it's become a real truly family event... I liken it to Disneyland, Universal Studios. It really is like going to one of those special events."

Legendary rockers mine classics

Posted By Jeffrey Ougler

A recent episode of Gene Simmons Family Jewels had the Kiss bassist spouting off the old adage of how standing still in business is akin to writing one's own suicide note.

Granted. But when it comes to cobbling set lists, this legendary band eyes neither the future nor even the near present all that much. Tuesday night's rock extravaganza at Sault Ste. Marie's Essar Centre was a platform-heeled musical leap into the past, save for a few tunes from 2009's Sonic Boom.

But for Simmons and his Kiss cohorts, for whom music means business, it's only prudent to subscribe to the age-old market rules governing supply and demand. Just imagine if the band hadn't closed the show - or at least included - a fiery rendition of Rock and Roll All Nite, complete with accompanying explosions, Simmonsesque tongue wagging and levitating stages. The masses would have certainly shouted out loud, calling for something much more severe than Dr. Love. Kiss appeared to supply the demand of the 4,700 who packed the house - the massive stage shaved seating capacity somewhat.Legendary rockers mine classics

Posted By Jeffrey Ougler

A recent episode of Gene Simmons Family Jewels had the Kiss bassist spouting off the old adage of how standing still in business is akin to writing one's own suicide note.

Granted. But when it comes to cobbling set lists, this legendary band eyes neither the future nor even the near present all that much. Tuesday night's rock extravaganza at Sault Ste. Marie's Essar Centre was a platform-heeled musical leap into the past, save for a few tunes from 2009's Sonic Boom.

But for Simmons and his Kiss cohorts, for whom music means business, it's only prudent to subscribe to the age-old market rules governing supply and demand. Just imagine if the band hadn't closed the show - or at least included - a fiery rendition of Rock and Roll All Nite, complete with accompanying explosions, Simmonsesque tongue wagging and levitating stages. The masses would have certainly shouted out loud, calling for something much more severe than Dr. Love. Kiss appeared to supply the demand of the 4,700 who packed the house - the massive stage shaved seating capacity somewhat.

Essentially, the show lived up to its promotion as being part of The Hottest Show on Earth Tour.

A colleague mentioned earlier this week that middle-aged men in the audience would likely be brought to tears upon hearing the first riffs of Detroit Rock City. I scoffed. Now I think she was likely bang on.

On the early song-selection front, Kiss should be given full kudos from deviating from its standard Detroit Rock City opening, choosing, instead, to kick off with Modern Day Delilah from Sonic Boom. From there, the band detoured to its 1974 debut album for Cold Gin, originally sung by former lead guitarist Ace Frehley. Gene Simmons's gravely voice carried the tune well.

Other classic numbers - and not necessarily Top 40 hits - included Deuce, Let me Go Rock 'N' Roll, Firehouse, 100,000 Years, Love Gun, Black Diamond, Calling Dr. Love and Shock Me (lead guitarist Tommy Thayer handled vocals on this Frehley standard).

Along with Modern Day Delilah, other Sonic Boom selections were I'm an Animal and Say Yeah, each of which the band played - and plugged - with such polish and passion it was if the quartet's very lives depended on each and every soul in the audience going out and picking up a copy of the album first thing in the morning.

Perhaps it was pure demographics, but some of the tunes included in the two-hour gig that gleaned the most applause and fan participation were 1980s numbers, such as I Love it Loud and Lick it Up.

The audience itself was a curious mix of seniors, middle-agers and a younger set that included a healthy selection of scantily-clad teeny boppers, who would have been prime candidates for one of Simmons's more recent proposed business ventures: a bikini car wash.

There were some cleverly painted faces, but fewer folks sporting all-out Kiss costumes than what appeared at the Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., show a few years back. But, in 2007, the band played only a handful of concerts and likely attracted a much more fervent brand of enthusiasts from all four corners of the globe.

Stanley and Simmons were the ultimate showmen Tuesday night, proving their professionalism beyond a doubt - even when playing for an audience a fraction of what they're accustomed to.

"It's all about who you are, not how many you've got," said Stanley, rhyming off a few of the Canadian cities Kiss has played. Sudbury's mention was met with boos.

Stanley was also humble about delays in the Sault landing the hard rockers.

It was announced in June the makeup-clad quartet would make good on its promise to play Essar Centre in a makeup date for its postponed Dec. 15 show. The Sault placed third in an online contest last year that let fan votes route the band's fall North American tour, but bad weather cancelled the final show of the tour.

"Did you think we weren't going to come? We're here." Stanley said. His moment in the sun was gliding over the floor seats with the aid of a cable and singing You Were Made for Loving Me from a small, rotating stage in the north end of the arena.

Simmons, the man of many words in his hit reality show, remains The Demon on stage, rarely saying more than "Oh yeah" but arguably singing as well as he did during the band's salad days.

A true highlight of the show was drummer Eric Singer and Thayer showing their stuff at the conclusion of Shock Me, with Thayer's blistering guitar solo, done primarily with the axe lodged behind his head, and Singer proving his mastery of the drum kit on a short, but thundering solo. Any barbs about the two relative newcomers taking on Peter Criss's Catman persona and Frehley's Spaceman character quickly become moot.

It's hard to pinpoint the basis of Kiss's current popularity.

Is it pure nostalgia? A resurrection of the band's brand due to Simmons's reality TV stint? Or, perhaps, it's purely the music. Kiss might tell you God Gave Rock 'N' Roll to You. On Tuesday night in Sault Ste. Marie, it was Kiss that delivered.

A conversation with the Kiss icon, who'll bring The Hottest Show on Earth to NEPA

by Nikki M. Mascali
Staff Writer

Fans don't go to Kiss shows to hear an agenda. They don't go to find out who they should vote for in the next election or to hear the band's opinion on an oil spill.

"We don't talk about acid rain or who's going to save the whales or what political party you should vote for - we don't care about that. Most people yawn when they start to hear that," bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons told the Weekender from Los Angeles where the band was recording "Venus and Mars" for an upcoming Paul McCartney tribute album.

"Next time I want to find out about acid rain and the rainforest, I hope it's not from a rock star. In the same way, I don't want to find out from a scientist what other song I should put in the set, so I think rock stars should shut up, get up on stage and do what they're designed to do - otherwise, you're not qualified to tie my shoelaces."

Actually, there is something on Kiss' show agenda: To give its legion of fans the greatest show on the planet. A Kiss concert is an extravagant display of pyrotechnics, elaborate costumes and face paint, Simmons' blood spitting, Simmons and vocalist/guitarist Paul Stanley flying through the air and music that has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide since the mid-1970s.
A conversation with the Kiss icon, who'll bring The Hottest Show on Earth to NEPA

by Nikki M. Mascali
Staff Writer

Fans don't go to Kiss shows to hear an agenda. They don't go to find out who they should vote for in the next election or to hear the band's opinion on an oil spill.

"We don't talk about acid rain or who's going to save the whales or what political party you should vote for - we don't care about that. Most people yawn when they start to hear that," bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons told the Weekender from Los Angeles where the band was recording "Venus and Mars" for an upcoming Paul McCartney tribute album.

"Next time I want to find out about acid rain and the rainforest, I hope it's not from a rock star. In the same way, I don't want to find out from a scientist what other song I should put in the set, so I think rock stars should shut up, get up on stage and do what they're designed to do - otherwise, you're not qualified to tie my shoelaces."

Actually, there is something on Kiss' show agenda: To give its legion of fans the greatest show on the planet. A Kiss concert is an extravagant display of pyrotechnics, elaborate costumes and face paint, Simmons' blood spitting, Simmons and vocalist/guitarist Paul Stanley flying through the air and music that has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide since the mid-1970s.

Local fans will get to see Kiss' summer tour - called The Hottest Show on Earth - Sunday, Aug. 15 at Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain.

The band has been touring the world consistently for the past two-and-a-half years, starting with Australia - where it performed in front of 80,000 people - before hitting Europe and South America twice each.

"This time, we're only doing one single day in as many cities as we can fit in in a 35-show schedule and doing a few things I'm not aware that anyone else has done," Simmons said.

For one of them, Kiss partnered with Guitar Center to offer unsigned bands across the country the chance to open for the band at each of the tour stops. Winners - like NEPA winner The SilenTreatment - join the ranks of bands like AC/DC, Bon Jovi, Rush, Motley Crue and Iron Maiden, who all cut their teeth opening for Kiss.

"It says something about us," Simmons said. "It says that we're fans as well as being in a band. We get off on solid bands as much as fans do."

KISS CHRONICLES
Simmons and Stanley founded Kiss in New York City in 1973 with lead guitarist Ace Frehley and drummer Peter Criss. The four wanted to "be the band we never saw," as Stanley said on last year's A&E documentary "Kissteria."

The band adopted the makeup and ensuing characters: Simmons the Demon, Stanley the Starchild, Frehley the Spaceman and Criss the Catman.

Criss left Kiss in 1980 - Simmons and Stanley have stated he was fired while the drummer maintained he quit. Frehley left in 1982 to pursue a solo career, a year before Kiss infamously removed its makeup. Various lineup changes occurred over the years - the band would variously include Eric Carr, Bruce Kulick, Mark St. John, Vinnie Vincent and Eric Singer � until Frehley and Criss returned for a reunion of the original members in 1996.

That same year, the four put their makeup back on and brought back to life their on-stage characters. This version of Kiss would remain through the band's 2000-2001 U.S. Farewell Tour.

When Frehley chose not to remain in the band following the reunion shows, Tommy Thayer donned the Spaceman makeup and costume in 2002 and would become a permanent member of the band the following year. Singer, who first joined the band in 1991 following Carr's death, returned in 2001 after Criss left, reportedly over a contract dispute. Criss returned in 2003, but later that year, the band reportedly decided not to renew his contact, and Singer became a permanent member of the band and took over the Catman persona.

It's been nearly 19 years since Carr died of heart cancer, and Simmons said that the drummer, who was in Kiss from 1980 until his death in 1991, surely would have returned to reprise his Fox character after Criss left for good.

"Sure, oh yeah," Simmons said, his voice adopting a reverent tone. "He was a sweetheart and a hell of a drummer. He could write, he could sing. It was very tragic what happened to him, but I'll tell you that Eric Singer carries on the tradition."

"Sonic Boom," released last year, was the first album to feature this current lineup. The album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, and was, as Stanley told Rolling Stone recently, "the first album in the next phase" of Kiss.

Asked to elaborate on Stanley's comment, Simmons said, "It means there are no more alcoholics or drug addicts in the band; That's a good start."

He likened Kiss to an athlete who has been found to be using performance-enhancing drugs.

"Any team gets revitalized when founding members who are dysfunctional are kicked out," he said. "And you respect that they were a part of the band and deserve any accolade that anybody else in the band gets, but it would also be the death knell of the band if they were in the band today."

As the only constant members of the band, Simmons and Stanley have both stated they'd like to see Kiss go on after they retire from the band.

"Why should any one person determine what something is?" Simmons mused. "When I was a kid, I used to think that without Mickey Mantle, there couldn't be a Yankees. Actually, there could. ... So anybody you think who's the definition without whom something can't exist, winds up being a momentary lapse of judgment.

"No one is too big for anything. Everyone can be replaced - and should be if they can't carry the weight."

THE DEMON, THE DAD
With a character named the Demon who spits blood and breathes fire on stage - which Simmons said he does "only when it's that time of the month" - and reportedly bedding more than 4,000 women and often displaying his long tongue, Simmons shows a different side of himself on his A&E reality show "Gene Simmons Family Jewels."

The highly rated show, which finished its fifth season last month, follows the personal lives of Simmons, his longtime partner Shannon Tweed and their two children Nick and Sophie.

To Simmons, though, he's just being himself.

"I've never made any bones about what I believe in or who I am," Simmons said. "I never wanted to get married - and I'm not. I've been happily unmarried with Shannon for 27 years now, but the idea of marriage is out of the question.

"I've never been high or drunk in my life, and that continues. And those are the same rules for the household. People think they're seeing a different side of me, but they're just seeing a clearer picture. There's nothing different."

Including his friendship with Stanley.

"Good God, we live a quarter of a mile from each other," Simmons shared with a laugh. "And if he wants a cup of sugar, I have lots. And if you are what you eat, I must be a really sweet guy."

MARKETING MASTERS
Almost as famous as Kiss' music - which includes 19 studio albums, nine live albums and 57 singles - is the band's vast array of merchandise. The Kiss logo has been put on everything from Marvel comic books, dolls and "Kiss Your Face Makeup" kits to condoms and the Kiss Kasket.

And the marketing campaign shows no sign of stopping.

"Kiss crack probably wouldn't be a good idea because you have to spell 'crack' with a K," Simmons replied when asked what the band wouldn't put the logo on. "I'm talking to you on a Kiss cell phone. The new generation of high-definition televisions are going to be Kiss-branded. They're massive - can't wait to get my hands on them.

"There are Kiss cameras that just hit - we're giving them out with the backstage experience people can get. The Kiss scooter just hit the stores and almost completely sold out. There's lots of fun stuff."

STILL HOTTER THAN HELL
Though there are longtime touring bands like The Rolling Stones and even "younger" bands like U2, with its 37 successful years behind it, Kiss is kind of in a class by itself.

"There are some solid bands who do this stuff," Simmons said. "But...we are the ones that kicked every band in the nuts, and, in essence, laid down the gauntlet (to say) it's not enough to come out there and sing the next song - you have to have a show."

When asked if there are any bands on the rise today that he could see having the longevity of Kiss, Simmons didn't pull punches.

"No, not in rock. It's a pretty sad state of affairs," he said. "I'll tell you who has the legs and the guts and the balls to hang in there and is fearless is Lady Gaga. She's got the goods."

AN ARMY OF FANS
One thing Kiss has made clear over the years is loyalty to its fans - the members of the Kiss Army. Two fans unofficially founded the Kiss Army in 1975, and in 2007, after a period of inactivity, the band named the Kiss Army its official fan club. Among its members is former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

During "Gene Simmons Family Jewels" and "Kissteria," viewers can see a very real look at what happens behind the scenes and how the band members interact with fans, which is almost always with a smile, an autograph or a photo.

"Well, look, don't be in a band. Pick up plumbing, become a dentist," Simmons said. "Part and parcel of this is some of you is owned by the fans... I think you owe it to yourself to be nice to your bosses. Without mincing words, the fans are the bosses. We just work here.

"The amount of love and admiration we have for them, I'd like to think, is unequaled. We sing their praises, and rightfully so. The Kiss Army is legendary, they're self-named, and I don't care if you're a U2 fan or a Rolling Stones fan, there is no name for that."

By Jill Cataldo for KISSonline

On August 9th, KISS blew up the Indiana State Fair. (And that's no understatement. Anyone who was there can attest to the enormous amount of pyro and post-concert fireworks that lit up Indianapolis last night.) Now, some people initially seemed surprised when KISS released its summer tour schedule, peppered with state fair dates among traditional amphitheaters. How would the state fair shows play out for KISS?

No worries. KISS owned the state fair.

And why shouldn't they? One of the deepest-enmeshed traditions in our country is the annual state fair. A fair offers a slice of everything American, and you can find it all at the state fair -- from cows, pigs and horses to vegetable-growing competitions; from corn dogs and midway barkers to carnival rides and entertainment for the masses. And as far as entertainment's concerned, what act can possibly lay claim to being the most iconic and most American of them all? KISS.

In a recent interview, drummer Eric Singer stated "KISS has become a part of the fabric of Americana," and nowhere was that more evident than last night in Indianapolis, with more than 18,000 fans packing the Hoosier Lottery grandstand area in anticipation of the hottest show on the Earth. In fact, the demand was so high for seats in Indy that the grandstand was oversold, releasing obstructed-view seats that they don't normally sell to the public. Like baseball, apple pie and lemonade, KISS is America.By Jill Cataldo for KISSonline
Photo by Doug Cataldo for KISSonline

On August 9th, KISS blew up the Indiana State Fair. (And that's no understatement. Anyone who was there can attest to the enormous amount of pyro and post-concert fireworks that lit up Indianapolis last night.) Now, some people initially seemed surprised when KISS released its summer tour schedule, peppered with state fair dates among traditional amphitheaters. How would the state fair shows play out for KISS?

No worries. KISS owned the state fair.

And why shouldn't they? One of the deepest-enmeshed traditions in our country is the annual state fair. A fair offers a slice of everything American, and you can find it all at the state fair -- from cows, pigs and horses to vegetable-growing competitions; from corn dogs and midway barkers to carnival rides and entertainment for the masses. And as far as entertainment's concerned, what act can possibly lay claim to being the most iconic and most American of them all? KISS.

In a recent interview, drummer Eric Singer stated "KISS has become a part of the fabric of Americana," and nowhere was that more evident than last night in Indianapolis, with more than 18,000 fans packing the Hoosier Lottery grandstand area in anticipation of the hottest show on the Earth. In fact, the demand was so high for seats in Indy that the grandstand was oversold, releasing obstructed-view seats that they don't normally sell to the public. Like baseball, apple pie and lemonade, KISS is America.

Last night, like many other families, my husband and I brought our three children to the fair to see KISS. With KISS' long and illustrious career nearing the 40-year mark, their fan base now reaches across generations. And while when I was younger, it may not have been the "in" thing to have your parents liking KISS, but according to our kids, it's supremely cool now.

For many KISS Army members, passing the musical torch that is KISS to our children is almost ritual-like. We love to see their reactions as they experience the show just as much as we do. So, in ninety-degree heat, we and thousands of others awaited the drop of that famous black curtain branded with a silver KISS.

"All right Indiana... you wanted the best, you got the best!" When the curtain dropped, Eric Singer was atop his drum kit, gesturing with his drumsticks to the crowd, which was already screaming with anticipation. Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons and Tommy Thayer rose over the drum kit on a silver platform, and as they stepped off, the platform folded away to reveal the enormous, lit logo of the band we love.

KISS opened with "Modern Day Delilah," quickly following with "Cold Gin," "Let Me Go, Rock and Roll," and "Firehouse." Throughout the tour, the set's been a great mix of KISS classics, old and new, and tonight was no exception. Paul Stanley has always been the consummate master of showmanship (please, someone just put Paul's picture next to the definition of "frontman" in the dictionary already!) and no other rock singer captures and holds a crowd of thousands quite the way Paul can. His stage presence, energy and ability are unmatchable by rock vocalists even half his age.

KISS continued its mix of old and new throughout the night. "Say Yeah," from the band's most recent album, "Sonic Boom," got a glorious response from the audience, with nearly every man, woman and child calling out "Yeah, yeah YEAH!" 1987's super-catchy singalong "Crazy Crazy Nights" followed shortly after, and it's one of my favorite additions to this tour's set list. (Some might argue the anachronism of seeing an in-makeup KISS perform a song from the non-makeup years, but I disagree. As a fan who spent her teen years deeply in love with 80s KISS, it's a delight to hear Paul singing this song again, especially after its nearly 20 years' absence from a tour setlist. And seeing the children in the audience sing along with every word in the chorus last night? Proof that it's as timeless as any other KISS classic.)

Tommy Thayer rocked his way through "Shock Me" and a joint guitar/drum solo with Eric that ended in an explosive firefight of pyrotechnics involving rockets and a bazooka, which the crowd ate up, roaring with approval. The Gene Simmons powerhouse "Animal" was another show highlight -- Gene prowled and oozed evil, swaggering around the stage in true Demon manner, again to the audience's delight.

Another show standout? Eric Singer's "Beth." KISS fans have heard "Beth" a thousand times before, but trust me when I say this is the most beautiful rendition of this song you'll ever hear live. Eric's vocal, both strong and tender, melds perfectly with the live, acoustic treatment this song deserves -- and the crowd, a singing, swaying, glowing mass of lighters and cellphones held high, agreed wholeheartedly.

Immediately after "Beth," Paul spoke about the band's continued committment to the CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project. Throughout the tour, KISS has donated $1 for every ticket sold to Wounded Warrior Care, and last night, that running total exceeded $105,000. In an emotionally-charged speech, Paul urged fans to pray for the safe return of every one of the men and women serving our country. He then led the massive Indiana State Fair audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. Looking around around the grandstand, I spotted many people with tears welling up in their eyes as they held their hands over their hearts, reciting our nation' pledge. How many rock bands today could unite their fans in such an incredibly moving, patriotic way?

Answer: One band. America's band. KISS.

And on this night, the Indiana State Fair, which offers everything from livestock events to a massive carnival midway to fair delicacies like chocolate-covered bacon and deep-fried butter, served up the most delicious treat of all to fair-goers ... America's beloved KISS.

By Jeff Miers

It would not be an exaggeration to suggest that when thousands of kids heard the 1975 Kiss concert double-disc "Alive!," they decided there and then that they wanted to be rock stars.

Such was the power of this dark mass of an album, so indelible its post-British Invasion guitar attack and pop-based hooks, so urgent and menacing its pace and attack.

To say nothing of the album cover itself. Here was a band of aliens, a garish collection of superheroes, each with his own fully developed persona: a tongue-curling demon wielding his bass guitar as if it were an extension of a rather threatening libido; a tripped-out spaceman tethered to the earthly plane only by the weight of the Gibson Les Paul strapped across his midriff; and a cat-like creature locked behind a massive drum kit, sticks raised above his head as if in some ancient, ritualistic gesture.By Jeff Miers

It would not be an exaggeration to suggest that when thousands of kids heard the 1975 Kiss concert double-disc "Alive!," they decided there and then that they wanted to be rock stars.

Such was the power of this dark mass of an album, so indelible its post-British Invasion guitar attack and pop-based hooks, so urgent and menacing its pace and attack.

To say nothing of the album cover itself. Here was a band of aliens, a garish collection of superheroes, each with his own fully developed persona: a tongue-curling demon wielding his bass guitar as if it were an extension of a rather threatening libido; a tripped-out spaceman tethered to the earthly plane only by the weight of the Gibson Les Paul strapped across his midriff; and a cat-like creature locked behind a massive drum kit, sticks raised above his head as if in some ancient, ritualistic gesture.

To the right of this motley collection there stood a sort of plumed peacock, an archetypal rock star in 10-inch heels with a pout aimed at every teenage girl who might happen to look his way, and whose coiffured head recalled the swirling ringlets of T. Rex frontman Marc Bolan.

Were these guys kidding?

No, as it turned out. Kiss represented the apotheosis of glam rock, the full consummation of Marvel comics, horror movies and teenage lust. That every song boasted a Rolling Stones-y guitar shuffle, a primitive but powerful guitar solo, and a killer chorus -- well, this did not hurt. "Alive!" became the New York City foursome's point of entry to world domination. Within a year of its release, Kiss owned most of the planet.

Thirty-five years later, as the band prepares to bring its "Hottest Show on Earth" tour to the Darien Lake Performing Arts Center on Friday, Kiss is still larger than life, still way over the top, still incredibly popular, and still cranking out fat-free arena rock classics.

The band's concerts now draw several generations of Kiss fanatics to gigs that offer no acknowledgment of the concert industry recession plaguing so many tours of late. Parents bring their kids, and share their love of Kiss as if passing along something of great value to their offspring. Original members Ace Frehley and Peter Criss are gone, but their replacements, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer, are now full-fledged members of the band. More importantly, they've brought an unflagging solidity to the Kiss sound.

Last week, Kiss co-founder, rhythm guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and -- even still -- sex symbol Paul Stanley spoke to The News on the state of Kiss in 2010. Five minutes into a conversation with the man, it is glaringly apparent why Kiss remains so vital after all this time. Stanley is charming, intelligent, funny and incredibly confident, without being arrogant. He loves Kiss as much as his fans do.

Q: Though there are seasoned fans who still wish Ace and Peter were in the band, in many ways, Kiss has never sounded better. The band is incredibly tight, you've released your best studio album in decades with "Sonic Boom," and it seems that Tommy and Eric are a huge part of the sound now.

A: Really, we never have sounded better, and we've definitely never had more fun. For me, having the new material on "Sonic Boom" gives validity to what we're doing now. The way to experience what Kiss is about in 2010 is to listen to the new album and to go see the show, which is our biggest and best yet. It's important, I think, that we are a band in the present tense, that we're doing our best work right now. Tommy and Eric are a big part of that.

Q: I'm sure you have no desire to bad mouth Ace and Peter, but from the fans' perspective, there is a consistency in the playing now that was sometimes lacking in the past. Has this been a relief for you?

A: Absolutely, for both (bassist/vocalist) Gene (Simmons) and myself.

The thing is, Kiss could not have existed in the beginning without Ace and Peter. But it could not exist today with them. Being in this band is a privilege and an honor, a gift. If you disrespect that gift, you disrespect the fans, and you disrespect the legacy of the band. It doesn't matter who it is -- this applies to me, it applies to Gene, it applies to Tommy and Eric. If you don't respect this incredible gift that we've been given, then you lose it. It really is as simple as that.

Q: It must be hell trying to put together a set list these days, when you've got so much material to choose from, and so many different factions of the fan base eager to hear certain songs. What's your primary concern when getting the list together?

A: When it comes to set lists, the thing is, there's no sense of past members or present members -- it's just Kiss.

People come to the shows to hear Kiss do what Kiss does, and it's our job to deliver that. It's my belief that obscure songs are obscure songs for a reason! (laughs) If they stayed obscure, that's because fewer people liked them, and that means they probably just plain weren't as good.

For me, it's about this: We can now play "Modern Day Delilah" from the new album right next to something from "Love Gun" (1977), and it stands up. It's seamless.

Q: In 2008, you toured with your solo band, and for the first time, you were able to play songs from your original solo album [1978's "Paul Stanley," one of the four solo albums released by the members of Kiss simultaneously] like "Tonight You Belong to Me" and "Goodbye." Did the experience give you some new perspective on performing with Kiss?

A. That tour was so enjoyable for me. It reminded me of being a kid and going to the Fillmore East in New York City and seeing Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and Humble Pie. These were no-frills shows, just people getting up there and blending their talent, their heart, their soul and their passion. That is always at the heart of whatever I'm doing. Kiss is all of that, plus. It's like the super-charged hot-red convertible version! (laughs) But underneath the hood, it's still all about the heart, the soul and the passion.

Q. Kiss has never been treated kindly by the press, and most writers wanted to dismiss the band as a joke without really addressing the music. You've never come across as anything but confident in the belief that your band was THE band, whatever anyone might suggest to the contrary. Surely, though, it must've bothered you a bit that the press never showed you any respect.

A. I've got kind of a big house. (laughs) I call it "the house that bad reviews built." Lately, we've started to get very positive reviews, for the first time ever. (Here, Stanley reads aloud from a review of a recent show.) So now, "the house that bad reviews built" has a whole new wing! (laughs)

It's nice to finally be acknowledged in reviews, but really, it has never made any difference to us. Why? Because Kiss is a band that plays for the Kiss tribe. These people are the barometer of our success, and they are very clear in their opinions. Their reviews always have been, and are still, the only reviews that matter to us.

By Jeffrey Ougler

Some howled.

Others pounced.

Packs of critics and Kiss fans were far from content with Eric Singer's having - they would contend - the temerity to take on Peter Criss's Catman character, previously solely portrayed by the flamboyant rock band's original drummer. Even the late Eric Carr, the first to replace Criss in the early 1980s, didn't go that far; he was the Fox until the makeup-clad rockers dispensed with the war paint for a spell.

The mere mention of such cynics these days still brings Singer's claws out - a bit.

The accomplished drummer - he's also beat the skins for the likes of Alice Cooper and Black Sabbath - contends he's become very comfortable in his cat skin, so to speak, since putting it on in 2001.

"I'm totally fine with it. . . . I mean it's like all things in life," Singer said recently from his L.A. home.

"(In sports) people can love your team, and there's going to be people on the other side of the country that hate your team.

"No, I don't have an issue at all, and I know you can't make everybody happy.

Singer said he's confident many initial wounds have healed.
By Jeffrey Ougler

Some howled.

Others pounced.

Packs of critics and Kiss fans were far from content with Eric Singer's having - they would contend - the temerity to take on Peter Criss's Catman character, previously solely portrayed by the flamboyant rock band's original drummer. Even the late Eric Carr, the first to replace Criss in the early 1980s, didn't go that far; he was the Fox until the makeup-clad rockers dispensed with the war paint for a spell.

The mere mention of such cynics these days still brings Singer's claws out - a bit.

The accomplished drummer - he's also beat the skins for the likes of Alice Cooper and Black Sabbath - contends he's become very comfortable in his cat skin, so to speak, since putting it on in 2001.

"I'm totally fine with it. . . . I mean it's like all things in life," Singer said recently from his L.A. home.

"(In sports) people can love your team, and there's going to be people on the other side of the country that hate your team.

"No, I don't have an issue at all, and I know you can't make everybody happy.

Singer said he's confident many initial wounds have healed.

"Well, you still have a few naysayers. . . . There's no doubt about it," he said.

"That's one thing I tried to learn to accept many years ago, that no matter, I don't care if you are the nicest person in the world, there's going to be people in your life that are just not going to like you for some reason that they've decided, or for no reason. It's just the way it works. You can't make everybody happy."

Enough fans are evidently "happy" with the legendary rockers and the current lineup, which includes originals Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, as well as relative newcomer, lead guitarist Tommy Thayer (who, by the way, took on original member Ace Frehley's Spaceman character and, no doubt, took a few lumps early on).

Nearly 40 years after the band's humble genesis, Kiss concerts, complete with blinding light shows, deafening volumes, support-beam-skaking explosions and Simmons's notorious blood spitting, remain huge attractions. Indeed, there were lean years in the 1980s and some curious roster shuffles. New players were recruited and originals � Criss and Frehley, in particular � got the platform-heeled boot, were brought back and then later dismissed. But the band has re-emerged, partly thanks to its masterful merchandising and media manipulation.

Kiss products range from credit cards to caskets, and the A&E television show, Gene Simmons Family Jewels, receives more than respectable ratings and has introduced the Kiss brand to a new generation that considers reality TV as the holy grail of entertainment.

Musically, the band has returned to its roots. The latest studio album, 2009's Sonic Boom, harkens back to the group's mid-1970s hard-rocking style. The formula evidently worked: Sonic Boom debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, selling 108,134 copies in its first week of release.

If there if is any doubt about Kiss's drawing power, just ask fans in a city where the band planned a show � then pulled out.

It was announced in June the makeup-clad quartet would make good on its promise to play Essar Centre in a makeup date for its postponed Dec. 15 show. The Sault placed third in an online contest last year that let fan votes route the band's fall North American tour, but bad weather cancelled the final show of the tour.

Black ice be damned, some said. Reactions by fans quoted at the time ranged from "disappointed" to "pissed off."

But it appears all is patched up now, with faithful gearing up for Tuesday's sold out show. There's even pre- and post-concert gatherings slated for a couple of local pubs, and fans are encouraged to show up in all their Kiss glory: makeup, hairspray and all.

Singer and the boys weren't oblivious to discontent here.

"I remember reading some comments when the show got cancelled and they felt like, 'Oh we're going to get blown off, they'll never come back here.' " the drummer said.

"No. The only reason we cancelled the show was because the weather was bad. There was black ice on all those roads. We were in Pittsburgh at the time and the truckers all said, 'We don't want to take a chance. We don't think we can get there in time, it's really dangerous,' and we were advised to not do the show. So that's why. So we said, 'Well, we'll make it up at some point,' and here we are to make it up to everyone."

The show is part of Kiss's North American tour, dubbed The Hottest Show on Earth, which started on July 23, and Singer vows the Essar gig will be a dandy, with "bigger and better' effects, "more pyro" and "a third" of the set list shuffled from last year's tour, with three Sonic Boom selections tossed in.

"I don't want to give away too much," Singer said.

"Let's say people (will) walk away, as they say in England, gobsmacked. Their jaws will drop. They really will. The show is a great show � and I would say that even if I wasn't in the band. We don't just look good. . . . You close your eyes and Kiss sounds good. We're not all smoke and mirrors, is what I'm saying."

On the day of this interview, Singer is on a break - sort of.

Although the band has been off for a few days, most of his morning has been spent on the horn doing interviews with various media outlets. And the next day, Singer is expected to be up with the birds to catch an 8 a.m. flight for Philadelphia, where Kiss resumed the current leg of the tour.

He's not complaining. The current tour schedule allows for breaks every two weeks or so - something sort of foreign to touring rockers, Singer said.

"It's almost like stop, start, stop, start. . . . . But I kind of like it because I can sleep in my own bed and drive my car and go eat at all the places that I want," he said, the sound of a microwave beeping in the background indicating his cold coffee has been reheated. "You know, I do the things I want � go to the gym and work out with my friends and do that kind of stuff. It's kind of weird. I'm on tour, but I'm not. You know it's kind of weird. It's just a different mindset for me. Something I have to get used to."

The 52-year-old might be described as a living testament to the old adage about persistence paying off. His on-again, off-again tenure with Kiss - Peter Criss was brought back a couple of times during Singer's nearly 20-year relationship with the band - became permanent when, in 2003, Simmons and Stanley opted not to renew Criss's contract.

Singer's been touring and recording with Kiss ever since, even claiming lead vocal credit for one Sonic Boom selection, All for the Glory.

Pretty heady stuff for a guy who, as a budding drummer in his late teens, worshipped Kiss and other powerhouse groups for which he's worked. In 2008, he actually toured with both Kiss and Alice Cooper, but has since devoted his drumming to the former.

"It's pretty amazing, because I was actually, in all honesty, a fan of both bands. . . . I love both the bands," Singer said.

"I always have Alice Cooper's Billion Dollar Babies on my Top 10 desert island list. I love that record, and still do to this day.

"Alice is a great guy and, look, I had a lot of great years playing with Alice. I don't rule out that I may not play with him again, but right now, Kiss is too busy and I'm happy to say we're very active in doing a lot of stuff with Kiss. So right now my focus and all my energy is all strictly on Kiss."

Working cheek by jowl with Stanley and Simmons also affords Singer an opportunity few have in seeing firsthand what really makes these rock legends tick.

"These guys know what they are doing," Singer said.

"They know music. They are unbelievably knowledgeable about music. Paul, out of anyone I've ever met in my life, probably knows more music trivia and minutiae. It's unbelievable his knowledge of songs. This guy knows more songs, the most obscure stuff. It's unbelievable. He's a real music aficionado, and so is Gene. They both really know their music theory, chords and voicing. (Simmons) always tries to tell you, 'Well, I don't really know what I'm doing, I don't believe I'm that much of a bass player.' He always tries to play it down and act like he doesn't know. He'll try to act like he's more about business and more about, like, presenting a product in a show and all that, but that's just posturing. Believe me."

And and far as showmanship, it doesn't get much better than Simmons.

"Gene is, pardon my French, f-----g nuts, I've got to tell you," Singer said.

"He really is. When he's on stage, he's out of his mind. I'll sit there and look at him and I've got to laugh, he's so intense and so into what he's doing. It really is sincere. He's really genuine. . . . He's very sincere about what's he doing. He loves being in Kiss. He loves doing the Kiss show, absolutely."