10/19/2009
OFFICIAL "KISS DAY" IN FLORIDA!
Kiss News
10/19/2009
TOMMY TALKS KISS, TOUR, & SONIC BOOM
By Julio Diaz
Tommy Thayer, a long-time KISS fan who worked behind the scenes with the band for more than a decade before taking on the lead guitarist role, spoke to the News Journal by phone ahead of Monday's concert at the Pensacola Civic Center.
Q: KISS was an inspiration to you growing up. What did you think when your old band, Black N' Blue got the call to open for KISS back in 1985?
A: Well, that was one of those life-changing experiences. I know that sounds kind of dramatic, but there are a few things that have happened in my life that are dreamlike experiences. When I found out we were going to tour with KISS, that was one of them. When we got to the first stop in Little Rock in November 1985, that's when I met the guys, and we were a little intimidated by Gene because he puts on such an aura.
Q: That was the start of a long relationship with the band and with Gene in particular. Has he been something of a mentor to you?
A: He has, and Paul has too, actually, but initially I got to know Gene more because he produced two of our records. Later, he asked me to write with him for KISS. When Black N' Blue ran its course, they hired me to come and work for them, and that was kind of a dream job. I worked on the "KISStory" book and the KISS conventions, and that led into the whole reunion with the original members. Everything came full circle and I was thrust into the band officially. It's interesting how life takes you sometimes.By Julio Diaz
Some bands should need no introduction. But if KISS needs one, it should the words that have brought the band onto the stage for decades:
"You wanted the best, you got the best!"
Over the course of more than 35 years, KISS has established itself as one of rock's biggest bands. With its iconic makeup and costumes and timeless hits such as "Detroit Rock City," "Rock and Roll All Nite" and "Calling Dr. Love," the band has weathered personnel changes and changing fashions to stay on top.
And this year may be the band's biggest yet. The new album, "Sonic Boom," was released last week through Walmart stores and online, and debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard album chart -- the group's highest position ever on the chart. And original members Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss have been nominated this year for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Frehley and Criss are long gone from KISS, of course, replaced by Tommy Thayer on lead guitar and vocals and Eric Singer on drums and vocals. Thayer, a long-time KISS fan who worked behind the scenes with the band for more than a decade before taking on the lead guitarist role, spoke to the News Journal by phone ahead of Monday's concert at the Pensacola Civic Center.
Q: KISS was an inspiration to you growing up. What did you think when your old band, Black N' Blue got the call to open for KISS back in 1985?
A: Well, that was one of those life-changing experiences. I know that sounds kind of dramatic, but there are a few things that have happened in my life that are dreamlike experiences. When I found out we were going to tour with KISS, that was one of them. When we got to the first stop in Little Rock in November 1985, that's when I met the guys, and we were a little intimidated by Gene because he puts on such an aura.
Q: That was the start of a long relationship with the band and with Gene in particular. Has he been something of a mentor to you?
A: He has, and Paul has too, actually, but initially I got to know Gene more because he produced two of our records. Later, he asked me to write with him for KISS. When Black N' Blue ran its course, they hired me to come and work for them, and that was kind of a dream job. I worked on the "KISStory" book and the KISS conventions, and that led into the whole reunion with the original members. Everything came full circle and I was thrust into the band officially. It's interesting how life takes you sometimes.
Q: Talk about your role in the band during those years.
A: I was doing all kinds of things -- editing video, actually even producing and directing some of the DVDs. I just started taking on things. The thing I had going for me is that I knew KISS inside and out because I'd loved the band since they started. Plus, I'm a hard working guy. Whatever I do, I put 110 percent effort into it, and when you do that, things start happening for you. So that's how it went. As the reunion tour started and through that era of the band, I was working behind the scenes, and I was actually focusing more on a career in the music business. I had done guitar playing, and you only get so many chances. But ironically, things came full circle. It's been a great ride.
Q: Talk about the first time you took the stage as a member of the band. What did that feel like?
A: Taking the stage for the first time as an official member came very naturally, because up to that time, I had played and recorded and soundchecked with the band many, many times. When other guitar players didn't show up, I was very much in the works already. When it came time for me to step on stage for the first time, it was a great feeling but a very seamless transition. It was different than a lot of situations that you might imagine -- there wasn't an audition, it was just "Tommy, this is your time, we want you to do this, so here you go."
But when you step into one of the biggest rock 'n' roll bands in the world, there is a certain degree of pressure involved, and with that in mind, there's a certain degree of competence and you have to step up and really take care of business.
Q: Did you ever doubt that you could step up?
A: No, I never doubted that I couldn't do an amazing job in KISS. But they are big shoes to fill -- TALL shoes to fill (laughs). I never doubted that I could do it well, but there are certain high expectations to fill, and you have to do it. But I've always been real confident that I could do it well.
Q: You've been the lead guitarist in KISS for about 7 years. Is it odd to you that people might still think of you as the new guy?
A: I'll always be the Ronnie Wood of KISS (laughs). I've been in the band a lot longer than some other members were over the years, but I'll always be the new guy. When you have a band that's been going on 40 years, you'll always have that.
Q: Tell us about the new album.
A: "Sonic Boom" is the first studio album released by KISS in 11 years, so it's a real milestone for us. As we recorded this thing, we began to realize how good it really was. The key to the success and the way the whole thing came together is that we did it with no outside influence at all. It didn't dawn on me until we were halfway through it that we didn't play it for anyone else -- not the label, not management, nobody. That's why it's a pure KISS record to the core, because we just did it ourselves, almost like a new band starting. Nobody heard it until it was finished, mixed and in the can. I think that's why it turned out so terrifically, because it's pure and we didn't overthink it to try to satisfy anyone else. We just did it from the gut. So it's a great pure rock 'n' roll album and the pure essence of KISS. I think it covers all eras of the band pretty well, and that's what's cool about it. We couldn't be happier, and so far, everybody's ecstatic. The reviews and impressions couldn't better -- which is right in line with what we think.
Q: Do you have any favorite tracks? Obviously, you're singing lead on "When Lightning Strikes," so that must be a highlight...
A: I sing lead on "When Lightning Strikes," and I co-wrote a few songs, too. I think they're all really exceptional songs, and I think its one of those albums that you want to listen to start to finish. I love them all.
Q: "Sonic Boom" is being distributed exclusively through Walmart stores. Talk about that.
A: As you know, the music industry has changed a lot, and you don't really have conventional record stores anymore on a retail level. This deal with Walmart was put together, which is mutually beneficial. They are the biggest retailer of music now, so it's a real coup and its been a great partnership so far. It's a good deal, and they are setting up KISS Korners, kind of kiosks in the store where you can pick up the album and other merchandise.
The other thing is that there are two bonus discs in the package -- a DVD of a live show in Buenos Aries and a disc of re-records of KISS classics. So there's a lot of big value in this, and the package is just $12. It's something anybody should be able to pick up. Lot of depth in that.
Q: There's a lot of buzz about release, including talk that it could be KISS' first No. 1 album...
A: It looks like it'll be either No. 1 or No. 2, and we hope it'll be No. 1. It'll be the highest chart position for any KISS record ever, either way. We're all very pleased and proud. KISS is in the hearts and minds of everyone right now, it seems. It's an exciting time in the world of KISS.
Q: And the band's been nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for the first time, which is a subject of some controversy, with the band having been eligible for nearly a decade. Talk about that.
A: KISS probably should have been nominated sooner, because it's one of the biggest rock 'n' roll bands ever. KISS is nominated this year, and I'd love to see that happen. As far as I'm concerned, KISS probably should have already been in there. The band is really excited, particularly for the four original members, it's well deserved. In my mind -- and I know in millions of fans minds -- KISS is one of the most important rock 'n' roll bands of all time.
Q: The tour is all new, too. Tell us about the set-up.
A: It's the biggest stage we've ever taken out, it's about 30 feet wider than the stage last year. We've got a huge video production like never before. The lighting, the sound, the pyro is all over the top. It's really a stadium stage packed into arenas. Lot of bang for the buck, that's for sure. When you go see KISS, it's not four guys in jeans staring at their shoes. There's a lot going on and you never go home feeling like you didn't get enough bang for your buck.
Seeing a KISS show is one of those things that everybody needs to do once in their life. Now's the chance, and Oct. 19 we want to see that Civic Center packed to the gills, like it always is for a good KISS show.
Tommy Thayer, a long-time KISS fan who worked behind the scenes with the band for more than a decade before taking on the lead guitarist role, spoke to the News Journal by phone ahead of Monday's concert at the Pensacola Civic Center.
Q: KISS was an inspiration to you growing up. What did you think when your old band, Black N' Blue got the call to open for KISS back in 1985?
A: Well, that was one of those life-changing experiences. I know that sounds kind of dramatic, but there are a few things that have happened in my life that are dreamlike experiences. When I found out we were going to tour with KISS, that was one of them. When we got to the first stop in Little Rock in November 1985, that's when I met the guys, and we were a little intimidated by Gene because he puts on such an aura.
Q: That was the start of a long relationship with the band and with Gene in particular. Has he been something of a mentor to you?
A: He has, and Paul has too, actually, but initially I got to know Gene more because he produced two of our records. Later, he asked me to write with him for KISS. When Black N' Blue ran its course, they hired me to come and work for them, and that was kind of a dream job. I worked on the "KISStory" book and the KISS conventions, and that led into the whole reunion with the original members. Everything came full circle and I was thrust into the band officially. It's interesting how life takes you sometimes.By Julio Diaz
Some bands should need no introduction. But if KISS needs one, it should the words that have brought the band onto the stage for decades:
"You wanted the best, you got the best!"
Over the course of more than 35 years, KISS has established itself as one of rock's biggest bands. With its iconic makeup and costumes and timeless hits such as "Detroit Rock City," "Rock and Roll All Nite" and "Calling Dr. Love," the band has weathered personnel changes and changing fashions to stay on top.
And this year may be the band's biggest yet. The new album, "Sonic Boom," was released last week through Walmart stores and online, and debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard album chart -- the group's highest position ever on the chart. And original members Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss have been nominated this year for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Frehley and Criss are long gone from KISS, of course, replaced by Tommy Thayer on lead guitar and vocals and Eric Singer on drums and vocals. Thayer, a long-time KISS fan who worked behind the scenes with the band for more than a decade before taking on the lead guitarist role, spoke to the News Journal by phone ahead of Monday's concert at the Pensacola Civic Center.
Q: KISS was an inspiration to you growing up. What did you think when your old band, Black N' Blue got the call to open for KISS back in 1985?
A: Well, that was one of those life-changing experiences. I know that sounds kind of dramatic, but there are a few things that have happened in my life that are dreamlike experiences. When I found out we were going to tour with KISS, that was one of them. When we got to the first stop in Little Rock in November 1985, that's when I met the guys, and we were a little intimidated by Gene because he puts on such an aura.
Q: That was the start of a long relationship with the band and with Gene in particular. Has he been something of a mentor to you?
A: He has, and Paul has too, actually, but initially I got to know Gene more because he produced two of our records. Later, he asked me to write with him for KISS. When Black N' Blue ran its course, they hired me to come and work for them, and that was kind of a dream job. I worked on the "KISStory" book and the KISS conventions, and that led into the whole reunion with the original members. Everything came full circle and I was thrust into the band officially. It's interesting how life takes you sometimes.
Q: Talk about your role in the band during those years.
A: I was doing all kinds of things -- editing video, actually even producing and directing some of the DVDs. I just started taking on things. The thing I had going for me is that I knew KISS inside and out because I'd loved the band since they started. Plus, I'm a hard working guy. Whatever I do, I put 110 percent effort into it, and when you do that, things start happening for you. So that's how it went. As the reunion tour started and through that era of the band, I was working behind the scenes, and I was actually focusing more on a career in the music business. I had done guitar playing, and you only get so many chances. But ironically, things came full circle. It's been a great ride.
Q: Talk about the first time you took the stage as a member of the band. What did that feel like?
A: Taking the stage for the first time as an official member came very naturally, because up to that time, I had played and recorded and soundchecked with the band many, many times. When other guitar players didn't show up, I was very much in the works already. When it came time for me to step on stage for the first time, it was a great feeling but a very seamless transition. It was different than a lot of situations that you might imagine -- there wasn't an audition, it was just "Tommy, this is your time, we want you to do this, so here you go."
But when you step into one of the biggest rock 'n' roll bands in the world, there is a certain degree of pressure involved, and with that in mind, there's a certain degree of competence and you have to step up and really take care of business.
Q: Did you ever doubt that you could step up?
A: No, I never doubted that I couldn't do an amazing job in KISS. But they are big shoes to fill -- TALL shoes to fill (laughs). I never doubted that I could do it well, but there are certain high expectations to fill, and you have to do it. But I've always been real confident that I could do it well.
Q: You've been the lead guitarist in KISS for about 7 years. Is it odd to you that people might still think of you as the new guy?
A: I'll always be the Ronnie Wood of KISS (laughs). I've been in the band a lot longer than some other members were over the years, but I'll always be the new guy. When you have a band that's been going on 40 years, you'll always have that.
Q: Tell us about the new album.
A: "Sonic Boom" is the first studio album released by KISS in 11 years, so it's a real milestone for us. As we recorded this thing, we began to realize how good it really was. The key to the success and the way the whole thing came together is that we did it with no outside influence at all. It didn't dawn on me until we were halfway through it that we didn't play it for anyone else -- not the label, not management, nobody. That's why it's a pure KISS record to the core, because we just did it ourselves, almost like a new band starting. Nobody heard it until it was finished, mixed and in the can. I think that's why it turned out so terrifically, because it's pure and we didn't overthink it to try to satisfy anyone else. We just did it from the gut. So it's a great pure rock 'n' roll album and the pure essence of KISS. I think it covers all eras of the band pretty well, and that's what's cool about it. We couldn't be happier, and so far, everybody's ecstatic. The reviews and impressions couldn't better -- which is right in line with what we think.
Q: Do you have any favorite tracks? Obviously, you're singing lead on "When Lightning Strikes," so that must be a highlight...
A: I sing lead on "When Lightning Strikes," and I co-wrote a few songs, too. I think they're all really exceptional songs, and I think its one of those albums that you want to listen to start to finish. I love them all.
Q: "Sonic Boom" is being distributed exclusively through Walmart stores. Talk about that.
A: As you know, the music industry has changed a lot, and you don't really have conventional record stores anymore on a retail level. This deal with Walmart was put together, which is mutually beneficial. They are the biggest retailer of music now, so it's a real coup and its been a great partnership so far. It's a good deal, and they are setting up KISS Korners, kind of kiosks in the store where you can pick up the album and other merchandise.
The other thing is that there are two bonus discs in the package -- a DVD of a live show in Buenos Aries and a disc of re-records of KISS classics. So there's a lot of big value in this, and the package is just $12. It's something anybody should be able to pick up. Lot of depth in that.
Q: There's a lot of buzz about release, including talk that it could be KISS' first No. 1 album...
A: It looks like it'll be either No. 1 or No. 2, and we hope it'll be No. 1. It'll be the highest chart position for any KISS record ever, either way. We're all very pleased and proud. KISS is in the hearts and minds of everyone right now, it seems. It's an exciting time in the world of KISS.
Q: And the band's been nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for the first time, which is a subject of some controversy, with the band having been eligible for nearly a decade. Talk about that.
A: KISS probably should have been nominated sooner, because it's one of the biggest rock 'n' roll bands ever. KISS is nominated this year, and I'd love to see that happen. As far as I'm concerned, KISS probably should have already been in there. The band is really excited, particularly for the four original members, it's well deserved. In my mind -- and I know in millions of fans minds -- KISS is one of the most important rock 'n' roll bands of all time.
Q: The tour is all new, too. Tell us about the set-up.
A: It's the biggest stage we've ever taken out, it's about 30 feet wider than the stage last year. We've got a huge video production like never before. The lighting, the sound, the pyro is all over the top. It's really a stadium stage packed into arenas. Lot of bang for the buck, that's for sure. When you go see KISS, it's not four guys in jeans staring at their shoes. There's a lot going on and you never go home feeling like you didn't get enough bang for your buck.
Seeing a KISS show is one of those things that everybody needs to do once in their life. Now's the chance, and Oct. 19 we want to see that Civic Center packed to the gills, like it always is for a good KISS show.
10/19/2009
AN ARMY OF DEVOTED FOLLOWERS
By Troy Moon
Jan DeStafney's son has been breathing fire in the backyard.
And on Monday, she's going to see the men who influenced her son to pour lighter fluid in his mouth and spit flames.
DeStafney, 57, is going to see Kiss today at the Pensacola Civic Center. She only knows of one song - the one about "rock and roll all night" - but she just has to see what the fuss is all about.
"I have to see what's so exciting about these people," she said. "Because they have mesmerized my son for all these years."
Kiss - a troupe of fire-breathing, blood-spewing, costumed comic book rock legends - has mesmerized millions since forming in December 1972 and has sold more than 80 million albums worldwide. Though perceived early on by some critics and parents as dark and sinister, most of the world has come to see Kiss as a sort of harmless escapist fantasy - a live-action cartoon with a hard rock soundtrack.
Yet their fans, even the grown-ups with mortgages and children of their own, still are devoted to the Kiss Army - the band's long-running, fan-organized fan club - who have no intention of leaving the band's service.
By Troy Moon
Jan DeStafney's son has been breathing fire in the backyard.
And on Monday, she's going to see the men who influenced her son to pour lighter fluid in his mouth and spit flames.
DeStafney, 57, is going to see Kiss today at the Pensacola Civic Center. She only knows of one song - the one about "rock and roll all night" - but she just has to see what the fuss is all about.
"I have to see what's so exciting about these people," she said. "Because they have mesmerized my son for all these years."
Kiss - a troupe of fire-breathing, blood-spewing, costumed comic book rock legends - has mesmerized millions since forming in December 1972 and has sold more than 80 million albums worldwide. Though perceived early on by some critics and parents as dark and sinister, most of the world has come to see Kiss as a sort of harmless escapist fantasy - a live-action cartoon with a hard rock soundtrack.
Yet their fans, even the grown-ups with mortgages and children of their own, still are devoted to the Kiss Army - the band's long-running, fan-organized fan club - who have no intention of leaving the band's service.
Which is why Jan's 35-year-old son, James DeStafney - a father of two young children - was in front of a mirror last week putting on white and black makeup to compete in a Kiss costume contest at Chan's. DeStafney won the contest, earning two front-row tickets.
"When he was 5, he drew pictures of the Kiss characters," Jan DeStafney said. "He said even then 'They're my favorite band.' And he's been saying that for the last 30 years."
Secret obsession
On the surface, James DeStafney's home seems like Normalsville, USA.
He lives in a nice, well-kept middle-class home near Creighton Road with his wife and two children, ages 4 and 7. A U.S. flag hangs near the door. Inside, his 7-year-old daughter is practicing jumpy beginner's tunes on piano. Pictures of smiling children line the walls.
Then, you see the black gear sitting on the couple's sleigh bed - platform boots, vests and jackets with oddly shaped horns jutting out.
On the nightstand is a foam mannequin head topped by a black wig - the wig DeStafney dons whenever he dresses as Kiss' outlandish bass player, Gene Simmons.
DeStafney's 4-year-old son is at his side while the makeup - first the white, then the black - goes on.
"He's going to be the real, real Gene," the boy said. "And he's going to have a wig on his hair. My dad is going to look so cool."
Apparently, it's a look the boy wants for himself.
"I want to be Gene like you," he said. "And you can paint it on me."
"Cool, bud," the soft-spoken father said back.
Then, there's a change of mind.
"I would be Paul," the 4-year-old said, as he eyed a copy of the Kiss album "Dynasty" that DeStafney props near the mirror to help guide him through the makeup ordeal. "And you can put the star on my eyes."
Yes, the boy knows Gene from rhythm guitarist Paul Stanley, and he knows Gene wears the "scary" makeup while Paul sports the black star around his right eye.
Dad knew that, too, at his son's age.
Tribute artist
"I was probably 3 or 4 when I first saw them (on television)," said DeStafney, who works in public relations for a health service organization. "There were these four masked guys blowing things up and spitting blood, breathing fire and smashing guitars. I thought it was the coolest thing I had ever seen."
The cool factor hasn't cooled.
DeStafney plays bass - and portrays Simmons - in the Kiss tribute band Love Gun, which still is in the rehearsal stage.
His mother never thought it would come to this.
"Really, I was never concerned when he was young, because I didn't think the band was going to make it because they were so very unusual," she said. "That was a really bad call on my part."
Because induction in the Kiss Army is for life.
Just ask Charles Henke, 38, a guitarist for the local band Category 5, who has seen Kiss 12 times - his first as a 13-year-old on Jan. 21, 1985, when Kiss became the first act to perform at the new Pensacola Civic Center.
"It was life-changing," said Henke, a transport driver for disabled people and a father of a 7-year-old girl. "And since then, Kiss' music has been the soundtrack to my life."
Henke's love for the band hasn't dimmed a bit over the years. These days, he sometimes dresses up as Stanley, as he did for Thursday's costume contest at Chan's.
"People would always say 'You'll outgrow it,' " Henke said. "But you know, it's only gotten worse. It was 36 years before I ever did the costume. So I'm definitely not outgrowing it."
'About the music'
Henke, even out of costume, is easily identifiable as a soldier in the Kiss Army.
He's wearing a Kiss 2004 "Rock The Nation" T-shirt. He's got the Kiss dog tags hanging around his neck along with a gold cross - "I'm a Christian first," he said. He's got the Kiss belt buckle on his belt and camouflage pants to complete the look.
But why? Why has Kiss, always shunned by critics and the music press, retained such a devoted fan base over the decades. What separates Kiss from the thousands of other bands out there?
"I love the entertainment aspect of it," Henke said. "But honestly, it's about the music to me. It's not down, it's not negative. It's about partying and having a good time and about positive things. The songs mean so much to me."
But so does the memorabilia, which no band has come close to matching. The band has more than 3,000 licensed products on the market, from towels and belt buckles to strange trinkets such as Kiss toy cars and Kiss Mr. Potato Head collectibles.
Henke has plenty of the stuff, including a dozen Kiss guitar picks that have been thrown from the stage during concerts over the years. In fact, Henke keeps every pick preserved in its own sealed plastic bag and knows the history of each.
"The first one I got during that first concert at the Civic Center," Henke said. "They fling the picks like Frisbees. I could see it in the light as it was flying toward me. It fell into the aisle, I stomped my foot on it and reached down and grabbed it."
Jan DeStafney's son has been breathing fire in the backyard.
And on Monday, she's going to see the men who influenced her son to pour lighter fluid in his mouth and spit flames.
DeStafney, 57, is going to see Kiss today at the Pensacola Civic Center. She only knows of one song - the one about "rock and roll all night" - but she just has to see what the fuss is all about.
"I have to see what's so exciting about these people," she said. "Because they have mesmerized my son for all these years."
Kiss - a troupe of fire-breathing, blood-spewing, costumed comic book rock legends - has mesmerized millions since forming in December 1972 and has sold more than 80 million albums worldwide. Though perceived early on by some critics and parents as dark and sinister, most of the world has come to see Kiss as a sort of harmless escapist fantasy - a live-action cartoon with a hard rock soundtrack.
Yet their fans, even the grown-ups with mortgages and children of their own, still are devoted to the Kiss Army - the band's long-running, fan-organized fan club - who have no intention of leaving the band's service.
By Troy Moon
Jan DeStafney's son has been breathing fire in the backyard.
And on Monday, she's going to see the men who influenced her son to pour lighter fluid in his mouth and spit flames.
DeStafney, 57, is going to see Kiss today at the Pensacola Civic Center. She only knows of one song - the one about "rock and roll all night" - but she just has to see what the fuss is all about.
"I have to see what's so exciting about these people," she said. "Because they have mesmerized my son for all these years."
Kiss - a troupe of fire-breathing, blood-spewing, costumed comic book rock legends - has mesmerized millions since forming in December 1972 and has sold more than 80 million albums worldwide. Though perceived early on by some critics and parents as dark and sinister, most of the world has come to see Kiss as a sort of harmless escapist fantasy - a live-action cartoon with a hard rock soundtrack.
Yet their fans, even the grown-ups with mortgages and children of their own, still are devoted to the Kiss Army - the band's long-running, fan-organized fan club - who have no intention of leaving the band's service.
Which is why Jan's 35-year-old son, James DeStafney - a father of two young children - was in front of a mirror last week putting on white and black makeup to compete in a Kiss costume contest at Chan's. DeStafney won the contest, earning two front-row tickets.
"When he was 5, he drew pictures of the Kiss characters," Jan DeStafney said. "He said even then 'They're my favorite band.' And he's been saying that for the last 30 years."
Secret obsession
On the surface, James DeStafney's home seems like Normalsville, USA.
He lives in a nice, well-kept middle-class home near Creighton Road with his wife and two children, ages 4 and 7. A U.S. flag hangs near the door. Inside, his 7-year-old daughter is practicing jumpy beginner's tunes on piano. Pictures of smiling children line the walls.
Then, you see the black gear sitting on the couple's sleigh bed - platform boots, vests and jackets with oddly shaped horns jutting out.
On the nightstand is a foam mannequin head topped by a black wig - the wig DeStafney dons whenever he dresses as Kiss' outlandish bass player, Gene Simmons.
DeStafney's 4-year-old son is at his side while the makeup - first the white, then the black - goes on.
"He's going to be the real, real Gene," the boy said. "And he's going to have a wig on his hair. My dad is going to look so cool."
Apparently, it's a look the boy wants for himself.
"I want to be Gene like you," he said. "And you can paint it on me."
"Cool, bud," the soft-spoken father said back.
Then, there's a change of mind.
"I would be Paul," the 4-year-old said, as he eyed a copy of the Kiss album "Dynasty" that DeStafney props near the mirror to help guide him through the makeup ordeal. "And you can put the star on my eyes."
Yes, the boy knows Gene from rhythm guitarist Paul Stanley, and he knows Gene wears the "scary" makeup while Paul sports the black star around his right eye.
Dad knew that, too, at his son's age.
Tribute artist
"I was probably 3 or 4 when I first saw them (on television)," said DeStafney, who works in public relations for a health service organization. "There were these four masked guys blowing things up and spitting blood, breathing fire and smashing guitars. I thought it was the coolest thing I had ever seen."
The cool factor hasn't cooled.
DeStafney plays bass - and portrays Simmons - in the Kiss tribute band Love Gun, which still is in the rehearsal stage.
His mother never thought it would come to this.
"Really, I was never concerned when he was young, because I didn't think the band was going to make it because they were so very unusual," she said. "That was a really bad call on my part."
Because induction in the Kiss Army is for life.
Just ask Charles Henke, 38, a guitarist for the local band Category 5, who has seen Kiss 12 times - his first as a 13-year-old on Jan. 21, 1985, when Kiss became the first act to perform at the new Pensacola Civic Center.
"It was life-changing," said Henke, a transport driver for disabled people and a father of a 7-year-old girl. "And since then, Kiss' music has been the soundtrack to my life."
Henke's love for the band hasn't dimmed a bit over the years. These days, he sometimes dresses up as Stanley, as he did for Thursday's costume contest at Chan's.
"People would always say 'You'll outgrow it,' " Henke said. "But you know, it's only gotten worse. It was 36 years before I ever did the costume. So I'm definitely not outgrowing it."
'About the music'
Henke, even out of costume, is easily identifiable as a soldier in the Kiss Army.
He's wearing a Kiss 2004 "Rock The Nation" T-shirt. He's got the Kiss dog tags hanging around his neck along with a gold cross - "I'm a Christian first," he said. He's got the Kiss belt buckle on his belt and camouflage pants to complete the look.
But why? Why has Kiss, always shunned by critics and the music press, retained such a devoted fan base over the decades. What separates Kiss from the thousands of other bands out there?
"I love the entertainment aspect of it," Henke said. "But honestly, it's about the music to me. It's not down, it's not negative. It's about partying and having a good time and about positive things. The songs mean so much to me."
But so does the memorabilia, which no band has come close to matching. The band has more than 3,000 licensed products on the market, from towels and belt buckles to strange trinkets such as Kiss toy cars and Kiss Mr. Potato Head collectibles.
Henke has plenty of the stuff, including a dozen Kiss guitar picks that have been thrown from the stage during concerts over the years. In fact, Henke keeps every pick preserved in its own sealed plastic bag and knows the history of each.
"The first one I got during that first concert at the Civic Center," Henke said. "They fling the picks like Frisbees. I could see it in the light as it was flying toward me. It fell into the aisle, I stomped my foot on it and reached down and grabbed it."
10/19/2009
Awesome
10/19/2009
MY SON ON GOOD MORNING AMERICA
10/19/2009
JACK BECOMES GENE
10/18/2009
Best concert ever!
10/18/2009
KISS STRONG AS EVER
By KATE SNOW and DESIREE ADIB
Photo by Keysha McGrady
Fans of All Ages Still Flock to Band's High-Energy Concerts
Those grease-painted glam lords of campy metal are at back at it. Thirty-five years after their first album, Kiss has just put out "Sonic Boom," a new studio disc that's being sold exclusively next to the Cheerios and Windex at Walmart stores nationwide.
It has been 11 years since their last album, and despite their age -- singer and bassist Gene Simmons is 60 years old, while singer/guitarist Paul Stanley is 57 -- they are strapping on platform heels, smearing on the makeup and hitting big arenas nationwide for a 47-city tour.
"If the audience really wants you, they keep calling you back," says band co-founder Simmons. "I mean, look at us. I couldn't be in any other band, I'm a misfit. I'm an outsider. I can't be in the [Rolling] Stones or U2. Those little people would get in my way."
Outspoken singer Simmons may capture the spotlight as the fire-breathing face of Kiss, but "Sonic Boom" was the brainchild of Stanley. The two original members are joined by guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer, replacing Ace Frehley and Peter Criss.
"I could never imagine that we would be doing this this long, 35 to 40 years later and to be selling out," says Stanley. "I mean I could certainly see some of the guys in the band being in a padded cell thinking they were playing for a big crowd still. But here we are doing this, and it's amazing!"Those grease-painted glam lords of campy metal are at back at it. Thirty-five years after their first album, Kiss has just put out "Sonic Boom," a new studio disc that's being sold exclusively next to the Cheerios and Windex at Walmart stores nationwide.
It has been 11 years since their last album, and despite their age -- singer and bassist Gene Simmons is 60 years old, while singer/guitarist Paul Stanley is 57 -- they are strapping on platform heels, smearing on the makeup and hitting big arenas nationwide for a 47-city tour.
"If the audience really wants you, they keep calling you back," says band co-founder Simmons. "I mean, look at us. I couldn't be in any other band, I'm a misfit. I'm an outsider. I can't be in the [Rolling] Stones or U2. Those little people would get in my way."
Outspoken singer Simmons may capture the spotlight as the fire-breathing face of Kiss, but "Sonic Boom" was the brainchild of Stanley. The two original members are joined by guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer, replacing Ace Frehley and Peter Criss.
"I could never imagine that we would be doing this this long, 35 to 40 years later and to be selling out," says Stanley. "I mean I could certainly see some of the guys in the band being in a padded cell thinking they were playing for a big crowd still. But here we are doing this, and it's amazing!"
Legions of fans, also known as the "Kiss Army," are still attending the shows, but this time many of them are towing along what might be called the "little" Kiss Army: their kids. Many face-painted children of the original fans are flocking to arenas with mom and dad, proving what Stanley refers to as a family-friendly show.
"You see parents bringing their children and holding them up, you know, to be, to be blessed, just like the Lion King. You know, it's like 'hakuna matata,' it's like the circle of life," says Stanley, referring to the catchphrase from the Disney movie meaning "no worries."
Despite the loyal fans and a couple of timeless Kiss anthems such "Rock-n-Roll All Night" and "Detroit Rock City," critics have long cast a shadow over Kiss with famously bad reviews.
About Critics Kiss Says: 'We Need Them as Mulch'
Dave Marsh, longtime writer for Rolling Stone magazine and a nominating committee member for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, once said, "Kiss is not a great band. Kiss was never a great band. Kiss never will be a great band, and I have done my share to keep them off the ballot."
"Critics are good. We bury them in the backyard. We need them as mulch," says Simmons. "They couldn't walk in my shoes if they tried. We listen to our fans. Those are our critics."
And according to the band's Web site, those fans have purchased 100 million records worldwide. This hasn't stopped the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame from repeatedly snubbing the band from consideration even though it has been eligible since 1999. Now, for the first time, they have been nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and they're currently among the potential inductees for the 2010 ceremony.
Whatever critics may say, there is no disputing the merchandising machine that fuels Kiss. Since its inception, the band has placed top priority in selling logo-covered loot. Some say the mantra is "sex, dough, and rock and roll." Now, the band is taking it to a new level, cutting an exclusive deal with Walmart, which includes "Kiss Korners," stocked with everything from M&Ms and lampshades, to Mr. Potato Heads and fleece blankets.
The long-tongued Simmons has never been shy about being an opportunistic champion of marketing the band to the fullest extent.
"There's so much in the works," he says. "This is the beginning. You ain't seen nuthin' yet. We're gonna take over this planet and call it Planet Kiss."
And according to Stanley, as long as the fans keep asking for it, there's no telling when Kiss will stop making music and touring.
"Kiss has become iconic," says Stanley. "What we stand for is timeless. What we are singing about is freedom, believing in yourself, achieving against the odds, hooking up. There is a tradition about Kiss and we believe in what we stand for."
Click here to see more behind-the-scenes pictures from the Kiss shoot.
Photo by Keysha McGrady
Fans of All Ages Still Flock to Band's High-Energy Concerts
Those grease-painted glam lords of campy metal are at back at it. Thirty-five years after their first album, Kiss has just put out "Sonic Boom," a new studio disc that's being sold exclusively next to the Cheerios and Windex at Walmart stores nationwide.
It has been 11 years since their last album, and despite their age -- singer and bassist Gene Simmons is 60 years old, while singer/guitarist Paul Stanley is 57 -- they are strapping on platform heels, smearing on the makeup and hitting big arenas nationwide for a 47-city tour.
"If the audience really wants you, they keep calling you back," says band co-founder Simmons. "I mean, look at us. I couldn't be in any other band, I'm a misfit. I'm an outsider. I can't be in the [Rolling] Stones or U2. Those little people would get in my way."
Outspoken singer Simmons may capture the spotlight as the fire-breathing face of Kiss, but "Sonic Boom" was the brainchild of Stanley. The two original members are joined by guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer, replacing Ace Frehley and Peter Criss.
"I could never imagine that we would be doing this this long, 35 to 40 years later and to be selling out," says Stanley. "I mean I could certainly see some of the guys in the band being in a padded cell thinking they were playing for a big crowd still. But here we are doing this, and it's amazing!"Those grease-painted glam lords of campy metal are at back at it. Thirty-five years after their first album, Kiss has just put out "Sonic Boom," a new studio disc that's being sold exclusively next to the Cheerios and Windex at Walmart stores nationwide.
It has been 11 years since their last album, and despite their age -- singer and bassist Gene Simmons is 60 years old, while singer/guitarist Paul Stanley is 57 -- they are strapping on platform heels, smearing on the makeup and hitting big arenas nationwide for a 47-city tour.
"If the audience really wants you, they keep calling you back," says band co-founder Simmons. "I mean, look at us. I couldn't be in any other band, I'm a misfit. I'm an outsider. I can't be in the [Rolling] Stones or U2. Those little people would get in my way."
Outspoken singer Simmons may capture the spotlight as the fire-breathing face of Kiss, but "Sonic Boom" was the brainchild of Stanley. The two original members are joined by guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer, replacing Ace Frehley and Peter Criss.
"I could never imagine that we would be doing this this long, 35 to 40 years later and to be selling out," says Stanley. "I mean I could certainly see some of the guys in the band being in a padded cell thinking they were playing for a big crowd still. But here we are doing this, and it's amazing!"
Legions of fans, also known as the "Kiss Army," are still attending the shows, but this time many of them are towing along what might be called the "little" Kiss Army: their kids. Many face-painted children of the original fans are flocking to arenas with mom and dad, proving what Stanley refers to as a family-friendly show.
"You see parents bringing their children and holding them up, you know, to be, to be blessed, just like the Lion King. You know, it's like 'hakuna matata,' it's like the circle of life," says Stanley, referring to the catchphrase from the Disney movie meaning "no worries."
Despite the loyal fans and a couple of timeless Kiss anthems such "Rock-n-Roll All Night" and "Detroit Rock City," critics have long cast a shadow over Kiss with famously bad reviews.
About Critics Kiss Says: 'We Need Them as Mulch'
Dave Marsh, longtime writer for Rolling Stone magazine and a nominating committee member for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, once said, "Kiss is not a great band. Kiss was never a great band. Kiss never will be a great band, and I have done my share to keep them off the ballot."
"Critics are good. We bury them in the backyard. We need them as mulch," says Simmons. "They couldn't walk in my shoes if they tried. We listen to our fans. Those are our critics."
And according to the band's Web site, those fans have purchased 100 million records worldwide. This hasn't stopped the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame from repeatedly snubbing the band from consideration even though it has been eligible since 1999. Now, for the first time, they have been nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and they're currently among the potential inductees for the 2010 ceremony.
Whatever critics may say, there is no disputing the merchandising machine that fuels Kiss. Since its inception, the band has placed top priority in selling logo-covered loot. Some say the mantra is "sex, dough, and rock and roll." Now, the band is taking it to a new level, cutting an exclusive deal with Walmart, which includes "Kiss Korners," stocked with everything from M&Ms and lampshades, to Mr. Potato Heads and fleece blankets.
The long-tongued Simmons has never been shy about being an opportunistic champion of marketing the band to the fullest extent.
"There's so much in the works," he says. "This is the beginning. You ain't seen nuthin' yet. We're gonna take over this planet and call it Planet Kiss."
And according to Stanley, as long as the fans keep asking for it, there's no telling when Kiss will stop making music and touring.
"Kiss has become iconic," says Stanley. "What we stand for is timeless. What we are singing about is freedom, believing in yourself, achieving against the odds, hooking up. There is a tradition about Kiss and we believe in what we stand for."
Click here to see more behind-the-scenes pictures from the Kiss shoot.
10/18/2009
35 YEARS OF STAYING POWER
By Sean Daly
Did Gene Simmons just make a lewd comment about my mom? And did the Demon just call me a woman? And what was that hand gesture by Paul Stanley?
All these neuroses fired in my head as I interviewed - on television, no less -the glam-rock kings in Kiss, who appeared in full makeup for a recent televised press junket. The glam-rockers play the St. Pete Times Forum on Wednesday. They are also promoting a new album, Sonic Boom, their first full-length in 11 years.
In a just-for-fun twist, I pulled on my fancy pants, hopped in an anchor's chair and chatted up bassist Simmons, singer Stanley, guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer via satellite...By Sean Daly
Did Gene Simmons just make a lewd comment about my mom? And did the Demon just call me a woman? And what was that hand gesture by Paul Stanley?
All these neuroses fired in my head as I interviewed - on television, no less - the glam-rock kings in Kiss, who appeared in full makeup for a recent televised press junket. The glam-rockers play the St. Pete Times Forum on Wednesday. They are also promoting a new album, Sonic Boom, their first full-length in 11 years.
In a just-for-fun twist, I pulled on my fancy pants, hopped in an anchor's chair and chatted up bassist Simmons, singer Stanley, guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer via satellite for ABC Action News. Here's an excerpt from the interview:
So Tampa Bay gets U2 and Kiss in the same month. Let's throw down: Which band has the hotter live show?
Stanley (not even close to taking the bait): I think this is a very lucky time for Tampa. You'll want to be there for us. We're on the tail end of our Kiss Alive 35 World Tour, our biggest, most successful tour ever. It's a helluva show: great pyro, bigger video, bigger stage. We have to live up to our own expectations and we've done it in a big way.
Your new album, Sonic Boom, captures that vintage '70s sound, that unmistakable Kiss dynamic. The songs, especially first single Modern Day Delilah, are loose, off the cuff. How'd you pull that off?
Simmons: On our off days during this tour, we'd get together in Tommy's hotel room, whip out some guitars and start writing the songs right there and then. Within a month and a half, we were in L.A., rehearsing, recording.
Stanley: It's not a retro album. Gosh knows, the last thing we need is an album that sounds like it was recorded 35 years ago. But we wanted to say unequivocally that this is Kiss. It's got the commitment. It's got the energy.
After 35 years, you're older and wiser -
Simmons: Actually, we're stronger and more experienced.
And more handsome.
Simmons: You're absolutely correct about that, my dear.
Now that you're older, stronger, wiser, how is touring different? Is there less partying every night, more working out every day?
Thayer: The band is in better shape and has more vitality than in a long time. The spirit is there. We're feeling united.
Stanley: In those early days, a headlining band like us was playing for 90 minutes. But the era for us playing just 90 minutes is long gone. We're onstage now for sometimes as long as 2 1/2 hours. So we have to be in far better shape.
Gene, I gotta get this off my chest: My mother has a huge crush on you. I find that both cool and disturbing.
Simmons: What's her name?
Mary Daly.
Simmons (dropping his voice low and lascivious): Ah yesss, I remember Mary ...
Did Gene Simmons just make a lewd comment about my mom? And did the Demon just call me a woman? And what was that hand gesture by Paul Stanley?
All these neuroses fired in my head as I interviewed - on television, no less -the glam-rock kings in Kiss, who appeared in full makeup for a recent televised press junket. The glam-rockers play the St. Pete Times Forum on Wednesday. They are also promoting a new album, Sonic Boom, their first full-length in 11 years.
In a just-for-fun twist, I pulled on my fancy pants, hopped in an anchor's chair and chatted up bassist Simmons, singer Stanley, guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer via satellite...By Sean Daly
Did Gene Simmons just make a lewd comment about my mom? And did the Demon just call me a woman? And what was that hand gesture by Paul Stanley?
All these neuroses fired in my head as I interviewed - on television, no less - the glam-rock kings in Kiss, who appeared in full makeup for a recent televised press junket. The glam-rockers play the St. Pete Times Forum on Wednesday. They are also promoting a new album, Sonic Boom, their first full-length in 11 years.
In a just-for-fun twist, I pulled on my fancy pants, hopped in an anchor's chair and chatted up bassist Simmons, singer Stanley, guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer via satellite for ABC Action News. Here's an excerpt from the interview:
So Tampa Bay gets U2 and Kiss in the same month. Let's throw down: Which band has the hotter live show?
Stanley (not even close to taking the bait): I think this is a very lucky time for Tampa. You'll want to be there for us. We're on the tail end of our Kiss Alive 35 World Tour, our biggest, most successful tour ever. It's a helluva show: great pyro, bigger video, bigger stage. We have to live up to our own expectations and we've done it in a big way.
Your new album, Sonic Boom, captures that vintage '70s sound, that unmistakable Kiss dynamic. The songs, especially first single Modern Day Delilah, are loose, off the cuff. How'd you pull that off?
Simmons: On our off days during this tour, we'd get together in Tommy's hotel room, whip out some guitars and start writing the songs right there and then. Within a month and a half, we were in L.A., rehearsing, recording.
Stanley: It's not a retro album. Gosh knows, the last thing we need is an album that sounds like it was recorded 35 years ago. But we wanted to say unequivocally that this is Kiss. It's got the commitment. It's got the energy.
After 35 years, you're older and wiser -
Simmons: Actually, we're stronger and more experienced.
And more handsome.
Simmons: You're absolutely correct about that, my dear.
Now that you're older, stronger, wiser, how is touring different? Is there less partying every night, more working out every day?
Thayer: The band is in better shape and has more vitality than in a long time. The spirit is there. We're feeling united.
Stanley: In those early days, a headlining band like us was playing for 90 minutes. But the era for us playing just 90 minutes is long gone. We're onstage now for sometimes as long as 2 1/2 hours. So we have to be in far better shape.
Gene, I gotta get this off my chest: My mother has a huge crush on you. I find that both cool and disturbing.
Simmons: What's her name?
Mary Daly.
Simmons (dropping his voice low and lascivious): Ah yesss, I remember Mary ...
10/18/2009
YOU GUYS ROCKED!!!
